Does the Constitution do enough to protect liberty?

This may seem like a dumb question considering that our constitutional republic has failed, as the Constitution has been largely ignored by the federal government for nearly a century. However, if we did stick to the Constitution, and even if we amended it, would that even be enough to guarantee our freedom?

I have recently joined a local Constitution study group, so I am considering these questions as I read Michael Badnarik's Good to be King, the Heritage Guide to the Constitution, and other assorted resources about the founding document.

Constitutionalism fits into my interpretation of the Boston Tea Party platform to a certain extent, as it moves us in the direction of liberty. I would be willing to vote for any candidate who supports strict constitutionalism. However, if we were to return to constitutional government, I think we could–and should–go further in the direction of liberty. Here are some articles you may want to read to consider this subject:

"The U.S. Constitution: The 18th Century Patriot Act"
Tom Mullen, Daily Paul, 12.14.2009
http://www.indytruth.org/archive/2009/1214-const.html

"The Meaning of the Constitution"
Edwin Meese III, The Heritage Foundation, 09.16.2009
http://www.indytruth.org/archive/2009/0916-const.html

"How Libertarian Is the Constitution?"
Randy E. Barnett, Cato Supreme Court Review, 2008-2009
http://www.indytruth.org/library/journals/supremecourt/2008-2009/3-barne...

"The Constitution gives the U.S. too much Power"
Jason Hommel, Silver Stock Report, 03.12.2009
http://news.indytruth.org/archive/2009/0312-const.html

To help my study group and other activists to explore constitutional issues, I have created this resource page which I will keep updating as I find more resources about the Constitution: http://www.indytruth.org/liberty/constitution.html

Submitted by inDglass on Tue, 12/15/2009 - 22:15
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Comments

1

southernpatriot:

As Butler Shaffer says, "The Constitution is that document that prevents the federal government from doing all those things it does."

As an anarcho-libertarian anti-federalist; I agree, the Constitution gives the government too much power. I don't think we need a federal government, as a matter of fact, I think the State government's could be dissolved without the "world collapsing".

12/15/2009 - 22:53
2

inDglass:

Indeed, how about true "self-governance."

12/16/2009 - 19:37
3

inDglass:

If you are in Indiana and would like to attend our Constitution study group, please send me an email through the contact page on this site.

Douglass Gaking
Chair, Boston Tea Party National Committee

12/15/2009 - 22:17