Those reading over their copy of the Constitution this July 4th might think it needs some serious updating for the 21st century. After all, it was last changed 32 years ago — in 1992 — when the 27th Amendment (Google it) was approved by 3/4ths of the states. And how long did that take? Well, Congress sent the 27th amendment to the states for approval in 1789!
Those hoping to salvage our splintering nation should adjust their timeline accordingly.
The first Constitutional Amendments — the Bill of Rights — came all at once, after our wealthy white slave-owning Founders realized the original draft of 1787 left them unprotected from dangerous people who were . . . well . . . a lot like themselves.
So in 1789 they quickly added 10 Amendments, including Amendment #1 guaranteeing free speech, press & religion, public assembly & the right to petition the government. (Lesson: When amending, ‘Go Big or Go Home.’) They made sure to include Amendment #2, establishing a right to keep & bear arms needed by a “well-regulated militia.” In the vernacular of the day, well-regulated generally meant “sober” and “militia” was essentially a posse to hunt native Americans, runaway slaves and anyone who took that 1st Amendment too seriously. (Apparently, when the Founders realized who “We The People” really were, it scared them.)
Later, after a Civil War amongst The People (a dust-up that killed less Americans than COVID), the winners passed Amendments #13 thru #15, abolishing slavery and (in theory) giving former slaves citizenship and voting rights. Except women. Previous condition of servitude notwithstanding, women weren’t really considered “people” & couldn’t vote until the 19th Amendment of 1920.
Then, in 1970 at the height of the Viet Nam War, Amendment #26 lowered the voting age to 18, so kids being drafted by the thousands could help choose the leaders who were feeding them to the cannons.
The other Amendments are pretty ho-hum, except #16 (creating the federal income tax), #18 (banning booze) and #21 (repealing #18); throughout our history, intoxicants have been vital Lubricants of Liberty. While federal law aspires to ban pot and is occasionally enforced against the unfortunate, pot is legal in 18 states and accessible nationwide.
Of course, Congress could call a Constitutional Convention anytime to update the entire document. Even now, readers can text their Congresspersons suggesting Amendments for “A More Perfect Union;” no idea too crazy for politicians who protect children from abortion in the womb but not from guns in school.
However, before Amendments can become reality, they must be approved by 3/4ths of the states, via their elected legislatures or by a state convention called for that purpose. Getting a majority of voting-age Americans to “like” your idea on Twitter won’t do it.
But Wait! That might be just what America needs: Twitter Democracy. Not possible when letters took weeks to send by horseback, but with I-Phones . . . now we’re talking! Yep — Everyone could vote on Everything! Since We The People are on our devices 24/7/365, why not run the country while we’re at it? Imagine:
– Any citizen over 18 could propose laws and regulations, or the repeal of them.
– Text 👍 or 👎 on anything anyone proposes; majority wins.
– No more bought-&-paid-for Congress.
– No fights about rigged elections.
Most important, the filthy rich and corporations would have to bribe everyone, equally & constantly.
Our Founders would be so proud!
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