General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Two most important documents in the history of the human race. [View all]unblock
(55,594 posts)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.
Edit history
Recommendations
4 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):