“The strength of the constitution lies entirely in the determination of each citizen to defend it. Only if every single citizen feels duty bound to do his share in this defense are constitutional rights secure.”

Each of us must step up to defend the Constitutional rights of others if we expect the same in return. Thinking that the Government will preserve our rights is pure foolishness.

J Carlton is right. When a elected official in Washington is sworn in, he or she swears to uphold and defend the Constitution . 99% of them should be arrested for perjury since they do no such thing.

What Einstein is saying in a way is "we are the constitution". It is a living document carried in the hearts and minds of its citizens. That is not to say we should not be careful in reading it but we must enforce its concepts and spirit in my view. That means that not only should government not coerce people concerning religion (prayer in school) or racism (white drinking fountans) but each of us should also act in the ways the Constitution requires government to act.

Waffler, where you stand leaves us not knowing where we all stand. You prefer the constitution should waffle rather than be written in stone. If we change the meaning of it with each new Supreme Court-then we might as well not even have a written constitution.

The Constitution is NOT a "living document". It is an enshrinement for all time of exactly what duties the Government is limited to. Forever! Period! Waffler I hear North Korea has a living set of laws to be interpreted every 5 minutes or so...why don't you move there?

Waffler wouldn't mind if his banker declared his mortgage a living document.

No one is qualified to write in stone. Dictators clim to be so qualified. The forefaters knew this that is why they put in the right to have amendments. It is weak minds who fear the freedom to think and the freedom to be equal in rights to the Founding Fathers. Cal it is okay to not know where you stand. That is just being human.

Remember that the Constitution is a rule book for the government, not the People. It was written in first person plural - We The People are forming a government with these specific duties -- nothing more. We are not defending our 'Constitutional Rights' because our rights precede the Constitution and are not given away in exchange for the collective 'security' of the mob. Defending the Constitution means enforcing the government's observance of it -- any act by the government for which no power was given is null and void. We defend the Constitution at the jury box, the ballot box, and with a cartridge box.