Does the constitution still work?

[Joe941]

Making the right wring media hit pieces on Beto O'Rourke is him questioning if the constitution still works today. The quote from him:

“I’m hesitant to answer it because I really feel like it deserves its due, and I don’t want to give you a — actually, just selfishly, I don’t want a sound bite of it reported, but, yeah, I think that’s the question of the moment: Does this still work? Can an empire like ours with military presence in over 170 countries around the globe, with trading relationships…and security arrangements in every continent, can it still be managed by the same principles that were set down 230-plus years ago?”

I for one am very happy that someone is bringing up this issue. I think it is one of the most important issue in our country today. The constitution is over 230 years old. Do the principles layed out then still apply to today's people?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. It would if people in power actually took it seriously.

[bdamomma]

5. we take it seriously

I know I do, but tRump is using it as toilet paper. Ass that he is.

[jberryhill]

2. It's been amended quite a number of times in that 230 years

We've lost our gumption to experiment, though.

But if you want to know whether something "works", I'd like some idea first of what it is you think it should accomplish.

[MineralMan]

3. It does, but it needs lubrication, I think.

It would help if our lawmakers were actually intimately familiar with the document. I get the sense that most of them haven't read it for years.

[zipplewrath]

4. It's in crisis

It contains a fatal flaw that is now playing out.

By 2040 it is estimate that 70% of the country will live in 15 states. 30% of the population will control the senate, and have near control of the White House (especially with gerrymandering included). It was never intended to be this way. Yes, there was supposed to be the protection of the minority and small states by giving them more power than they otherwise would have, but it was never intended that we be ruled by the minority (well, a minority of the white people anyway). It was 13 states with 7 larger ones and 6 smaller ones. By 2040 you'll be looking at 35 smaller ones, and 15 larger ones.

Oh, and there's really no way to fix it.

[Joe941]

8. Beto O'Rourke is right to bring it up. The Constitution is old!

[zipplewrath]

9. He didn't bring it up

Someone asked and he was obviously hesitant to answer, for all the right reasons. But it's not the age that is the problem. We've been able to "fix" things in many ways. We've been able to modernize it as well. But there is this fatal flaw that cannot be fixed and it could be the ruin of us.

[Joe941]

12. I agree with you. Hopefully a solution can be found.

[zipplewrath]

14. The fatal flaw

I don't see my fatal flaw description being fixed anytime soon.

[Turbineguy]

6. We should not even go there.

The Constitution works fine. Those operating it don't.

Getting rid of the Constitution would be the best thing ever for trump and his puppeteers.

[zipplewrath]

10. Hardly fine

I understand it has done alot of things well. And I don't think he, or anyone, is suggesting "getting rid of it" but there are some issues, including to what he alluded, that are building and could be our undoing. We've relied way too much on the SC "fixing" flaws in the system.

[ooky]

15. Agree. Every time Trump ignores it, it gives us standing to sue and either delay or

avoid altogether his unconstitutional actions.

Without it he would rule us as King George III ruled the colonies.

[Autumn]

7. No. It broke the day Republicans refused to do their job overseeing the Executive Branch.

[FiveGoodMen]

11. We need to amend it so that breaking the law has enforceable consequences

It cannot be left up to the parties to punish wrong-doing if they feel like it.

[WeekiWater]

13. Overall, it does extremely well when adhered to.

What we have seen over the last two years is one of its worst aspects. What happens when checks and balances are lost? We have had a legislative branch that has abdicated its responsibility as a coequal branch and check on the executive branch.