Quote Originally Posted by Thorne View Post
ANOTHER Brit wanting the colonies back! Get over it guys. We're here to stay.
You can stay where you wish... all that would change is who you pay your taxes to

Yes, it is a problem, and many have perverted the spirit of the Constitution while paying lip-service to its words. That's why interpretation of the Constitution lies in the hands of the Supreme Court. Theoretically at least, there should be enough intelligence among those 9 paragons of the law to keep us at least close to both the spirit and the letter of the Constitution.
Yes, the supreme court should keep things in balance.

Of course this is something we can blame the Irish for, you know... they had a legal system based on lawyers long before any other culture in Europe

Sadly, if there were a need to rewrite the Constitution I fear it would never get done. There are damned few politicians in this country with the brains or the guts to set aside their own petty desires for the good of the country. It would split the country into half-a-dozen feuding nation-states, turning us into the equivalent of 19th century Europe, with 21st century weapons. It would be the end of the United States of America.
So, are you arguing that you need an external threat (i.e an oppresive monarchy) to force the politicians to work together sufficiently to acheive something like the American constitution (which was an amazing achievement for its time)?

I do wonder sometimes if the various member states of the US remember that it was not all that long ago (late 19th century for many) when they were still independent 'countries' rather than part of the union. I know it is common for outsiders to think that 'the USA' is one country rather than a federal organisation of seperate states (with thier own laws) but is this attitude common in the US as well?