Quote Originally Posted by Grace View Post
For the sake of discussion –



There have been 27 such amendments since The Constitution was adopted – the first was ratified in 1791. Hardly enough time to take a deep breath before changes were made.

Also from 1791, Amendment IX –



Certain rights not specifically enumerated . . . . . . this could cover a multitude of rights not even imagined back then.
Thank you.

The Amendment process is a great thing, IMO. I have no problem with that at all. An Amendment is part of the Constitution as a whole. What I was talking about and my apologies if I communicated poorly, is how it is interpreted and the power executed. I think Madison's comments about changing language are important and should be considered, so as to not mis-interpret the intent of the era of people who passed the Amendment.

"Certain Rights", is indeed a sticky phrase. But as I read the founders, time and again, they talk about a RIGHT being something that man cannot grant, or morally deny. It is something inalienable. Not to be confused with a privilidge. So I wonder about what you mean when you say, "rights not even imagined back then.

The 9th Amendment does indeed wield great power. Perhaps that was what FDR was getting at in his famous 1944 State of the Union speech. His words when I read it, scare me to death. But I digress....

Thanks Grace! Any other people have some opinion they want to share?