Mr. Hasenmiller makes an unusual attempt to convince readers that the Constitution is a pseudo-dictator.

This couldn’t be further from the truth. If anything, the Constitution is the Anti-dictator, as it is a document created so that no part of our government could become tyrannical.

The Constitution lays out what powers may be used by certain branches, but mainly it is a list of things the government cannot do.

This was what the founders wanted.

They had just finished a revolutionary war against an oppressive legislature and king, and decided the best way to prevent that from forming again would be to limit what the newly formed government could do.

So when we read that “The Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it” we know that the federal government may not unlawfully detain us and that we have a right to go to court.

Another reason the Constitution is on the side of freedom is in the 2nd Amendment. It reads: “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.”

Contrary to the thoughts of some members of the NRA, the right to bear arms isn’t just for hunting or shooting burglars. The purpose of this right can be traced back to England when a Catholic king bullied his mainly Protestant citizens with his own soldiers.

We are allowed to bear arms to protect ourselves if our government ever gets out of line and tries to oppress us.

Mr. Hasenmiller says “Elected representatives are not allowed to “play God” with our government, passing whatever legislation they want, unless that legislation falls within the bounds of our Constitution.” This isn’t true. Congress is the only branch that may declare a war. But we haven’t been in a declared war since 1942 when we declared war on Romania, Bulgaria, and Hungary. The Korean, Vietnam, and Gulf wars are pseudo-wars in the eyes of the Constitution.

The Constitution was also ignored when the Democrat majority in the House of Representatives passed the 90 percent tax on AIG bonuses. This was representatives bending to the majority’s will.

Mr. Hasenmiller implies that the majority should rule in a democratic republic, but that would defeat the purpose of the republic.

Thomas Jefferson famously spoke against pure democracy when he said “A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine.”

The Constitution allows for only a republic to keep the majority from oppressing the minority. This is why two-thirds votes are required when trying to change the Constitution.

The Constitution can’t be viewed as a dictator.

Rather, it should be viewed as a constantly tested and beaten-on defender of freedom that will continue to protect U.S. citizens, should they still believe in it.

Jacob Braunger

Senior

Political Science