I have studied the origins of the US Constitution and the original intent of your forefathers, known as the Framers of this most amazing document. No doubt one of histories finest moments and they were true visionaries. I am quite certain too, that they would be ashamed and appalled at how their original intent has been perverted over the years.

They never anticipated party politics along ideological lines but did understand regional considerations and arguments.

They surely would not be amused with the infantile rhetoric I have seen on this site with people peppering their drivel, from both the left and right, with lines like "Oblowme and the criminals in the white house"

They would hang their heads in shame and would have said, "maybe we should have been more clear in some aspects but we thought they would be able to see beyond their own interests and worked together."

Both very good points above and yes, the Framers would not be happy with partisan politics which really is controlled by national and international business interests; not the people. And I assure you that Canadian politics is no better and may in fact be worse with more centralized power with weaker checks and balances.

My main point was, although I may have not made it clear, is that the name calling and drawing of lines in the sand is doing more harm than good. So yes, it is people here and everywhere who talk but don't act that cause harm. No offense intended.

The USA is too strong to be able to be torn apart by a Reagan, Bush, Clinton or Obama. Or Fox, MSNBC and the rest of the rabble known as the Fifth Estate, who are the true failures in any democracy. It is their job to act on our behalf and hold the proverbial gov't/big business feet to the fire and ask the tough questions.

I was involved in politics and unfortunate as it was, I failed in trying to bridge the differences between the left and the right which caused me to quit. I guess I was too ignorant and altruistic to be effective but I tried. Tried and failed.
I now work in my community and try to help by supporting local, small and medium sized business. I am a member of BALLE (Business Alliance of Local Living Economies) which is a US effort with a couple of Canadian chapters.

If you really want to do something, support your local businesses and stop the name calling. Try to listen to both sides of every issue.

I am not left, right or centrist but a bit of all three. I understand the need for self defense but just giving everyone a gun may not be the best way. That can lead to anarchy and way too many gun deaths as statistics prove. But individual gun ownership with the organized support of militias and national guardsmen, I can understand and support that. These are the people that should have helped victims of Hurricane Katrina as one example.

If you/we are going to be angry with someone, let it be both republicans and democrats; two faces of the same coin. Also big business, banks, pharma and the insurance companies could use a little more scrutiny and disdain. Your country is not going to be socialized or turn communist and I would be surprised if you truly believed that. Heck, become an elected official and everything is socialized, free health care as well as so many other perks it makes me sick just to think about it.

As long as the Democrats and Republicans have you fighting amongst yourselves or the strawman they hold up for you to fight, they win and laugh all the way to the bank.

The reply is a bit long and a bit disjointed but do know that your forefathers would expect us all to fight back against this rich and political elite and they did not anticipate ideological political parties having you fight amongst yourselves. I'm sure you do know that. In my books, George Washington is almost a god he was so visionary but he would not be happy with any of what he would see today.

EDITORIAL: U.N. threatens Second and First Amendments
One-worlders are going after your guns

By THE WASHINGTON TIMES

6:05 p.m., Friday, July 23, 2010

Mugshot'CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT': Semiautomatic pistols and other handguns can be used for self-defense by all Americans, according to a landmark Supreme Court ruling Monday. (United Press International)

The United Nations is holding secret closed meetings to work out a global arms trade treaty. The agreement, which could be finished by 2012, is a threat to Americans' Second and First Amendment rights.

"Some type of micro-stamping regulations seems all but inevitable. It is very, very likely," the Heritage Foundation's Theodore R. Bromund, who tracks the U.N., told The Washington Times. "Restrictions on trade between private individuals are somewhat less than 50-50, but you surely can't rule that out. Some kind of gun registration and licensing system is an extremely likely probability." Registration proposals cover guns as well as individual rounds of ammunition.

The Obama administration strongly supports the U.N. Arms Trade Treaty and no doubt will use the process to push for gun-control regulations that it can't get through Congress otherwise.

A lot of baloney is floating in Turtle Bay. Gun registration is being promoted despite evidence that the costly bureaucratic system has been a complete failure in solving any crimes or stopping criminals from getting access to guns everywhere it's been tried. "None of these treaties have a relationship to reality," Mr. Bromund explains. "Terrorists are still going to have access to guns because governments give them guns, and they are still going to be able to give them guns." As an example, he pointed out, "The FARC fighting in Colombia get their guns from Venezuela."

As with everything that goes down at the U.N.'s headquarters on Manhattan's East River, America will pick up a disproportionate share of the tab to implement the treaty, with all those countries considered most "in need" taking another free ride. This is counterproductive even without the usual fraud and waste that hobble U.N. programs.

Gun rights aren't the only thing would-be globocops are targeting in the treaty. There is a U.N. discussion paper advancing "the reduction of violence in the media and in video games" as well as "sustained efforts at reeducation and reorientation of [member state] citizens." Whatever the plan, that can't be good for the First Amendment.

Any U.N. Arms Trade Treaty will undermine freedom around the world. The right to bear arms is an individual's protection against oppression anywhere. It took herculean efforts by George W. Bush's administration to thwart this U.N. power grab a few years ago. Unfortunately, we now have a left-wing White House working to make this dangerous treaty a reality.