Pro-American part of the country?
I’m going to chime in a little on politics due to recent comments by Alaska Governor and Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin. The Governor stated at a campaign rally that she enjoys going to “Pro-American” parts of the country, implying of course that some areas of this nation I call home are not “Pro-American”. While this is a shameless “wedge strategy” to malign the generally democratic-leaning urban areas, pandering to rural voters. I take umbrage as an urbanite. We’ve seen recent (and not so recent) comments by politicians maligning atheists as “Unamerican” or implying that being atheist is unpatriotic, so these comments again raise my ire.
In response I thought I’d do a little experiment (being the scientific-minded fellow I am). I’m going to break down the first ten amendments to the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, arguably the most important document in the founding of this great nation and see where a stereotypical liberal and a stereotypical conservative stand on each of them. I could go through the whole constitution, but I feel this is a good litmus test. Please keep in mind that these are taken as the “stereotypical” views of these positions and do not reflect my own personal views on these amendments. Text of the amendments is taken from Wikipedia.org.
1.) Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Liberal View – “Well, except for hate speech”.
Conservative View – As long as that religion is a christian one, and no one is burning flags, or desecrating a host, or taking prayer out of school, or….
Advantage: Tie.
2.) A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
Liberal View: Guns are dangerous and should be outlawed, see there it’s tied into a “well regulated militia”.
Conservative: See there “shall not be infringed”, it is the right of “the people” to keep weapons.
Advantage: Conservative
3.) No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
Liberal: I don’t want to house a warmonger!
Conservative: Get off my lawn! My property, my rights!
Advantage: Tie
4.) The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Liberal: Everyone has a right to privacy, what they do in thier own homes with mutual consent is nobody’s business but those involved.
Conservative: If you’re not doing anything wrong then you’ve got nothing to hide.
Advantage: Liberal
5.) No person shall be held to answer for any capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
Liberal: Due process is important, sometimes the guilty may go free, but it’s the price of living in a fair and just society.
Conservative: I don’t want a rapist or a murderer to go free just because some police officer forgot to fill out a form, or signed on the wrong dotted line.
Advantage:Liberal
6.) In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district where in the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense.
Liberal: No problems here…
Conservative: well, unless they’re a terrorist! Stupid trial lawyers!
Advantage: Liberal.
7.) In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
Conservative: Fine by me…
Liberal: Me as well
Advantage: Tie.
8.) Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Conservative: Well, unless they’re a terrorist…
Liberal: It’s important that America takes the high moral ground as an example to the rest of the world, what right do we have condemning torture if we inflict it ourselves?
Advantage: Liberal
9.) The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
Conservative: Unless they’re a Homosexual…
Liberal: Spot on!
Advantage: Liberal
10.) The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.
Conservative: That’s right, let the states decide!
Liberal: If we’d have let the states decide how would Civil Rights, or Reproductive rights or the rights of Women stand today?
Advantage: Conservative.
Totals:
Advantage Liberal: 4
Advantage Conservative: 2
Tie:4
So, who’s really more “Pro-America”? Liberals agree with 8 of the first 10 ammendments and Conservatives agree with 6 of 10. Grading like a school I’d give liberals a “B” or high “C” and Conservatives a “D” or high “F”. It’s clear both groups have work to do if they want to be 100% in-line with the values the founders of this nation held dear, but it’s fairly clear that some have more work to do than others.