Bench Memos

Here’s That “People’s Rights Amendment”

I am absolutely, 100% in agreement with the editors that the “People’s Rights Amendment,” which would subtract rights from the Constitution rather than add any, is the worst idea the left has had in many a moon.  But c’mon, guys, can’t you at least link to the proposed amendment’s text if you’re not going to quote it in the editorial?  To appreciate the depths of its godawfulness, have a gander at this (which I found here):

The People’s Rights Amendment

Section 1.  We the people who ordain and establish this Constitution intend the rights protected by this Constitution to be the rights of natural persons. 

Section 2.  People, person, or persons as used in this Constitution does not include corporations, limited liability companies or other corporate entities established by the laws of any state, the United States, or any foreign state, and such corporate entities are subject to such regulation as the people, through their elected state and federal representatives, deem reasonable and are otherwise consistent with the powers of Congress and the States under this Constitution. 

Section 3.  Nothing contained herein shall be construed to limit the people’s rights of freedom of speech, freedom of the press, free exercise of religion, and such other rights of the people, which rights are inalienable.

Given Sections 1 and 2, it is quite clear that Section 3 is a lie.  Yes, it really is that stupid.

Matthew J. Franck is retired from Princeton University, where he was a lecturer in Politics and associate director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions. He is also a senior fellow of the Witherspoon Institute, a contributing editor of Public Discourse, and professor emeritus of political science at Radford University.
Exit mobile version