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15. we're a bit over 4% of the world population and a tiny percentage of human history
Tue Jun 25, 2024, 11:08 AM
Jun 2024

so while these documents are undeniably significant, in the context of the entirety of world history, not so much.

moreover, there's plenty of less-than-admirable aspects to those documents. the constitution, in particular, had quite a number of deep flaws due to the desire of the founders, who largely represented wealthy northerners and slaveholding southerners, who ultimately agreed on a series of anti-democratic provisions, many of which remain problematic to this day.

we addressed slavery and the right of women to vote, but the electoral college is a disgrace, senate representation by state isn't really consistent with a real democracy, the constitution is too hard to amend, the senate and the electoral college give too much power to smaller states for no good reason (these were largely a way to preserve slavery, which is no longer relevant; well, with donnie and the magats i should hedge that a bit...).

the declaration of independence largely objected to taxation without representation, and then the constitution doesn't even provide for the people to elect a president. historically, all 50 state have always had presidential elections (well, elections for electors to elect the president, anyway) but any state legislature could constitutionally simply appoint the electors.

the donnie/magat rise to power took great advantage of corrupt provisions in the constitution, such the way they took over the supreme court and managed to get in the white house and remain viable while a majority of america strongly disapproves of him.

the constitution is deeply flawed and we continue to pay a price.

Recommendations

4 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

July 4, 1776 Midnight Writer Jun 2024 #1
Merci Irish_Dem Jun 2024 #2
I think the Republicans have at the very least BlueKota Jun 2024 #3
Seriously? WarGamer Jun 2024 #4
Exactly, the US founders built on documents and philosophies that pre-date the US dutch777 Jun 2024 #6
I know, I feel guilty about not mentioning the Magna Carta. Irish_Dem Jun 2024 #9
I'm not sure if the Declaration of Independence and US Constitution are the 2 most important, but probably more muriel_volestrangler Jun 2024 #13
I was going to say... Charlie Chapulin Jun 2024 #20
I get your point... MiHale Jun 2024 #5
I don't think they are as important. Irish_Dem Jun 2024 #10
You are correct, sir. Charlie Chapulin Jun 2024 #24
The two? Really? Disaffected Jun 2024 #7
I believe the US Constitution and D of I are the two most important human rights docs Irish_Dem Jun 2024 #11
The Supreme Court has shit all over both. SamKnause Jun 2024 #8
Oh Lord Prairie Gates Jun 2024 #12
Most Americans are clueless about what it means to be American. Irish_Dem Jun 2024 #14
The Greatest Generation prevented the Nazis from getting the bomb. John1956PA Jun 2024 #31
we're a bit over 4% of the world population and a tiny percentage of human history unblock Jun 2024 #15
"We the people?" Really? That was written in a time of slavery, a time of great poverty, a time when women were second Doodley Jun 2024 #16
The Iroquois Nation heavily influienced the founding fathers, and some of their principles are in the US Constitution. patphil Jun 2024 #17
Nothing like being ultra USA centric. former9thward Jun 2024 #18
It is our government, we agree to give it certain powers and we reevaluate it frequently. Hermit-The-Prog Jun 2024 #19
Both signed in my hometown. PCIntern Jun 2024 #21
The first was written by a boy from my hometown. Martin68 Jun 2024 #23
I'd have to disagree that the US Constitution was a work of genius because it originally preserved slavery and Martin68 Jun 2024 #22
Chuckles in historian. róisín_dubh Jun 2024 #25
Start with Magna Carta. Ocelot II Jun 2024 #26
Indeed, the courts are flirting with abolishing the Magna Carta Wednesdays Jun 2024 #30
I take a longer view of history. SarahD Jun 2024 #27
The Constitution and ALL of its amendments Wednesdays Jun 2024 #28
We're not so special. Check out these constitutional provisions of another country: Ocelot II Jun 2024 #29
I agree. TomSlick Jun 2024 #32
I guess canetoad Jun 2024 #36
That's unkind. TomSlick Jun 2024 #38
This is embarrassing. DavidDvorkin Jun 2024 #33
This is such hyperbolic nonsense GenThePerservering Jun 2024 #34
Dream on canetoad Jun 2024 #35
not the Constitution, it is very flawed Celerity Jun 2024 #37
Really? SocialDemocrat61 Jun 2024 #39
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