[IPAndrews]

I'm starting to think that privacy rights and boundaries need to be written into constitutions at this rate.

Best idea I've heard all day.

[aldo_14]

To review the laws of the legislative branch while checking the balance of power, and to provide a set of principles on which a democratic state (with bigger fish to fry) shall be governed. Respectively, of course.

Why are they independent?

[Goober5000]

I'm starting to think that privacy rights and boundaries need to be written into constitutions at this rate.

Err...

Amendment IX

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

and

Amendment X

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved for the States respectively, or to the people.

That is, the people and the States reserve all rights not specifically prohibited by the Constitution, and all authority not explicitly granted to the federal government.


So basically, we don't need to rewrite the Constitution; we need to start reading the one we have.

Yes, I realize IceFire is Canadian.  This is merely a counterexample.

[IceFire]

I mean our charter of rights and freedoms...its not there as far as I can remember.  I don't know the American one nearly as well.  Still...we have more rights and freedoms than you guys do these days.

I didn't realize that the American one has those lines at all.  Somewhat encouraging if anyone paid attention to them.

[redsniper]

I think Bush used the Constitution as toilet paper and flushed it away a looooong time ago.

[aldo_14]

I mean our charter of rights and freedoms...its not there as far as I can remember.  I don't know the American one nearly as well.  Still...we have more rights and freedoms than you guys do these days.

I didn't realize that the American one has those lines at all.  Somewhat encouraging if anyone paid attention to them.

I'm sure they'll be amended out soon.

[Nuclear1]

To review the laws of the legislative branch while checking the balance of power, and to provide a set of principles on which a democratic state (with bigger fish to fry) shall be governed. Respectively, of course.

Why are they independent?

To avoid being bullied around by the Executive and Legislative branches into reviewing legislation in their favor, though some could argue courtstacking has this same effect.  Or to not have judges as legislators as well (I'm looking at you, Westminster parliamentary systems).

Oh, and kudos to Goob for mentioning the Bill of Rights. 

I mean our charter of rights and freedoms...its not there as far as I can remember.

Actually, you guys do:

   Section 26
The guarantee in this Charter of certain rights and freedoms shall not be construed as denying the existence of any other rights or freedoms that exist in Canada.

Since the Charter is included in the Constitution, I guess it would mean something.

I mean our charter of rights and freedoms...its not there as far as I can remember.  I don't know the American one nearly as well.  Still...we have more rights and freedoms than you guys do these days.

I didn't realize that the American one has those lines at all.  Somewhat encouraging if anyone paid attention to them.

I'm sure they'll be amended out soon.

Over my and any other fairly educated American's dead body.

[aldo_14]

To review the laws of the legislative branch while checking the balance of power, and to provide a set of principles on which a democratic state (with bigger fish to fry) shall be governed. Respectively, of course.

Why are they independent?

To avoid being bullied around by the Executive and Legislative branches into reviewing legislation in their favor, though some could argue courtstacking has this same effect.  Or to not have judges as legislators as well (I'm looking at you, Westminster parliamentary systems).

Wow.... you are so wrong on that score.  The only role the UK legal system has in legislation is 1) criticising the illegality of it and 2) criticising the current governments attempt to ride roughshod over the independence of the legal system.

Or would you care give an example of judges legislating in the UK?

[Nuclear1]

Wow.... you are so wrong on that score.  The only role the UK legal system has in legislation is 1) criticising the illegality of it and 2) criticising the current governments attempt to ride roughshod over the independence of the legal system.

Yes, but when the judges are in the legislature, it gets a little unnerving, yes?  Not saying it's been done before in the UK, at least not to my knowledge, but it is just a bad idea.

This makes me a feel a whole lot better about the whole deal.  Independent judiciary FTW.

[IceFire]

Ahh good one then.  We still rock then.

[aldo_14]

Wow.... you are so wrong on that score.  The only role the UK legal system has in legislation is 1) criticising the illegality of it and 2) criticising the current governments attempt to ride roughshod over the independence of the legal system.

Yes, but when the judges are in the legislature, it gets a little unnerving, yes?  Not saying it's been done before in the UK, at least not to my knowledge, but it is just a bad idea.

This makes me a feel a whole lot better about the whole deal.  Independent judiciary FTW.

That's not the judges role in the legislature, that's the legislatures role vis-a-vis judges.

[Turey]

Over my and any other fairly educated American's dead body.

let's see... (15.5% + 8.9%) * 300,000,000 = 73.2 Million Americans.

hmmmm.... doesn't seem like enough.

[Mars]

Over my and any other fairly educated American's dead body.

let's see... (15.5% + 8.9%) * 300,000,000 = 73.2 Million Americans.

hmmmm.... doesn't seem like enough.

Yeah... we can kill them all in short order... it'll take a couple of weeks >_<

[Goober5000]

Educated != intelligent.

In fact, there's actually a statistically significant correllation between the increase in aggregate education level of the U.S. and the drop in aggregate intelligence of students.  That doesn't imply causation, of course, but when you have a large percentage of 12th graders unable to read at a 3rd grade level, it's something to think about.

[Nuclear1]

Educated != intelligent.

Civic education, I mean.

Math and science can go die.

[Desert Tyrant]

****ing Hitachi... bet you 20 bucks most of the employees got cockblocked thanks to this ****e...

[Flipside]

[Desert Tyrant]

Yep, cuz I roll like that ****e.

[Flipside]

Well, it's actually only just been 21 days which is hardly Necro-threading, which, quite frankly, sounds like some kind of Anime-ish cyber-tech But I hadn't posted that image in a while, and it makes a break from the beam

[Roanoke]

On a related note, ID cards on Bremner, Bird & Fortune last night:

You can't change what's on the database. You aren't allowed to know what's on the database.  The Guv can change it at will. Without telling you. But it's your responsability to keep it accurate.

Good show that.