The Constitution of the United States, Part I

The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the land. Every other law of this nation or any of its subordinate political entities is subordinate to the Constitution.

Part I will be short and sweet. The Preamble to the Constitution. I haven't been to high school in 45 years or so, but I do remember that we USED to have to memorize it. But in case you didn't, or you've forgotten it, here it is:

"WE THE PEOPLE of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

Now, let's dissect the Preamble.
1) "WE THE PEOPLE of the United States..." That's us, the citizens and voters of this country. It doesn't include immigrants who have not become US Citizens. It does not include visitors to the USA. This short little phrase delineates who's in charge. It's not the Executive Branch, the Legislative Branch, or the Judicial Branch. It's you and me. Don't ever let your elected officials forget that. They are the employees and we are the employer.

2) "...in Order to form a more perfect Union..." That's right, a MORE perfect Union. We're not perfect, nor is our form of government the best form of government ever devised by man. It is, however, the best form of government devised by man, that has been attempted by man, and that has proven successful. There are other forms of government, devised by man, that, due to the greed of man, have failed. Unfortunately, unless you decide to do your job, as an employer, this one may fail, too!

3) "...establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, ..." These areas, according to our Founding Fathers, are the areas to which the goverment should LIMIT itself. In my opinion this line authorizes the Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense, and the Department of Veteran Affairs. It also allows for other organizations like the US Postal Service, Social Security Administration, and the Public Health Service, as well as a few others which I'll discuss, appropriately enough, at a later date.

4) "...and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America." Merriam-Webster defines Posterity as; 1. the offspring of one progenitor to the furthest generation, and, 2. all future generations. It is my view that our Founding Fathers, intended that the word posterity apply to all future generations of American Citizens. Therefore it is GUNNER'S VIEW that, based on the Preamble to the Constitution of the United States of America, which provides for certain rights and privileges to American Citizens DOES NOT PROVIDE those same rights and privileges to non-citizens without a 'green card", illegal aliens, enemy prisoners of the war on terror, military personnel of nations who are not signatories of the Geneva Convention, or terrorists of any type.

The Delegates to the Constitutional Convention met in Philadelphia from 25 May to 17 Sept 1787. It took over three months for them to write this document. It was ratified (in order) by Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Georgia in 1787; Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, and New York in 1788; North Carolina in 1789; Rhode Island in 1790; and Vermont in 1791. Three months 22 days to write it and three years 24 days for the original 13 states to approve it. knowing that they were forming a "...more perfect Union...", not a perfect one, they made provisions to modify it. Between 1789 and 1992 this was done 17 times (the first ten amendments or the Bill of Rights were done all at once). I believe there is room for a couple of more amendments, and I'll discuss them at the appropriate time.

God Bless the United States, its veterans, and its active, retired and reserve service men and service women.

Gunner Sends