25-01-2010, 09:57 PM
Peter Lemkin Wrote:The Supreme Court hasn't changed much in the last 225 odd years: "Those who own the country ought to govern it." - John Jay, 1st Chief Justice U.S., 1787hot:
Interesting that you mention 1787, the year that the constitution was created. At that time, the problem was government. The convention participants wrestled with the problem of how to contain the power of government so that it would not dominate the people.
Something was missing then, that exists today, that was never dealt with
in 1787. That is the power that the wealthy have. In 1787, America had wealthy people, but the amount of power they wield today, and their ability to affect the outcome of elections through the control of the media and the financing of elections is today much greater than it was in 1787. While Washington did not lead Americans in the fight for independence just to give the country over to all of the people, and that the country was to be run by the wealthy and educated people, I do not think that he and the other delegates foresaw the amount of control that the wealthy would have today. Had the situation that exists today been present during that convention, I think (or would like to think) that the delegates would have had to find ways to check the power of wealthy, to ensure that they did not dominate the government, the same way they put checks on the power of the government.
Does anyone think it is time for another constitutional convention?