Nov 2023 Mod notice:
There may be other, more specific, threads about some aspects of US politics, but this one tends to act as a hub for all sorts of related news and information, so it's usually one of the busiest OTC threads.
If you're new to OTC, it's worth reading the Introduction to On-Topic Conversations
and the On-Topic Conversations debate guidelines
before posting here.
Rumor-based, fear-mongering and/or inflammatory statements that damage the quality of the thread will be thumped. Off-topic posts will also be thumped. Repeat offenders may be suspended.
If time spent moderating this thread remains a distraction from moderation of the wiki itself, the thread will need to be locked. We want to avoid that, so please follow the forum rules
when posting here.
In line with the general forum rules, 'gravedancing' is prohibited here. If you're celebrating someone's death or hoping that they die, your post will get thumped. This rule applies regardless of what the person you're discussing has said or done.
Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM
Deviant, when you post a news link, you shouldn't assume that we all agree with its message. We have a living constitution thread
: we should talk about it there.
![]()
![]()
I didn't....
I didn't say anything.
And Scalia is a US Politician, so I see no reason why I can't post it in a US Politics Thread.
edited 10th Dec '12 6:21:02 PM by DeviantBraeburn
Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
Pretty sure we can. let me check specifics.
edited 10th Dec '12 6:25:12 PM by Joesolo
I'm baaaaaaackWho's the 'our' in this sentence?
Look the article is titled: "Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia rejects idea of 'Living Constitution' "
In the article Scalia is quoted as saying:
"“The constitution is not an organism. It’s a legal text. It means today what it meant when it was adopted.”
Proving that he doesn't believe the Constitution is a living document.
I don't get what you are complaining about.
edited 10th Dec '12 6:28:18 PM by DeviantBraeburn
Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
I didn't say the idea living constitution was sound or not. I personally have mixed feelings on the matter.
I just posted an article detailing Scalia's opinion on the matter.
edited 10th Dec '12 6:32:04 PM by DeviantBraeburn
Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016![]()
And yet people jumped at it. "Oh it's Scalia the justice we hate so everything he says must be wrong."
I don't like that kind of attitude. It's a pitfall that I see a lot on discussions/news that are generally on the same side as my views. I know it may not be your fault.
The idea is that while we can misinterpret the true meaning of the text in the past and correct it later, that true meaning is nevertheless consistent. (That's where we get original intent or textualism.) But we can't simultaneously say "this was right back then, this is right for our times."
edited 10th Dec '12 6:34:16 PM by Trivialis
@Kostya
Then I'm afraid you misinterpreted his comments. Rejecting the general idea of a living constitution is that the original text, and each amendment, must be held at face value. Whether it means original intent at the time of adoption for each amendment, or whether it means look at the text carefully, is the debate.
Declaring amendments unconstitutional is probably going to get him impeached, of course. But he doesn't think that. He had plenty of opinions explicitly dependent on constitutional amendments.
edited 10th Dec '12 6:37:00 PM by Trivialis
Scalia is an old-school constructionist. Also an old-school reactionary. He has a vote on the Court but I'm awfully glad that justices retire eventually, and not just because of him.
"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"

Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia does not believe that America has a living constitution.
“The constitution is not an organism. It’s a legal text,” Scalia told a few hundred campus and community members at a talk in Princeton University’s Richardson Auditorium this afternoon. “It means today what it meant when it was adopted.”
Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016