-- The following pages are in the development stages.
The goal is to define the most pressing problems and wisest possible
solutions facing our society. We don't want to topple governments
or make new laws. We want to establish workable and humane standards
for a government of principles to replace our current government
of ever-more-restrictive laws. Your input is needed. Here is a
place to plant good seeds. --Constitutional Convention
In the beginning might made "right." As humans
began living in tribes and villages, through "law" they
sought to create mechanisms to balance the liberty of the individual
-- and groups of individuals acting in concert to further a common
vested interest -- against the welfare and security of all. The
progress of civilization has been marked by the evolution of equitable
law, and those periods of history during which humanity reverted
to the rule of force are seen as barbarous.
Law is nothing more than what a given society may imagine
at any given time. When a critical social mass believes sufficiently
that anything should be the "law," that agreed-upon
belief becomes the "law." Experience shows, however,
that majorities are often prone to support -- actively or passively
-- law rooted in force rather than equality. "Civilization"
is governed by "law;" but chaos may also be governed
by "law." In its chaotic history humanity has imagined
law to justify a death penalty for expressing the belief that
the earth revolves around the sun. (See, Giordano Bruno.) Jesus
too was sentenced to death for violating a law which criminalized
the content or expression of his beliefs. (See, John, 18:31.)
For two hundred-odd years now, not as long as the Roman
Empire, but longer than the Third Reich, the United States has
theoretically been ruled by a constitution. School children often
believe this document was, if not divinely inspired, at least
a giant stride toward a more perfect union. Whatever the origins
of the Constitution, it is old. Thomas Jefferson claimed, "to
imagine law should remain immutable, is to expect that a man will
wear still the clothes he wore as a boy."
Even assuming God inspired the Constitution, many
feel it has become, if not a convoluted instrument of oppression,
a simple anachronism. Modern communications technology has eliminated
the necessity of "representative" middle-men. Given
a growing perception that corruption, confusion and/or incompetence
have become the rule, and in the hope of salvaging civilization
from well-intentioned authoritarian chaos, the Constitutional
Convention Colloquy * seeks to build a government which governs
least.
If you are interested in participating in forming a new,
improved Constitution which fits our times, let us hear from you.
E-mail prop1@prop1.org --
subject "CCC"