No One Asked Me But… (November 8, 2023)

By DR. LARRY MOSES

No one asked me but… Our national lawmakers have lost the essence of American government: an ideal that was established through gentlemanly debate and compromise.

While there has always been disagreements between legislators of the differing parties, these were most often settled by compromises created by moderate members of the various parties.

Today our legislators have become so entrenched in the demands of the extremes of both parties, that little can be done for the benefit of the American people.

One of the problems is that the dream of America being a melting pot – where people of all political, religious, and social strata melt into one people – no longer exists.

Many now take pride in the fact that America has become a salad bowl. Rather than melting into one nation with a singular goal it has become a repository for a myriad of cultures each demanding that America conform to their demands and beliefs. The salad is not tossed into one body. The ingredients of the salad are, by their own insistence, segregated among its own kind, and demands to be viewed, not as a part of a whole, but as a distinct body. The tomatoes hate the cucumbers and the cucumbers hate the carrots, and no one likes the lettuce.

One of the greatest examples of the melting pot concept is the very foundational document of America: the U.S. Constitution. This is the oldest functioning document of its kind in the world. In over 230 years of its existence there has only been 15 amendments to the document.
You may say, “Wait there are 27 amendments!”

True, but keep in mind, the Bill of Rights, which are generally thought of as the first ten amendments, were an addition created by action of the first session of Congress. These did not amend anything. They were merely added to the original Constitution. The Eighteenth Amendment banning the sale and manufacture of alcoholic beverages in the United States was repealed by the 21st amendment, so I don’t count these in the category of changes to the Constitution.

The Civil War strengthened the idea that America was one country with one culture and not a Confederation of states. Much of the unrest in America today can be solved by returning to the concept that America is one nation where individual differences can be protected but where a singular national mission can be accomplished.

When the Constitutional Convention began, many of the great minds of America were present. They had arrived with many pre-conceived notions. Before they had completed their task of writing a Constitution, they engaged in a great number of debates that lead to compromises.

The delegation from Virginia proposed many of the ideas they had developed while meeting in a tavern in Philadelphia. The small state delegates did not like what they heard and made their own proposal that each state should have equal representation no matter the population of those states.
This was opposed by the large states and the compromise is evident in the membership of the U.S. Senate.

Alexander Hamilton proposed that a king be appointed. This too was quickly voted down.
Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts and others who feared a strong executive, proposed that a committee of three should be elected to run the country. A president from northern states, one from the middle states and one from the south.

Alexander Hamilton, not giving up on the idea of a king, proposed a president to serve as long as he lived and exhibited “good behavior.” Maybe we should have kept the good behavior clause.
Newspapers spread the word that there was a plan to appoint King George’s second son as President of America. Apparently, these newspapers were forerunners of Fox News and CNN.
Roger Sherman of Connecticut suggested that the President’s role should be that of a clerk. Apparently, he was able to see the future.

Ben Franklin suggested that the President should serve without pay. In fact, Donald Trump was not the first President to do so. George Washington refused the $25,000 Presidential salary (at the time) and took only reimbursement for his expenses.

There was a proposal, made that the President could serve only one term of seven years. Thomas Jefferson championed the cause of the President serving only one term, that is until he, himself, was elected to a second term.

There was no provision for a two-terms limit in the Constitution. George Washington set this precedent by refusing to run for a third term.

The 22nd Amendment, ratified in 1951, made Harry Truman the last President who could serve more than two terms.
Here are some other ideas proposed that did not make it into the U.S. Constitution.
George Reed of Delaware called for the erasure of all state boundaries.

As the delegates looked to the west they could see the potential for growth and the increase of the number of states. It was proposed, and defeated, that there could never be more western states than Atlantic states.

James Madison proposed that there be a national university established. He also thought the federal government should have the right to veto laws passed by state legislatures. While this was not included in the Constitution, the federal government has usurped this power through the use of the Supreme Court.

The original Constitution had no Bill of Rights. James Madison, who did not believe it necessary, was given the task of creating a group of statements that would protect the governed from the government. He originally drafted twelve statements for the protection of the individual.

The first two proposed amendments dealt with reapportionment and pay raises for members of Congress. These were rejected. However, Amendment 27 to the Constitution ratified on May 7, 1992 forbids any changes to the salary of Congress members until the next election. It took 201 years and a class project to get this Amendment passed. The student received a “C” grade for his successful project.

All of this being said brings me to this conclusion: If the ideologues we have running the country today were in Philadelphia in 1787, they would still be there demanding their ideas, as to what is best for the country, be enacted verbatim. Our leaders have become the spoiled child who can only see what is good for them, not so much what is good for the country.

Thought of the week… While you are at the Veteran’s Day parade this weekend, look around. In this country where the military force is based on citizen soldiers, you will be surprised how many veterans there are in this community.