I have been participating in and thouroughly enjoying a discussion on the Constitution and Rights at another site. In the course of the discussion I turned to the Constitution. As usual I am awed by the simplicity of the document. Our forefathers were friggin' geniuses. Read the work, there is no ambiguity.
After 15 months of war, the fledgling Congress felt the necessity to formally declare their independence from England. In that subsequent document, the authors not only said why they needed independence, but added what they felt a government should be providing its citizens. It is amazing how the Constitution fufills the requirements for a just and sound government as defined by the Declaration of Independence. Here are just a few examples:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.
Compare these stated goals with the Preamble to the Constitution:
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
The Constitution states it will provide the citizens with Life (general welfare) Liberty (liberty common defence) and the Pursuit of Happiness (blessing of liberty, general welfare).
to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the consent of the governed.
The Constitution sets up a government based on a representative republic, derived from the power of the citizen, not a king or royalty.
All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives...The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the several States...The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State
Here are a few more examples of complaints found in the Declaration of Independence and how the Constitution made sure those abuses could not occur in the future:
He has kept among us, in times of Peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
For depriving us, in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.
These are but a few examples. Read the documents, be amazed.
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