From: Black Unicorn This seems to me like the Jeffersonian notion that the Constitution should be amended in every generation. Letter to Samuel Kercheval, July 12 1816, The Portable Thomas Jefferson 557-558 (M. Peterson ed. 1975). I think this is perhaps excessive, and if you consider the effect of short term politics, one could well find his or her own generation is the one which does away with the 4th and 5th amendments because of a "Crime Crisis." If your suggestion is more along the lines of a more reasoned and enduring amendment process with some respect for the concepts of old and more importantly an attempt to adapt the spirit of the document [the Constitution] to the reality of the day, I concur wholeheartedly. ................................................... No, it has nothing to do with the amendment process; it has to do with original thought. As long as the people of today or tomorrow remain attached to a document, becoming dependent upon it for their thinking, then they are still not free, because - especially in the case of the Constitution - they have still not understood the message. The principle of individuality and freedom from government coercion means that an individual can make up their own mind, can use their own judgement, and can decide for themselves whether or not they will become a member of an institution - even if that institution is already in existence surrounding them and it seems that it is no longer required of them to think about making a choice regarding their relationship to it, that the choice was already made for them a long time ago and the situation no longer requires their input - almost as if their opinion were irrelevant, almost as if that which was created in the past had nothing to do with them in the present. If no one from an institution inquires whether you want to join, but takes it for granted that you are a member and then proceeds to treat you like citizen, then they have not been respectful of your independent ability to make up your own mind, apart from their ability to make that decision for you. This is not in the spirit of the Constitution. The age of the concept is not what is important; it is the principle elucidated. Any document which presents important concepts is valuable. It isn't requisite, however, that one remain attached to it in order to reap the benefit of its wisdom; it is more important to recognize that to which the wisdom therein refers, and once the ideas have been digested & comprehended, to advance using the perspicacity which you should have developed from their study. My point in this discussion is only to say that in terms of a contract, no one is really provided the opportunity to "sign the deal", so to speak. Too much is taken for granted, and therefore too many mistakes are made from the absence of a foundation based upon actual agreements made (rather than assumed agreement). Blanc