re: #225 HappyWarrior

I always found conservative judicial philosophy arrogant. The insistence that they and only they are following what the Founders would have wanted. Honestly, I have a problem with strict constructionism for the simple reason that we’re a different country in 2015 than we were in 1795. Hell we were a different country in 1895. We should continue to adhere to the general principles set forth by the Constitution but we shouldn’t take it literally word for word. Even Jefferson realized that societies change.

Strict constructionists strike me as being followers of a conservative religion. They alone understand the intent of the Founders. Oddly enough, the intent of the Founders is always completely in agreement with the views of the constructionist. It’s a gift. They ignore the reality that some of the words and phrases used in the Constitution often had very specific and commonly understood meanings at the time and that they no longer hold those deeper meanings for us.

It’s no accident that strict constructionists and theocracy advocates are both found on the same end of the political spectrum.