Publisher posts warning labels on the Constitution.

[scruffy 0]

© Wilder Publications 2008

This book is a product of its time and does not reflect the same values as it would if it were written today. Parents might wish to discuss with their children how views on race, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, and interpersonal relations have changed since this book was written before allowing them to read this classic work.

Do you heros believe the primary operative legal document for our Government warrants such a label.

story:

http://www.cato-at-liberty.org/2010/05/06/a-warning-label-on-the-u-s-constitution/

Peace, love and hoppiness

[billvon 3,095]

There was recently a thread right here on SC about "re-interpreting" the 14th amendment. Apparently there are indeed some people who are annoyed by that document.

[scruffy 0]

The immigration thing didn't even cross my mind, I'm just at a loss of words for why anyone would feel this way about our constitution (for U.S. users that is, I don't have the foggiest idea what users from other countries feel about it.)

I just thought, before today, that despite any political views, we as Americans were in pretty solid agreement that the Constitution, while imperfect, is just about as good of a framework for a national government as there could possibly be. I guess I was wrong.

Peace, love and hoppiness

[Shotgun 1]

A few things come to mind:

"Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons."

"The Migration or Importation of such Persons as any of the States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a Tax or duty may be imposed on such Importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each Person."

"No Person held to Service or Labour in one State, under the Laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in Consequence of any Law or Regulation therein, be discharged from such Service or Labour, but shall be delivered up on Claim of the Party to whom such Service or Labour may be due."

And then the Amendments that deal with ending slavery, giving all men (regardless of color or race) and then women the right to vote, etc.

I don't think it's saying anything bad about our Constitution, just pointing out that our values as a society have changed over time since it was written. It doesn't appear to be placed on there as a "warning label," seeing as it doesn't actually say "warning" (or anything to that effect) on it. It does seem somewhat odd (and unnecessary?) though.

Edit: Actually, looking through the books that they publish, it looks like that same statement is at the beginning of most of their books (about many different subjects). Or at least in the books that they have published in the last few years. I'm curious to know what their reason is for feeling the need to say that.