Should we ever consider re-writing or revising our Constitution? (Congress, health care, independence)

[zoomzoom3]

I'm curious about this since legislatures in some European countries vote to revise their constitutions every X amount of years in order to address new issues.

It would seem as if our constitution was functionally outdated in some aspects. In the past, FDR had proposed a second bill of rights, but he died very soon after & the idea was scrapped. Our current constitution does not address issues such as health care, and how to try terrorists for instance. The founding fathers were brilliant people, but these issues just did not exist in their time. Does anyone think it's time to revise or re-write the constitution?

[nicet4]

What for, to become stylish? If something needs to be tweaked there is the amendment mechanism.

Our Constitution is only 4 pages long and it is to bad people don't actually take the time to read it like they should.

In light of the health care bill imagine the monstrosity would come to light if congress were in charge of writing a new constitution.

[Mightyqueen801]

Originally Posted by nicet4

What for, to become stylish? If something needs to be tweaked there is the amendment mechanism.

Our Constitution is only 4 pages long and it is to bad people don't actually take the time to read it like they should.

In light of the health care bill imagine the monstrosity would come to light if congress were in charge of writing a new constitution.

Gives me the creeps just to think about it.

Leave the Constitution alone. Everything else can be guided by it, even if sometimes we don't like the way it works out.

[North Beach Person]

European countries that have changed their Constitutions have also typically changed the form/make up of the government.
As was stated we have the amendment process. If health care needs to become a "right" then an amendment can be introduced and go through the ratification prodedure.

[joey2000]

Great responses on all counts. No offense zz but the idea is absurd IMO. No point or need.

[ChrisC]

Why bother rewriting or revising it when it's largely ignored anyway? It’s either ignored, misrepresented, misinterpreted, or superceded. What did a bunch of old goats in the eighteenth century know about anything anyway? We're modern now. I'm surprised someone hasn't marketed toilet paper with a copy of the constitution on each square.

[jtur88]

We do it all the time. It has been amended 16 times in the past 200 years. But as ChrisC points out, it is pretty much ignored anyway. Every Liberal can show you lots of ways that it is being ignored.

[Gottasay]

Our gov't has actually funded third world countries to write new constitutions. Ah, the irony of it all. To me, I think we need a very clear definition of the word "welfare" in the Constitution.

[Fred314X]

"You say you'll change the Constitution/
Well you know
We all want to change your head."

--Beatles

[jtur88]

Originally Posted by Gottasay

To me, I think we need a very clear definition of the word "welfare" in the Constitution.

And "well-regulated". And "cruel". And "unusual". And "reasonable".
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The Founders thought the Constitution would be interpreted and applied by reasonable, civilized human beings, who would not hold a gun to people's heads and demand that it be interpreted in such and such a way. But in fact, the American people did not turn out to be reasonable, and now have to be whacked up aside the head with a rolled up newspaper to get them to understand fairly basic concepts of civility and social order.

To be quite honest, I think the Founders would be astonished, and maybe even shocked, to come back today and see a flourishing nation still adhering to what they probably thought of as a temporary document to get them over the hump of transition to independence. In fact, after only four years, they said "Hey, wait a minute, guys", and added ten amendments themselves.