Reading the Constitution has become popular all of a sudden for some unknown reason. One publisher decided to add the following disclaimer to his recent production of the document, stating in part: “This book is a product of its time and does not reflect the same values as if it were written today”. Thomas Jefferson apparently anticipated this type nonsense when he stated “The Constitution  on which our Union rests shall be administered…according to the safe and honest meaning contemplated by the plain understanding of the people of the United States at the time it was adopted…carry ourselves back to the time our Constitution was adopted, recollect the spirit manifested in the debates and instead of trying what meaning can be squeezed out of the text or invented against it, conform to the probable one in which it passed”. Too bad our legislators and judiciary have chosen to ignore our founding fathers wishes.

Thomas Jefferson warned that the greatest threat to the rule of law and limitations of government was an out of control judiciary: “The original error (was in) establishing a judiciary independent of the nation, and which, from the citadel of the law, can turn their guns on those they were meant to defend”. Alexander Hamilton agreed and stated “The present Constitution is the standard to which we cling…rejecting all changes but through the channel itself provides for amendments. Obviously here again our legislators and judiciary have moved beyond the desires of the founders albeit in a direction they anticipated.

When our founding fathers developed the Constitution their goal was justice, domestic tranquility, common defense, general welfare and the desire to secure the blessing of liberty to all generations. Their desire was for a small federal government as James Madison said, "The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government, are few and defined ... (to be) exercised principally on external objects, as war, peace, negotiation, and foreign commerce."  Thomas Jefferson stated “The states can best govern our home concerns and the general government our foreign ones. I wish, therefore… never to see all offices transferred to Washington, where, further withdrawn from the eyes of the people, they may more secretly be bought and sold at market”. Our founding fathers were truly remarkable people, obviously the problems associated with human nature they encountered leading up to the writing of the Constitution rather than a sense of prophecy guided their work.

The tenth amendment to the Constitution part of the Bill of Rights was added to re-enforce a concept the founders were emphatic about: “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively or the people”. I would guess the founding fathers may have had some sleepless nights thinking how this experiment might evolve. I would have to say their fears were well founded.

Freedom of expression was guaranteed in the Constitution in First Amendment, it encompassed several rights including; speech, press, petition, assembly and religion. Freedom of speech protects the church members that protest at our soldiers funerals because they believe war deaths are punishment for our tolerance of homosexuality. The First Amendment protects such things as hate speech, the burning of our Flag, and other disgusting practices such as my obligation to write this Presidents Message.  

At this juncture it might be prudent for our citizens to learn or at least better understand the principles this country was founded on. This may be especially important advice for Congress where polls indicate a 10-20% favorable rating! Our founding fathers were honest, hard working people, interested in the common good, they understood human nature and were blessed with great common sense.

It seems fitting to end this diatribe with a quote from another great statesman Mark Twain; “it is by the great fortune of God that, in this country, we have three benefits: freedom of speech, freedom of thought, and the wisdom to never use either”.