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Politics : Don't Blame Me, I Voted For Kerry -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: longnshort who wrote (27665)	6/2/2004 11:41:11 AM
From: CalculatedRisk	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 81568

To answer your question: Jefferson considered one of his two greatest life achievements the Virginia Bill of Religious freedom (became a portion of the first amendment). Jefferson, with Franklin, Adams and others felt that a secular government was an essential freedom. "I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, thus building a wall of separation between church and state." Jefferson, Jan 1, 1802 I doubt a man like Jefferson could get elected today. I doubt the first amendment could be passed. Think of the people that want "Intelligent Design" in schools. There is nothing "intelligent" about it. ROFLOL! It is just another attempt to get around Jefferson's Wall. So to answer your question: With the current anti-enlightenment climate in America, I believe it would be near impossible to create our constitution. It is not a question of being smarter; it is a question of the times. One last thought: When the founding fathers were contemplating adding the Bill of Rights to the Constitution, Madison wrote to Jefferson (who was in France) and asked if he thought the Bill of Rights was necessary. Jefferson, knowing the proclivities of certain men, wrote back: If you don't write it down, someone will take it away! (Not an exact quote, I don't have the letter in front of me). Thanks to Madison, Jefferson and others for "writing it down"!