Should we treat everything the founding fathers ever said as holy writ

J

Julia Sugarbaker

New member
because they were founding fathers? While they were great men, they weren't perfect or infallible. And in addition, they frequently disagreed with one another. Your thoughts?
John Doe--good answer, though I'm not talking specifically about the Constitution, perhaps I should have made that clear.
 
Evidentally not. After all George Washington warned us against political parties suggesting that the partisanship was harmful to a Nation. We ignored him. He warned us against long term alliances, becoming embroiled in other Countries conflicts & treating one Nation favorably while treating others unfairly. We ignored him. He warned us against significant public debt & we ignored him.
 
No we shouldn't. In 1786, one year before the Constitution was written, Patrick Henry, one of the more radical founders that also happened to be opposed to replacing the Articles of Confederation with the Constitution, submitted a proposal to the Virginia legislature to have the colony publicly fund the teaching of Christianity in public schools. Patrick Henry’s proposal was shot down and instead Thomas Jefferson wrote the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom which was passed and signed into Virginia law. The Virginia Statue for Religious Freedom barred tax support for religious institutions, prohibited religious tests for public office, and was the foundation for the Establishment and Free Exercise Clauses of the First Amendment in the Constitution. Patrick Henry was obviously wrong on this issue.
 
No we shouldn't. In 1786, one year before the Constitution was written, Patrick Henry, one of the more radical founders that also happened to be opposed to replacing the Articles of Confederation with the Constitution, submitted a proposal to the Virginia legislature to have the colony publicly fund the teaching of Christianity in public schools. Patrick Henry’s proposal was shot down and instead Thomas Jefferson wrote the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom which was passed and signed into Virginia law. The Virginia Statue for Religious Freedom barred tax support for religious institutions, prohibited religious tests for public office, and was the foundation for the Establishment and Free Exercise Clauses of the First Amendment in the Constitution. Patrick Henry was obviously wrong on this issue.
 
No we shouldn't. In 1786, one year before the Constitution was written, Patrick Henry, one of the more radical founders that also happened to be opposed to replacing the Articles of Confederation with the Constitution, submitted a proposal to the Virginia legislature to have the colony publicly fund the teaching of Christianity in public schools. Patrick Henry’s proposal was shot down and instead Thomas Jefferson wrote the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom which was passed and signed into Virginia law. The Virginia Statue for Religious Freedom barred tax support for religious institutions, prohibited religious tests for public office, and was the foundation for the Establishment and Free Exercise Clauses of the First Amendment in the Constitution. Patrick Henry was obviously wrong on this issue.
 
Only if we live under the same circumstances as they did in 1776. We don't. The Electoral College is a relic of a bygone age - it should be dropped. The constitution is, and can be, amended - and that is a good thing. We should be allowed to adjust the laws for the times WE live in - we don't live in 1776 - we live in 2010. Or do some people think we should have our Navy be wooden ships loaded with single-shot cannons? Things change - so the answer to your question is no - it should not be treated as holy writ because it isn't.
 
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