When was America highjacked anyway?

Ok, so the 16th Amendment was what really opened the door for the modern Nanny state (ever since the introduction of the capitation tax rather than excise taxes it all been a matter of how much of your income the government allows you to keep), and the Constitution has become pretty much worthless anyway (hey, even your home is now subject to the largesse of the government, if someone with more money/influence can convince some local politicos that they might be able to bring in more revenue).

The Constitution was written to give us "A Republic, if you can keep it" (Benjamin Franklin). Unbridled democracy leads to a tyranny of the majority. Robert Heinlein wrote a civilization is doomed when "the masses" realize that they can vote themselves "Bread and Circuses." And that's what an unbridled democracy will give you. It's two wolves and a lamb voting on what to eat for dinner.

All powers not specifically enumerated to the Federal government were reserved for the states, or the people (Amendment X), and just because a right wasn't listed in the Bill of Rights didn't mean it doesn't exist (Amendment IX). Of course, it's become harder and harder to enforce these unspecified rights, when even those specifically enumerated are under seige (or in some cases court rulings and legislation have all but wiped them away).

Even so, in all the history of the United States, since the Constitution was ratified, there has been only one Amendment (XVIII) which was a restriction on the people [Prohibition], and that one was repealed by the XXIst.

So why do we have one actually in Congress, passed by the House (which has been making the rounds for years and years), to ban flag desecration [burning a flag is pretty stupid, but its far from the most pressing problem facing this country, or even anywhere in oh, the top 1000 or so], and another being called for, to prevent the states from having their own laws about marriage [banning gay marriage]. Again, a distraction from the actual problems facing the country, and the assault on the people.

Who stole my country, the land of the free and the home of the brave?

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