I now believe in a living Constitution, one that provides the framework for all that government is currently doing.
Government shut downs? Bill paying? A brief statement on how to handle or avoid such crisis should be in our living Constitution.
Executives orders? Direction on how much leeway the President should have should be in our Constitution.
These are basic matters of governance. They should be directed by a basic framework. That basic framework is your constitution.
I've reached my thought after reading four quotes from George Washington. "The Constitution which at any time exists," begins one. What does he mean, "at any time exists"? Is the Constitution to be so fluid that we should say, "which at any time exists"?
Perhaps so. If George Washington envisioned it as a fluid document, then let it so be. Washington, on more than one occasion, spoke of expecting the document to change. On one occasion, he said he did not expect that those in the future would not be wise enough, or inspired enough, or in possession of enough virtue that they should not be up to the task.
I know we look at our current politicians and wonder. Do we trust them to make changes in our Constitution? Isn't this -- to many of us -- an inspired document? Can we trust them to make changes?
Can we trust ourselves. We are the ones who elect our leaders.
I think how people rise to the challenge of what they are charged to do. They rise to be equal to the tasks they are entrusted with. I would hope such a principle would be at play here.
And, I do feel we would be better governed if we governed this way. I do feel the way we come up to the last day of paying our bills and the way we threaten with a government shutdown so often is a travesty. I do wonder if we are ruling too much by executive order. I do feel we should have governing principles keeping us from such unwise governing practices.
And, it makes sense that if you are to have principles guiding how you govern, the document containing them should be your constitution. I do not know the exactly why George Washington spoke of changing the Constitution, but I do wonder if he simply could see that a principle of good government is to have the document that directs your governance dictate how you are to go about that governance.
If we believe Washington was wise in the principles of good government, we should consider whether this is what he had in mind. But regardless what he was thinking, we should see for ourselves that this is a principle of good government.
Four quotes attributed to George Washington which discuss changing the Constitution:
“The Constitution which at any time exists, ’till changed by an explicit and authentic act of the whole People is sacredly obligatory upon all.”
"If, in the opinion of the people, the distribution or modification of the constitutional powers be in any particular wrong, let it be corrected by an amendment in the way which the Constitution designates. But let there be no change by usurpation; for though this, in one instance, may be the instrument of good, it is the customary weapon by which free governments are destroyed."
"I wish the constitution, which is offered, had been made more perfect; but I sincerely believe it is the best that could be obtained at this time. And, as a constitutional door is opened for amendment hereafter, the adoption of it, under the present circumstances of the Union, is in my opinion desirable."
"The warmest friends and the best supports the constitution has, do not contend that it is free from imperfections; but they found them unavoidable, and are sensible, if evil is likely to arise therefrom, the remedy must come hereafter; for in the present moment it is not to be obtained; and, as there is a constitutional door open for it, I think the people (for it is with them to judge), can, as they will have the advantage of experience on their side, decide with as much propriety on the alterations and amendments which are necessary, as ourselves. I do not think we are more inspired, have more wisdom, or possess more virtue, than those who will come after us."
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