We have a Constitution and then we had an add-on that we now call the Bill of Rights.
Our Bill of Rights contains many amendments that deal with just about all aspects of life as an American….but those rights are been chipped away slowly but slowly….and in recent years that chipping has become harder and more extensive….
Since 20 January 2025 the government has attacked many of of the Rights put down by the Founding Fathers….those attacked have been numbers 1,5, 6, 8, 12, 14, 15, 22, 23….and the attacks continue.
So do these attacks mean that some think the BoR was a bad idea and needs changing?
Well if they do then they are not alone….from the very beginning some of the Founders were not so keen on the BoR…..let’s look at the start of the debate on this section…..
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think about the U.S. Constitution?
For many people, the answer probably involves one of the famous individual liberties that are spelled out in the Bill of Rights, such as freedom of speech, due process, or the right to keep and bear arms. When a person argues that something is unconstitutional, what that person often means is that it violates one or more of the provisions contained in the Bill of Rights.
Yet the Constitution did not originally include the Bill of Rights when it was ratified in 1788. Why not?
“It would not only be useless, but dangerous, to enumerate a number of rights which are not intended to be given up,” declared future Supreme Court Justice James Iredell at the North Carolina Ratification Convention in 1788. That is “because it would be implying, in the strongest manner, that every right not included in the exception might be impaired by the government without usurpation.” What is more, Iredell declared, “it would be impossible to enumerate every one. Let anyone make what collection or enumeration of rights he pleases, I will immediately mention twenty or thirty more rights not contained in it.”
That was the position taken by those who came to be known as the Federalists. They thought that adding a bill of rights to the Constitution was a bad idea not because they were against individual rights, but because they despaired of what might happen to any rights that were not specifically written out.
But the Constitution’s Anti-Federalist critics were not persuaded by such concerns. “The want of a Bill of Rights to accompany this proposed system,” declared the Anti-Federalist pamphleteer who went by the pseudonym “John DeWitt,” “is a solid objection to it.” In his view, “to express those rights” which the government may not infringe was a necessary and proper safeguard against “the intrusion into society of that doctrine of tacit implication which has been the favorite theme of every tyrant from the origin of all governments to the present day.”
Thomas Jefferson, who was then stationed overseas as the American ambassador to France, shared this Anti-Federalist critique: There are “good things” about the new Constitution, Jefferson wrote from Paris in 1787, but one thing “I do not like” is “the omission of a bill of rights providing clearly and without the aid of sophisms for freedom of religion, freedom of the press, protection against standing armies, restriction against monopolies, the eternal and unremitting force of the habeas corpus laws, and trials by jury in all matters of fact triable by the laws of the land and not the law of Nations.” According to Jefferson, “a bill of rights is what the people are entitled to against every government on earth, general or particular, and what no just government should refuse, or rest on inference.”
https://reason.com/2025/08/14/was-the-bill-of-rights-a-bad-idea-some-founding-fathers-thought-so/
At what point do we allow this assault to continue?
Does anyone really care about the loss of rights?
Please let me know.
I Read, I Write, You Know
“lego ergo scribo”
People’s rights are always eroded by Far-Right governments, and Trump is most definitely Far-Right. The neo-Nazi Reform Party (Led by Farage) in Britain says it will leave the ECHR if it is elected to power. and if that happens we can forget the normal life we have been used to in the UK. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Convention_on_Human_Rights
Best wishes, Pete.
How popular is Farage? He needs to be curbed by any means necessary. chuq
He gets a disproportionate of air time on the media, as he only has four MPs in parliament and control of a few local councils. But they love the fact that he generates clicks and debate. They say his party is leading the polls for the next election, but most of his supporters are over 60, and/or far-right wannabees. If he ever is successful, the media will be to blame, including the BBC. He used to be in the National Front, a neo-Nazi party that changed its name a few times and eventually became Reform.
So he gets the coverage…..sounds like the Trump game plan….he stinks of far right odor…..chuq
If Trump is allowed to come to Full Power, our existing “Bill of Rights” will be trash-canned and replaced with “The Rights of U.S. Citizens as Defined by Donald J. Trump” (and/or his Republican successor).
the ‘American First’ agenda is that reinforced by Project 2025….we have a road we must demolish. chuq
I like what Nan said, –“If Trump is allowed to come to Full Power, our existing “Bill of Rights” will be trash-canned and replaced with “The Rights of U.S. Citizens as Defined by Donald J. Trump” (and/or his Republican successor). —–and I would like to add….be damned sure that he will come to full power because the SCROTUS will see it it.
That is the hang nail of our society….SCOTUS. chuq
Your frustration is palpable, and I get why you’re ashamed of your generation’s role in this. But don’t underestimate the power of voices like yours—calling out the parallels to history, the authoritarian red flags, and the human cost of policy failures. The Founders weren’t docile, as you said, and neither are you. Keep writing, keep reading, keep pushing. People might be slow to wake up, but history shows they eventually do when the stakes are clear.
What do you think—any ideas on how to get more folks to care before it’s too late? And are there specific rights you’re most worried about losing in Mississippi? I’m all ears.
We need firebrands and inspirational activists….I am too old but I will contribute where I can….the young need to get off their ass….Mississippi is a Red State so whatever rights we have are limited especially in voting and educational…..and we have another election coming up I want to see what d/bag comes out on top. chuq
Erosion of rights ? YES, BIG TIME: A republican, conservative and Christian cannot speak or even appear without the left becoming enraged and sabatoging an event. Outspoken patriots are cancelled and attacked. Parents have their parenting and mentorship of their own children taken away. Efforts to protect citizens from violence and crime are being blocked by ridiculous non compliance and denial pf level and even presence of crime. A dozen states and over a thousand cities have declared themselves sanctuaries and declared federal laws null and void re immigration and many things protected by the supremacy clause of the Constitution. . They instruct state and local law enforcement not to partner with federal law enforcemet. Violent criminals are not prosecutied, sentenced or removed from public society. Children can have hormone treatment and sex change operations without parental consent or notification. Parentts that demand review of leftist/Marxist school board subterfuge are declared domestic terrorists. MSNBC and CNN, et al, are not news media but agents of leftist propaganda or censorship by ommission. At least FOX is completely open about its pro-Trump pro MAGA preasentations. Jew hate is erupting, cities crumbling and failing schools flourish. Law enforcement under represents crime rates. Efforts to make people safe from astonishing crime rates are labeled fascism and a concerned reformist presicent crucified as a white supremist. Yes indeed, citizen rights and protections are being destroyed by the hate America, destroy America , Hollywood lunatic “activists”.
Carl name one right that was lost because of what you think are liberals. Not one Dem wants to destroy America as your savior Donny is doing and you cannot see it….that is so sad that your ideology overrides your concern for the nation. chuq
I can’t name any rights lost by the efforts of any liberals as they have always been champions for the pillars of democracy. Unfortunately, none such leaders exist in today’s democrat party. The true Progressives of the early 20th Century like William Jennings Bryan, Bob LaFollette and Theodore Roosevent were all of admirable vision. FDR too. And AES too and HHH too were patriots in their efforts. I did not recite any ieology or manifesto in my comment. I merely listed facts.
When it comes to the status quo Dems I cannot disagree….they are wasted space even more so than Repubs. chuq
I do not even know how I ended up here but I thought this post was great I dont know who you are but definitely youre going to a famous blogger if you arent already Cheers
Racism. Racism. Racism. Do you have a musical accompaniment song too ? I think the raids are wonderful. I hope they increase. I did not recall much outrage when an entire division of black berets raided the home of President Trump. Didn’t hear I recall from a raid of remark from some ago. Ya know. When Bill and Janet (democrats) authorized the jackboots to seize that little Cuban boy from his relatives in Miami to send him back to Castro’s Cuba.
You choose one or two things to be indicative of a concerted attempt to stomp on rights of everyone….you are asleep. chuq
Agree, as there exists much much more than a few indicators . Seems we disagree on what direction partucular indicators are promoting.
I see as dangerous and you do not…..that simple chuq