What Is Up With Politics Today?

Yes, yes, I know it is easy to look up the Constitution online, but how many people actually do?  Not many, it would seem.  In order to understand politics, political issues, legal issues, basically everything that I might blog about here you have to first understand (or at least be basically aware of) the Constitution.  To that end I’ll be doing several (read that as a ton) of posts on the Constitution.  I’ll break it into bite sized bits and link you some excellent resources along the way.  It is really amazing all of the rights we do (and don’t) have as well as the rights the government does (and shockingly enough doesn’t) have.  Let’s get started.

The Preamble of the Unites States Constitution

“We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

So what is it exactly?  Well it’s basically a hi there howdy folks this is what we’re going to be doing today.  Let’s break it down bit by bit, shall we?

• We the people of the United States – Pretty simple, right?  Usually thought to mean all citizens of the United States.  Clearly shows that the constitution was written by the people of the United States (albeit the actual writers were the upper echelon white guys) for the people of the United States.  It isn’t something the government, king, or gods wrote for us, we wrote it for ourselves.  As parents like to say to their children (parents in this case = citizens   children=government)  I gave you your life and I can take it away!
• In order to form a more perfect Union – They wanted a better system of government than they had.  It wouldn’t be perfect (it is a government after all) but they wanted to create something better.
• Establish justice – They wanted fairness or justice.  They were tired of the government taxing them unfairly and messing with their ability to trade and run their lives.
• Insure domestic tranquility -  Doesn’t do any good to for a new nation with new laws if the rebels are going to mess everything up
• Provide for the common defense - Well now.  The states tended to be a bit…selfish.  They wanted what was best just for them but sometimes that could get in the way of what was best for the nation as a whole.  For example during times of war when the ‘common defense’ was a major concern. 
• Promote the general welfare – basically this means commonwealth or common good…not welfare like public assistance ;)  Unique in that the Constitution isn’t just there to protect the powerful but also the weak.
• Secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity – Two words tend to confuse people, liberty and posterity.  Liberty means personal freedom.  Posterity means future generations.
• Do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America – Ordain means decree or hey guys this is what we want. 

Wow.  So that took a bit longer than I was expecting :)  If you don’t agree with my definitions of terms, please feel free to comment below and correct me (or debate with me).  Also, if you like the idea of a little Constitutional blogging class let me know, if you hate it let me know :) 

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