Unelectable

Sailor Steve · 08-26-08, 12:42 PM

I was researching some quotes from the Founders' era and I stumbled across this article from Walter E. Williams, noted professor of economics. It's not about the economy, stupid, it's about the Constitution. That, and why some of our former presidents could not be elected today.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/m...09/ai_n8913741

I used to tune in to Rush Limbaugh every day in the hope that he would be taking a day off and Professor Williams would be filling in for him. His lectures on economics were stunning. So was his intro: "Raconteur! Ladies' Man! Economist! And now, Black by popular demand, Professor Walter Williams!" And he would immediately correct it: "That's Walter E. Williams! Emphasis on the E!"

Frame57 · 08-26-08, 12:48 PM

Our Government has already become what jefferson feared.

UnderseaLcpl · 08-26-08, 09:36 PM

We have a real-world example of this. I know there are a lot of people who didn't like Ron Paul, but even they would have to admit that he was a constitutionalist and a fiscal conservative, like Jefferson.
As popular as he was with some, he was generally scorned or ignored by the media.
Even being the only Republican candidate with a voting record that was consistent with his platforms didn't help him.
Yet, his limited success was somewhat heartning. Especially his following amongst the internet community. The last free society on Earth. Even if it is populated by 50m3 pplz who t47k 71k3 tihs.

Skybird · 08-26-08, 11:17 PM

A constitution always has two sides: that of vision and utopia, this says somethign about what the state and it'S people want to be. And the pragmatic side, showing what it really is in reality. Conformity of the spirit of the idea, and the real deed, is acchieved not often. Seen that way a constitution is not a decription of what a nation really is, but a compass showing it the direction where to search for improvement. that's is why I like the US constitution, all in all - and greet the EU draft with disgust only. The first is a well-meant vision, short, straight and clear. The latter is a bureaucratic regulation, monumental in volume, intended to hide the shifting of power from democratically legitimised institutions to non-legitimised smaller and smaller "hidden circles" ruling with special decrees if needed, and hiding this behind hundreds and hundreds of hundred paragrapühs, sub-articles, footnotes and appendices. Seen that way, the old american presidents may not be electable today, but their ideas of how to define an utopia as an attractor that puts a nation on course would well be needed in Europe. We do not have visionaries here. We only have technocratic managers, and where the first looked beyond the horizon, the latter do not look beyond the tip of their nose.

Digital_Trucker · 08-27-08, 07:44 AM

But if the US constitution were to be written today, it would be exactly the same and for exactly the same reasons.

VipertheSniper · 08-27-08, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Digital_Trucker

But if the US constitution were to be written today, it would be exactly the same and for exactly the same reasons.

Whoah, I wouldn't count on that.

Letum · 08-27-08, 12:48 PM

That the State can not be improved or that is is relevant in all periods i
history is an idealism completely removed from reality.
Everything is a product of it's place and time. Most especial modes of government.

Platapus · 08-27-08, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VipertheSniper

Quote:

Originally Posted by Digital_Trucker

But if the US constitution were to be written today, it would be exactly the same and for exactly the same reasons.

Whoah, I wouldn't count on that.

I think that is one of the reasons we have never considered a revision to the Constitution.

Look at the hassle they had just getting 13 states to agree. Can you imagine the goat-rope trying to get 50 states to agree today?

shudder

08-26-08, 12:42 PM	#1
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	Unelectable I was researching some quotes from the Founders' era and I stumbled across this article from Walter E. Williams, noted professor of economics. It's not about the economy, stupid, it's about the Constitution. That, and why some of our former presidents could not be elected today. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/m...09/ai_n8913741 I used to tune in to Rush Limbaugh every day in the hope that he would be taking a day off and Professor Williams would be filling in for him. His lectures on economics were stunning. So was his intro: "Raconteur! Ladies' Man! Economist! And now, Black by popular demand, Professor Walter Williams!" And he would immediately correct it: "That's Walter E. Williams! Emphasis on the E!" __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

08-26-08, 09:36 PM	#3
UnderseaLcpl Silent Hunter Join Date: May 2008 Location: Storming the beaches! Posts: 4,254 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	We have a real-world example of this. I know there are a lot of people who didn't like Ron Paul, but even they would have to admit that he was a constitutionalist and a fiscal conservative, like Jefferson. As popular as he was with some, he was generally scorned or ignored by the media. Even being the only Republican candidate with a voting record that was consistent with his platforms didn't help him. Yet, his limited success was somewhat heartning. Especially his following amongst the internet community. The last free society on Earth. Even if it is populated by 50m3 pplz who t47k 71k3 tihs. __________________ I stole this sig from Task Force

08-26-08, 11:17 PM	#4
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,602 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	A constitution always has two sides: that of vision and utopia, this says somethign about what the state and it'S people want to be. And the pragmatic side, showing what it really is in reality. Conformity of the spirit of the idea, and the real deed, is acchieved not often. Seen that way a constitution is not a decription of what a nation really is, but a compass showing it the direction where to search for improvement. that's is why I like the US constitution, all in all - and greet the EU draft with disgust only. The first is a well-meant vision, short, straight and clear. The latter is a bureaucratic regulation, monumental in volume, intended to hide the shifting of power from democratically legitimised institutions to non-legitimised smaller and smaller "hidden circles" ruling with special decrees if needed, and hiding this behind hundreds and hundreds of hundred paragrapühs, sub-articles, footnotes and appendices. Seen that way, the old american presidents may not be electable today, but their ideas of how to define an utopia as an attractor that puts a nation on course would well be needed in Europe. We do not have visionaries here. We only have technocratic managers, and where the first looked beyond the horizon, the latter do not look beyond the tip of their nose. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

08-27-08, 07:44 AM	#5
Digital_Trucker Silent Hunter Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: The Peach State Posts: 4,171 Downloads: 141 Uploads: 10	But if the US constitution were to be written today, it would be exactly the same and for exactly the same reasons. __________________ RSM-GIEP-Killflags-LV Tribute-Playable Elco __Peace be with you, Dave.

08-27-08, 12:48 PM	#7
Letum Navy Seal Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: York - UK Posts: 6,079 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	That the State can not be improved or that is is relevant in all periods i history is an idealism completely removed from reality. Everything is a product of it's place and time. Most especial modes of government. __________________

08-26-08, 12:48 PM	#2
Frame57 Sea Lord Join Date: May 2008 Location: 1300 feet on the crapper Posts: 1,860 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	Our Government has already become what jefferson feared.