"Bill of No Sale" Socialism (U.S. Constitutional Amendments 1-27)

[Jeffrey Rubard]

Congress of the United States
begun and held at the City of New-York, on
Wednesday the fourth of March, one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine.

THE Conventions of a number of the States, having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: And as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government, will best ensure the beneficent ends of its institution.

RESOLVED by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, two thirds of both Houses concurring, that the following Articles be proposed to the Legislatures of the several States, as amendments to the Constitution of the United States, all, or any of which Articles, when ratified by three fourths of the said Legislatures, to be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of the said Constitution; viz.

ARTICLES in addition to, and Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America, proposed by Congress, and ratified by the Legislatures of the several States, pursuant to the fifth Article of the original Constitution.

Note: The following text is a transcription of the first ten amendments to the Constitution in their original form. These amendments were ratified December 15, 1791, and form what is known as the "Bill of Rights."

AMENDMENT I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

AMENDMENT II

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

AMENDMENT III

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.

AMENDMENT IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

AMENDMENT V

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

AMENDMENT VI

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.

AMENDMENT VII

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 re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

AMENDMENT VIII

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

AMENDMENT IX

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

AMENDMENT X

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 to the people.

AMENDMENT XI - Passed by Congress March 4, 1794. Ratified February 7, 1795.

Note: Article III, section 2, of the Constitution was modified by amendment 11.

The Judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of the United States by Citizens of another State, or by Citizens or Subjects of any Foreign State.

AMENDMENT XII - Passed by Congress December 9, 1803. Ratified June 15, 1804.

Note: A portion of Article II, section 1 of the Constitution was superseded by the 12th amendment.

The Electors shall meet in their respective states and vote by ballot for President and Vice-President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves; they shall name in their ballots the person voted for as President, and in distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice-President, and they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted for as President, and of all persons voted for as Vice-President, and of the number of votes for each, which lists they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of the government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate; -- the President of the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the certificates and the votes shall then be counted; -- The person having the greatest number of votes for President, shall be the President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed; and if no person have such majority, then from the persons having the highest numbers not exceeding three on the list of those voted for as President, the House of Representatives shall choose immediately, by ballot, the President. But in choosing the President, the votes shall be taken by states, the representation from each state having one vote; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two-thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be necessary to a choice. [And if the House of Representatives shall not choose a President whenever the right of choice shall devolve upon them, before the fourth day of March next following, then the Vice-President shall act as President, as in case of the death or other constitutional disability of the President. --]* The person having the greatest number of votes as Vice-President, shall be the Vice-President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed, and if no person have a majority, then from the two highest numbers on the list, the Senate shall choose the Vice-President; a quorum for the purpose shall consist of two-thirds of the whole number of Senators, and a majority of the whole number shall be necessary to a choice. But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States.

*Superseded by section 3 of the 20th amendment.

AMENDMENT XIII - Passed by Congress January 31, 1865. Ratified December 6, 1865.

Note: A portion of Article IV, section 2, of the Constitution was superseded by the 13th amendment.

Section 1.
Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.

Section 2.
Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

AMENDMENT XIV - Passed by Congress June 13, 1866. Ratified July 9, 1868.

Note: Article I, section 2, of the Constitution was modified by section 2 of the 14th amendment.

Section 1.
All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

Section 2.
Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice-President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the Executive and Judicial officers of a State, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty-one years of age,* and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such State.

Section 3.
No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.

Section 4.
The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any State shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void.

Section 5.
The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.

*Changed by section 1 of the 26th amendment.

AMENDMENT XV - Passed by Congress February 26, 1869. Ratified February 3, 1870.

Section 1.
The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude--

Section 2.
The Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

AMENDMENT XVI - Passed by Congress July 2, 1909. Ratified February 3, 1913.

Note: Article I, section 9, of the Constitution was modified by amendment 16.

The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration.

AMENDMENT XVII - Passed by Congress May 13, 1912. Ratified April 8, 1913.

Note: Article I, section 3, of the Constitution was modified by the 17th amendment.

The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislatures.

When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate, the executive authority of such State shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, That the legislature of any State may empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct.

This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect the election or term of any Senator chosen before it becomes valid as part of the Constitution.

AMENDMENT XVIII - Passed by Congress December 18, 1917. Ratified January 16, 1919. Repealed by amendment 21.

Section 1.
After one year from the ratification of this article the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited.

Section 2.
The Congress and the several States shall have concurrent power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Section 3.
This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of the several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the States by the Congress.

AMENDMENT XIX - Passed by Congress June 4, 1919. Ratified August 18, 1920.

The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.

Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

AMENDMENT XX - Passed by Congress March 2, 1932. Ratified January 23, 1933.

Note: Article I, section 4, of the Constitution was modified by section 2 of this amendment. In addition, a portion of the 12th amendment was superseded by section 3.

Section 1.
The terms of the President and the Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms of Senators and Representatives at noon on the 3d day of January, of the years in which such terms would have ended if this article had not been ratified; and the terms of their successors shall then begin.

Section 2.
The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such meeting shall begin at noon on the 3d day of January, unless they shall by law appoint a different day.

Section 3.
If, at the time fixed for the beginning of the term of the President, the President elect shall have died, the Vice President elect shall become President. If a President shall not have been chosen before the time fixed for the beginning of his term, or if the President elect shall have failed to qualify, then the Vice President elect shall act as President until a President shall have qualified; and the Congress may by law provide for the case wherein neither a President elect nor a Vice President shall have qualified, declaring who shall then act as President, or the manner in which one who is to act shall be selected, and such person shall act accordingly until a President or Vice President shall have qualified.

Section 4.
The Congress may by law provide for the case of the death of any of the persons from whom the House of Representatives may choose a President whenever the right of choice shall have devolved upon them, and for the case of the death of any of the persons from whom the Senate may choose a Vice President whenever the right of choice shall have devolved upon them.

Section 5.
Sections 1 and 2 shall take effect on the 15th day of October following the ratification of this article.

Section 6.
This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years from the date of its submission.

AMENDMENT XXI - Passed by Congress February 20, 1933. Ratified December 5, 1933.

Section 1.
The eighteenth article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States is hereby repealed.

Section 2.
The transportation or importation into any State, Territory, or Possession of the United States for delivery or use therein of intoxicating liquors, in violation of the laws thereof, is hereby prohibited.

Section 3.
This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by conventions in the several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the States by the Congress.

AMENDMENT XXII - Passed by Congress March 21, 1947. Ratified February 27, 1951.

Section 1.
No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of President more than once. But this Article shall not apply to any person holding the office of President when this Article was proposed by Congress, and shall not prevent any person who may be holding the office of President, or acting as President, during the term within which this Article becomes operative from holding the office of President or acting as President during the remainder of such term.

Section 2.
This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years from the date of its submission to the States by the Congress.

AMENDMENT XXIII - Passed by Congress June 16, 1960. Ratified March 29, 1961.

Section 1.
The District constituting the seat of Government of the United States shall appoint in such manner as Congress may direct:

A number of electors of President and Vice President equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives in Congress to which the District would be entitled if it were a State, but in no event more than the least populous State; they shall be in addition to those appointed by the States, but they shall be considered, for the purposes of the election of President and Vice President, to be electors appointed by a State; and they shall meet in the District and perform such duties as provided by the twelfth article of amendment.

Section 2.
The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

AMENDMENT XXIV - Passed by Congress August 27, 1962. Ratified January 23, 1964.

Section 1.
The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay poll tax or other tax.

Section 2.
The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

AMENDMENT XXV - Passed by Congress July 6, 1965. Ratified February 10, 1967.

Note: Article II, section 1, of the Constitution was affected by the 25th amendment.

Section 1.
In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President.

Section 2.
Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, the President shall nominate a Vice President who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress.

Section 3.
Whenever the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, and until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary, such powers and duties shall be discharged by the Vice President as Acting President.

Section 4.
Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.

Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that no inability exists, he shall resume the powers and duties of his office unless the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive department or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit within four days to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. Thereupon Congress shall decide the issue, assembling within forty-eight hours for that purpose if not in session. If the Congress, within twenty-one days after receipt of the latter written declaration, or, if Congress is not in session, within twenty-one days after Congress is required to assemble, determines by two-thirds vote of both Houses that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall continue to discharge the same as Acting President; otherwise, the President shall resume the powers and duties of his office.

AMENDMENT XXVI - Passed by Congress March 23, 1971. Ratified July 1, 1971.

Note: Amendment 14, section 2, of the Constitution was modified by section 1 of the 26th amendment.

Section 1.
The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age.

Section 2.
The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

AMENDMENT XXVII - Originally proposed Sept. 25, 1789. Ratified May 7, 1992.

No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of representatives shall have intervened.

[Jeffrey Rubard]

Naw, you're right, there's really nothing "socialist" about the Constitutional Amendments (which have of course numbered more than ten for quite some time). It's just that sometimes you really do want to "stop payment" on something people think is a going concern which violates them.

[Jeffrey Rubard]

On Wednesday, December 15, 2021 at 7:26:33 AM UTC-8, Jeffrey Rubard wrote:
> Naw, you're right, there's really nothing "socialist" about the Constitutional Amendments (which have of course numbered more than ten for quite some time). It's just that sometimes you really do want to "stop payment" on something people think is a going concern which violates them.

For example: "freedom of association" is, most often, just as much or more freedom *from* association -
And the Fifth Amendment covers what is sometimes called "forced perjury" or pumping people for information.

[Jeffrey Rubard]

The Fourth Amendment: there's no "finger", and it's not on you. Business that has to be transacted by "LE" has to, and you would at least theoretically get "served" by this. Chooosy cops choose "unusual" practices, though.

[Jeffrey Rubard]

The Sixth Amendment? "A trial's a trial, not an ordeal."

[Jeffrey Rubard]

That is, a particular program of a certain municipality or state is not a substitute for a 'speedy and public trial' regarding a supposed offense.
Quite the contrary.

[Jeffrey Rubard]

Seventh Amendment: The cost of "lost wages" and suchlike shall not be arbitrarily reckoned by a hostile party.

[Jeffrey Rubard]

Fifth Amendment: We actually don't find out just all of what people are about "on the spot".
*Pace* Eminem, "I'm not whatever you say I am/there'd be a further reason that you say I am",
and we need not belabor "Twenty Questions" dynamics that aim to belabor this point.

[Jeffrey Rubard]

Third Amendment:

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.

"Oh really? Whatcha doin'? What is this about?"

[Jeffrey Rubard]

In a way a "dream entire", as with

AMENDMENT IX

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

"Why, if you possessed the secrets to these two amendments, you wouldn't need the others at all!"

[Jeffrey Rubard]

They're cool ideas, but if you decided to combine "shit" and "lord" as concepts you might get to be a bit much. On the other hand,
that's not really what the Tenth Amendment says at all; it's even a little "tricky", like older US English.

AMENDMENT X

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 to the people.

Translation: "Whatever that means. Like, think pretty seriously if you're somehow convinced that your state has a special privilege or idea other states don't have". If, for example, it had invented a "new part of the body" that obviated litigation or trials by normal court, you might really have "gone too far afield". Or, if your business conference had "totally went there", many others might not care to.

[Jeffrey Rubard]

In terms of an aforementioned allusion, Oregonians sometimes act like there is an "imaginary body part", the "Court knee" (as in Peter Courtney), that a bunch of coordinated subterfuge relieves us of the need to have legal issues handled by the appropriate authorities. It, uh, really doesn't: the proof that a country is a "country of law", as the United States is, is that you can easily go spend a good spell in incarceration for a good reason.

The technique of Peter and others doesn't quite add up to this. I'm not sure there's a better way to talk about "mindfuck" sorts of things, but try this argument out: "We don't really 'run reality out of reality' with synchronized, coordinated make-believe. We run certain people out of reality -- yes, they really die, perhaps they shouldn't -- and an understanding of reality out of other people -- unfortunately maybe the people who 'press' for the thing, rather than 'poor blokes'. It's strictly a schizoid way to think in itself."

Furthermore: homicidal impulses on your part do not necessarily constitute a "difficulty", psychological or forensic, on our part in the style of the old "sardonic" statement.

Jeffrey Rubard

[Jeffrey Rubard]

Oh no, they didn't stop there. Without comment:

[Jeffrey Rubard]

The law as of this very moment, and henceforward without known apology or reserve.

[Jeffrey Rubard]

This one is kinda cool too:

AMENDMENT XV - Passed by Congress February 26, 1869. Ratified February 3, 1870.

Section 1.
The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude--

Section 2.

The Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

[Jeffrey Rubard]

The dream is alive?

[Jeffrey Rubard]

The dream isn't.

[Jeffrey Rubard]

Of some serious historical interest:

AMENDMENT XIX - Passed by Congress June 4, 1919. Ratified August 18, 1920.

The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.

Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

[Jeffrey Rubard]

Still a reality:

AMENDMENT XX - Passed by Congress March 2, 1932. Ratified January 23, 1933.

Note: Article I, section 4, of the Constitution was modified by section 2 of this amendment. In addition, a portion of the 12th amendment was superseded by section 3.

Section 1.
The terms of the President and the Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms of Senators and Representatives at noon on the 3d day of January, of the years in which such terms would have ended if this article had not been ratified; and the terms of their successors shall then begin.

Section 2.

[Jeffrey Rubard]

Sorry, Franklin D. Roosevelt fans; no more "four-term presidents".

[Jeffrey Rubard]

I don't really get this one. From an old Mad Magazine: "I have more knowledge than the Electoral College."
(Not really. It created the District of Columbia congressperson.)

AMENDMENT XXIII - Passed by Congress June 16, 1960. Ratified March 29, 1961.

Section 1.
The District constituting the seat of Government of the United States shall appoint in such manner as Congress may direct:

A number of electors of President and Vice President equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives in Congress to which the District would be entitled if it were a State, but in no event more than the least populous State; they shall be in addition to those appointed by the States, but they shall be considered, for the purposes of the election of President and Vice President, to be electors appointed by a State; and they shall meet in the District and perform such duties as provided by the twelfth article of amendment.

Section 2.
The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

[Jeffrey Rubard]

"Political deadbeats" don't exist:

AMENDMENT XXIV - Passed by Congress August 27, 1962. Ratified January 23, 1964.

Section 1.

The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay poll tax or other tax.

[Jeffrey Rubard]

How Gerald Ford, and then Gerald Ford, happened.
(Ford replaced Spiro Agnew as Vice President, then replaced Nixon as President.)

[Jeffrey Rubard]

"So how are you limited from buying tobacco or alcohol until you're 21?"

AMENDMENT XXVI - Passed by Congress March 23, 1971. Ratified July 1, 1971.

Note: Amendment 14, section 2, of the Constitution was modified by section 1 of the 26th amendment.

Section 1.
The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age.

[Jeffrey Rubard]

Finally, the most recent and one of the more bizarre amendments:

[Jeffrey Rubard]

2021 Close-Out Sale: Most states don't need a "refresher", guys.

[Jeffrey Rubard]

In other words, "real Americans" know our Constitutional rights apply *all the time* throughout our lives, with precious few exceptions.
In fact, they apply "in escrow", that is to say "you got served" when you merely had the *opportunity* to speak out but skipped it
for pragmatic reasons, etc.

Jeffrey Rubard

[Jeffrey Rubard]

Some others have "sophisticated" arguments against civil rights and the closely allied civil rights, but it might really be that this
stuff about the Amendments is *stock shit* really pretty much "anybody" was expected to know...

[Jeffrey Rubard]

So "I'll remember that" is sometimes just not enough, y'know? You would have needed to *already* know it, and you try to look "hard" having just learned it

[Jeffrey Rubard]

2021 Close-Out Sale, Final: The cops around here used to say "You're in love with the Bill of Rights, huh?" at the least opportune times --
Maybe there was something to that "selection", but I'm not sure. (Could be libelous to say so.)

[Jeffrey Rubard]

Pretty seriously, Nos. #1-27 are important for your rights as a U.S. citizen.

[Jeffrey Rubard]

In normal (non-Oregon) places, the standard interpretation is also this: the rights are 'running all the time', such that 'you got served' when you ran your mouth and got picked up by the cops. Not utterly, utterly generous, huh? So people 'carving' at your civil rights using certain chiseling techniques would be very unwelcome...

Jeff Rubard

[Jeffrey Rubard]

On the other hand, sometimes you've just got to know you have all those rights all the time.
("Wartime curtailment of..." is something of a misnomer, even.)

Jeff Rubard

[Jeffrey Rubard]

Oh, yeah, "Aesthetes Kevaufer", I've heard of the Pure Food and Drug Act. We're talking about laws with some bearing on Oregonian lives right now, though.

[Jeffrey Rubard]

So, Oregon from Kate on down: You think you got this one now?

[Jeffrey Rubard]

The American Revolution is in full effect (post-1865), they got a late pass?

[Jeffrey Rubard]

How this works: It is like it is (as opposed to how any particular person says it is) and you get to feel about it the way you feel about it. Is that how it is?

[Jeffrey Rubard]

If it is, you don't have another or a group of people dictating extraneous 'conditions of behavior' to you. You do what you do, and are judged accordingly.

[Jeffrey Rubard]

We cool?

[Jeffrey Rubard]

The traditional view on the document expressed in a quasi-incoherent statement: "less emended than pretended".
("Didn't think that up" stuff.)

[Jeffrey Rubard]

2022 Reminder (Should *Not* Have to Say "Update"): Those three goals were traditionally understood as "subserved" by the plan of the Constitution.
("Huhuhuh, you said 'sub'." Could we not talk?)

[Jeffrey Rubard]

2022 Update: We got there, and one of the traditional American "rights" subtended by the Amendment is the right to be "confused".
(Seriously, this is important.)

[Jeffrey Rubard]

In other words, you just don't have to be the "surety" for someone's nutty story they insist is true.
You just don't have to be *at all*: that you "don't believe them" isn't that deep, and so on.

[Jeffrey Rubard]

...and yes, when your rights are "riding high" and your fortunes are at a low ebb...

[Jeffrey Rubard]

...well, that's the country we *thought* we lived in.

[Jeffrey Rubard]

We got this?

[Jeffrey Rubard]

Then there is the matter of all the other laws, I guess.

[Jeffrey Rubard]

See? It's not so hard to respect Constitutional rights after all!
You have to just not know *everything in the world* about
other people.

[Jeffrey Rubard]

For you don't, and if you were to make a serious effort to come to learn it you'd end up massively violating their rights.

[Jeffrey Rubard]

So... maybe 'suspend judgment' sometimes when you're 'pretty sure' about something of importance to someone else
that you're actually not that informed about.

[Jeffrey Rubard]

2/27 Update: Soo... fellow hipster weirdos... are we feeling OK? Not worried about Stanford, or prison?
The public thanks you. Not too much, but sure, it'd be like that too.

[Jeffrey Rubard]

...and you *can* have another view of "human rights". It's just not canonical, such that the next fellow or lady must "jump"
when you get a "wild hair" and think they should.