Let's make fun of Trump, bash him, etc. while we can!

[David Horn]

(09-07-2016, 01:48 PM)Mikebert Wrote: Are you familiar the view that the US is like the UK, with what effectively is a virtual constitution?

https://nomocracyinpolitics.com/2013/12/...l-history/

The original concept of constitutional change by Amendment was proven false in the aftermath of the Civil War when Amendments were passed and then blatantly ignored without consequence for 70 years. After this abrogation of the Constitution it made less sense to use amendments to make fundamental changes and we moved to the British method.

I don't think we regarded the formal amendment process all that seriously at any point.  Human nature is not easily swayed by argument, and the few major issue-altering amendments have always been controversial.  Most amendments involve widely accepted ideas that needed to be formalized or more mundane administrative matters that needed clarity or justification.  XIII, XIV and XV are in the first group.  XVI (income tax) probably belongs in the second.

I don't see the amendment process being a viable method to modernize this aging document.  Anything of true importance will be stymied by the process, since all change harms someone, but change is needed from time to time.