Originalism?

     Our government has many differing views on political issues and how to handle said issues. In the Judicial branch of our government, in many cases when facing a problem, officials will reference the Constitution. There are different views on how to interpret the Constitution. One of the two basic ways of interpreting the Constitution is called Originalism. Originalism is where an individual believes that what the constitution meant when it was written is what it means now. Our constitution was written hundreds of years ago for a developing country. We are a dominate world power not necessarily facing the same problems as when the founding fathers were forging the Constitution; how can we expect the intended meaning back then be applicable to todays issues?
     There needs to be a universal adaptive view on the Constitution, one that will hold true for the twenty-first century. If we don't even understand the vernacular of that time period or the intended thoughts of the composers, how can we even begin to claim to be able to administer justice based on the original text. John Madison even said that he did not understand what he was writing when he was working on the constitution. Advance and move forward, in order to become a better nation we must take what the founding fathers gave us and move forward with it. Don't be lazy and just take what has been given to us, but instead take what has been given to us and improve it to the benefit of our nation.

Peer Critiqiue

Below is a comment on a peer's post.

My peer talks about the President's actions relating to recent events on his blog "Ignorance is Strength." I agree that it is America's duty to help stand up and fight for democracy. However, I question the authority on which the President is acting. Declaring war is the job delegated to Congress, not the President. This disregard for the constitution started a long time ago, the last truly declared war being WWII. If we allow Presidents to continue to call the shots that they believe are in our countries best interest or in a foreign countries best interest, then where does it stop? If we can agree that it is our job to enforce democracy then it should be easy for the President to get approval from Congress, so he should. Congress shouldn't simply ignore the fact that the President is overstepping his bounds. I also agree with your point on the need of a plan. Before we send troops to the other side of the world, we need a clear idea of our goals and what we will do when those goals are achieved.

Social Security

               Our Government raises many controversial topics. Topics such as health care, taxes and social security. Issues like health care I'm not even going to discuss, and I realize the importance of Government taxes. However, I am strongly opposed to social security. Personally I believe that if someone works, spending their time, their effort, they should be able to keep the money that they earn. I know that I am not the only one who feels this way. Sure the Government needs support from its citizens in order to fulfill its duties, I am totally supportive of that; what I'm not supportive of is that my hard earned money goes to help older citizens who may have squandered their time, money, and life.

          My decision to be a responsible young man, go to school and work, should benefit me. It should not benefit people who didn't save when they were younger. Not only do I lose hundreds of dollars every couple of pay checks, but my own social security funds will be non-existent by the time I am old enough to retire. The number of elderly people retiring is growing rapidly and social security funds are being used up at a rate far greater than they are being replenished. Immigrants from other countries are often times older than I am, meaning that they will get a job and retire before I will. My money that I have been earning for the past 3-4 years and will continue to earn for the rest of my life, will go to these immigrants. There will be no social security in 50-60 years. The Government needs to reconsider this foolish idea and not take from hard working citizens who so desperately need the money that they work so hard to earn. Figure it out, but don't take my money that I earned.