Many would claim that the fighting and winning of the American Revolution permitted the framing of the Constitution as the enduring foundation for our government. They point out that this hotly debated document, forged during the summer of 1787, has stood the test of time - 220 years.
Professor Larry Sabato in his book "A More Perfect Contitution" argues that serious surgery is needed to bring it into the 21st centry. Among the proposed 23 changes needed:
permit those not born in the US to become president
limit the president's authority to continue to wage war to 6 months
reallocate the number of Senate seats based on population and double
the membership of the House
limit federal judges to a term of 15 years
reform the electoral college
Should we make the Constitution "fairer and more effective?"
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Thursday, October 4, 2007
How Far Have Come?
How Far Have We Come?
We like to think we are a sophisticated society enriched by science. The medicine we take, we like to believe, has been thoroughly studied and approved by the National Institute of Health. Clinical trials have provided evidence that these drugs are efficacious and safe.
Why then is our life expectancy lower than that in the UK, Switzerland, Italy and Australia? With all we know, why are we dying of heart disease, cancer and stroke?
Our colonial ancestors believed that the four humors determined our state of health. When black bile was out of balance we acted depressed and irritable. The surgeons of the 18th century prescribed bleeding or a purge to bring the body back into balance. How different is that from thinking that we need to take antibiotics or vitamins?
While a novel and distrusted concept, inoculating healthy citizens with live smallpox proved to stem the spread of the disease. Washington had the whole Continental Army inoculated. Today, we immunize children against diphtheria, tetanus, acelluar pertussis, hepatitis B and meningitis (to name a few). We encourage most of the adult population to get a flu shot.
Once grown outback in the family garden and used as the first medicine for treatment, herbs have had a resurgence of popularity. Not just in health food stores anymore, they are increasingly found in our supermarkets.
Popular as a way to ward off contagion, garlic is taken today to keep people healthy. Chocolate has always made people feel better. Even Harry Potter is given chocolate to counter a Death Eater. Now science says that dark chocolate contains antioxidant flavonoids that lower blood pressure.
In many ways, we have not changed our practice of medicine.
Watch for Part II
We like to think we are a sophisticated society enriched by science. The medicine we take, we like to believe, has been thoroughly studied and approved by the National Institute of Health. Clinical trials have provided evidence that these drugs are efficacious and safe.
Why then is our life expectancy lower than that in the UK, Switzerland, Italy and Australia? With all we know, why are we dying of heart disease, cancer and stroke?
Our colonial ancestors believed that the four humors determined our state of health. When black bile was out of balance we acted depressed and irritable. The surgeons of the 18th century prescribed bleeding or a purge to bring the body back into balance. How different is that from thinking that we need to take antibiotics or vitamins?
While a novel and distrusted concept, inoculating healthy citizens with live smallpox proved to stem the spread of the disease. Washington had the whole Continental Army inoculated. Today, we immunize children against diphtheria, tetanus, acelluar pertussis, hepatitis B and meningitis (to name a few). We encourage most of the adult population to get a flu shot.
Once grown outback in the family garden and used as the first medicine for treatment, herbs have had a resurgence of popularity. Not just in health food stores anymore, they are increasingly found in our supermarkets.
Popular as a way to ward off contagion, garlic is taken today to keep people healthy. Chocolate has always made people feel better. Even Harry Potter is given chocolate to counter a Death Eater. Now science says that dark chocolate contains antioxidant flavonoids that lower blood pressure.
In many ways, we have not changed our practice of medicine.
Watch for Part II
Monday, August 13, 2007
Not Over Yet
Monday, August 6, 2007
Not Over Yet
Famed physician, signer of the Declaration of Indepedence, friend to several of the Founding Fathers, Benjamin Rush pronounced, "The American War is over, but that is far from the case with the American Revolution. On the contrary, nothing but the first act of the great drama is closed.Some today would say that our republic has run its course, that our respect around the world is in decline, that our military power is not what it once was, and that our commerce is challenged by several other countries. Others would contend that we are the only super power left and that our influence is second to none.Does the American Revolution continue? In what ways?
Posted by Pawtuxranger at 4:55 PM 0 comments
Labels: influence, prestige, revolution
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Not Over Yet
Famed physician, signer of the Declaration of Indepedence, friend to several of the Founding Fathers, Benjamin Rush pronounced, "The American War is over, but that is far from the case with the American Revolution. On the contrary, nothing but the first act of the great drama is closed.Some today would say that our republic has run its course, that our respect around the world is in decline, that our military power is not what it once was, and that our commerce is challenged by several other countries. Others would contend that we are the only super power left and that our influence is second to none.Does the American Revolution continue? In what ways?
Posted by Pawtuxranger at 4:55 PM 0 comments
Labels: influence, prestige, revolution
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
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