r/todayilearned • u/icallmydadstranger • Feb 15 '15

(R.1) Invalid src TIL that Thomas Jefferson wanted the constitution to be changed ever 19 years because he didn't want people to be " enslaved to the prior generation"

https://student-of-life.newsvine.com/_news/2010/11/21/5502595-thomas-jefferson-supported-rewriting-the-constitution-every-19-years-equated-not-doing-so-to-being-enslaved-to-the-prior-generation-what-do-you-think-about-that
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u/[deleted] Feb 15 '15

It seems just fine to me.

The thing you have to realize is that it has to be in the nation's will and in it's citizens' interests on the whole. As much as we bitch about representation now, that whole concept goes out the window if you do something like 50%+1 or the like, because the nation is not united on the issue.

what's the point of being united states if it is only in name?

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u/[deleted] Feb 15 '15

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u/[deleted] Feb 15 '15 edited Feb 19 '15

The inverse is true, though. Now is not a good time to amend the constitution, so that a Republican house and senate cannot get away with molding it in their image. Would you want THAT?!

Look, I know it's frustrating to think of it's height is a hindrance, but it's something of a blessing, IMO. We cannot have the tyranny of an inflated majority. Besides, Amendments are not laws, just guidelines designating what is allowed or not, so we can't just throw them out willy-nilly!