I'd like to put together a document to hand out to people at an event I'm planning with my local Campaign for Liberty group. Basically, the idea is to take a copy of the US Constitution and cross out every part that is being violated by our government right now. A friend joked that I should just cross out the entire thing. But I'd like to give this some serious thought and be prepared with specific examples (if I can't, then surely I have no justification for crossing it out in the first place!). A thorough academic study should even provide at least one reference for each cross out.
The problem is that this is quite a lot of work! Does anybody know if something like this has been done before? It sounds like a great idea anyway for a pro-Constitution nonprofit organization -- they could even update it as current events unfold to illustrate the current status of the battle for our rights.
The best I could find is a somewhat juvenile version provided by "People for the American Way": http://media.pfaw.org/constitution-for-dummies.pdf
I suppose I could simplify it significantly to make it more accessible to a casual audience by summarizing the various articles and then crossing out parts of the summary.
Any references, comments or ideas?
-Michael Hall
PS - I understand the US Constitution is not the ideal case for liberty, but people can easily identify with it. I basically want this to serve as a bit of a wake up to those that don't realize our government is trampling on our liberties.
I think Bob Barr did something like that for testimony in front of congress about something the bush admin did. You can probably find it on YouTube. I think Bruce Fein was also involved.
I would research Fein anyways. He's really good on the Constitution.
Yeah, bob barr put onto the congressional record an edited copy of the bill of rights where he crosses out all the parts that he thinks the US government no longer follows.
Thanks for the tip guys! I looked into this and Bob Barr's Bill of Rights ends up being merely "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects shall be delegated to the United States." I may end up going with that in the end. But below is a copy of what I've crossed out so far. There are still a few amendments that partially remain. Do you know of any specific examples that warrant crossing of these also?
4314.090421_Bill of Rights Screenshot (Parchment).tiff
What remains of my Bill of Rights:
1: Congress shall make no law respecting the right of the people to petition government for a redress of grievances.
2: [Deleted in full.]
3: No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
4: The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects shall be violated.
5: No person shall be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb.
6: [Deleted in full.]
7: In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
8: [Deleted in full.]
9: [Deleted in full.]
10: [Deleted in full.]
I suspect that the remaining amendments mostly survive because (1) I just can't think of a specific example of their violation or (2) the government hasn't yet a need for their violation, rather than refrains out of respect for rights.
No parts. Citizens do not have the power or authority to interpret and recommend enforcement of the constitution. That power is delegated to the Judiciary, and all charges involving unconstitutionality are handled by it.
This is why the constitution is stupid to begin with.