The Constitution is a constraining document. It limits the power of the Federal Government. If you look at "is sacredly obligatory upon all.", the all means the government, and its agencies. And the People must explicitly change it...not allow it to be morphed and bent by politicians.

Waffler forgets the "ethical" oversteps of power. It is illegal, as Blago did, to offer a position or contract on a quid pro quo basis, but is the campaign contribution occurs 6 months later, without the implicit recognition of a pay off, then it is merely unethical, but not illegal. Both however, are an abuse.

The Articles of Confederation, adopted in 1777 by the Second Continental Congress, were apparently strong enough to beat the world's most powerful empire. I say that we were "devoid of government" from 1775 to 1777, then the 60+ members of the Continental Congress served a nation of 2 million plus.

I have not yet read Crime and Punishment, but have you seen the Soprano's... crime does indeed pay...till the end.

You are using Robert Kennedy JR to void the concept of a Free Market?! Can I counter with, oh, let's say, Adam Smith. There may not be a pure Free Market. But this is because Government from the beginning of time have seen all the commerce and wealth that flow thru the markets, and have always, greedily, interfered with taxes, licenses, levies, duties, fines, etc, in order to grab a piece of it, thereby distorting the free market.