The Articles of Confederation “governed” the 13 colonies [FN1] after “Delegates of the United States of America” agreed. [FN2] But “We the People” ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” [FN3] “Preambles are remarkably revealing important” 1/9
“‘We the People’ mak[es] clear that it’s a democracy.... If one reads the preamble closely, one finds the key values that the Constitution is meant to achieve: democratic governance, effective governance, establishing justice, securing liberty...” [FN4] 2/9
The Framers wrote great values, but lived something else. The most glaring example: espousal of liberty as a value, yet slavery not simply allowed but protected. [FN5] Estimates of how many of the Framers owned slaves vary. [FN6] One value underlay many actions: contracts. 3/9
John Locke had a significant impact on the Framers. Locke described a social contract between a government and its citizens, a/k/a government by consent of the governed. [FN7] No State may pass a “Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts.” [FN8] This is a republic. 4/9
Others, better versed in the mechanics, will describe in the coming days, how the hack was done. The 60-some suits brought on behalf of trump about the 2020 election achieved their goal: make trump’s opponents unable to challenge 2024's results. 5/9
trump has promised to be a dictator. The playbook it out there, Project 2025. My point is that the conversion of this country to a dictatorship breaches the social contract. If trump is allowed to take the oath of office, the Constitution is no more. 6/9
Footnotes: FN1. 06/11/1776: Congress authorized preparation of “a confederation to be entered into between the Colonies”; on 11/15/1777, Congress directed the resulting document be sent to the States’ legislatures; it was ratified 03/02/1781. West’s Ann IN Code, 1999, p. 17. FN2. Preamble, Articles of Confederation. 7/9
Footnotes: FN3. Preamble, Const. FN4. Illing, Sean, “Why the Constitution is an inherently progressive document,” interview with Erwin Chemerinsky, Dean, UCal-Berkeley Sch of Law, Vox, 12/18/18, accessed 11/10/24. FN5. E.g., "...the right of property in a slave is distinctly and expressly affirmed in the Constitution." Dred Scott v Sanford, 60 U.S. 393 (1857); see Const. Art I, §9. 8/9
Footnotes: FN6. 17 of 55 delegates “together held about 1,400 enslaved people.” The Constitutional Rights Foundation; about 25 of the 55 delegates owned slaves. Gilder Lehrman Inst. for American History. FN7. Stratton, Eleanor, “Locke’s Influence on American Politics,” U.S. Constitution.net, 06/01/24, accessed 11/11/24. 9/9
Dictatorship will dissolve the social contract and The Constitution
by Mark Small
Nov 11
The Articles of Confederation “governed” the 13 colonies [FN1] after “Delegates of the United States of America” agreed. [FN2] But “We the People” ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” [FN3] “Preambles are remarkably revealing important” 1/9
“‘We the People’ mak[es] clear that it’s a democracy.... If one reads the preamble closely, one finds the key values that the Constitution is meant to achieve: democratic governance, effective
governance, establishing justice, securing liberty...” [FN4] 2/9
The Framers wrote great values, but lived something else. The most glaring example: espousal of liberty as a value, yet slavery not simply allowed but protected. [FN5] Estimates of how many of the Framers owned slaves vary. [FN6] One value underlay many actions: contracts. 3/9
John Locke had a significant impact on the Framers. Locke described a social contract between a government and its citizens, a/k/a government by consent of the governed. [FN7] No State may pass a “Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts.” [FN8] This is a republic. 4/9
Others, better versed in the mechanics, will describe in the coming days, how the hack was done. The 60-some suits brought on behalf of trump about the 2020 election achieved their goal: make trump’s opponents unable to challenge 2024's results. 5/9
trump has promised to be a dictator. The playbook it out there, Project 2025. My point is that the conversion of this country to a dictatorship breaches the social contract. If trump is allowed to take the oath of office, the Constitution is no more. 6/9
Footnotes:
FN1. 06/11/1776: Congress authorized preparation of “a confederation to be entered into between the Colonies”; on 11/15/1777, Congress directed the resulting document be sent to the States’ legislatures; it was ratified 03/02/1781. West’s Ann IN Code, 1999, p. 17.
FN2. Preamble, Articles of Confederation. 7/9
Footnotes:
FN3. Preamble, Const.
FN4. Illing, Sean, “Why the Constitution is an inherently progressive document,” interview with
Erwin Chemerinsky, Dean, UCal-Berkeley Sch of Law, Vox, 12/18/18, accessed 11/10/24.
FN5. E.g., "...the right of property in a slave is distinctly and expressly affirmed in the Constitution." Dred Scott v Sanford, 60 U.S. 393 (1857); see Const. Art I, §9. 8/9
Footnotes:
FN6. 17 of 55 delegates “together held about 1,400 enslaved people.” The Constitutional Rights Foundation; about 25 of the 55 delegates owned slaves. Gilder Lehrman Inst. for American History.
FN7. Stratton, Eleanor, “Locke’s Influence on American Politics,” U.S. Constitution.net, 06/01/24, accessed 11/11/24. 9/9