The Party of Smaller Government
When we last visited TN republcans, they were trying to ban swinging (the fun kind) and other such silliness. Now, they want to ban drones at some places and make the Bible the state’s official book. I can actually see the point in the former but I would think intellectual property rights have that covered.
April 2nd, 2015 at 6:48 pm
The Legislature wants to make the Bible the state book?
Which version?
(And you thought “9mm v. .45ACP stirred some puddin’.)
April 2nd, 2015 at 8:07 pm
I can think of a few kinds and they all at least seem fun.
Hell, it even sounds fun swinging a dead cat. Recently dead anyway.
So what kind of swinging is not fun?
Just curious.
April 3rd, 2015 at 2:25 am
Swinging by the neck, for one.
April 3rd, 2015 at 11:14 am
I would think making the Bible the state book (and echoing rickn8or, “which version?”) would rather blatantly run afoul of the First Amendment. It would seem to be very much the government “respecting an establishment of religion”.
Of course, as we all know, the only difference between the two parties is what they want to control, not how much they want to control.
April 3rd, 2015 at 2:46 pm
Article I Section 3 of the Tennessee Constitution would be the applicable part of the Declaration of Rights:
That all men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own conscience; that no man can of right be compelled to attend, erect, or support any place of worship, or to maintain any minister against his consent; that no human authority can, in any case whatever, control or interfere with the rights of conscience; and that no preference shall ever be given, by law, to any religious establishment or mode of worship.
Since there is no law compelling anyone do or not do anything, to purchase, read or worship according to the Bible, I think the State Legislature may do this. But then they pass many other laws that actually do impose on us in many ways in violation of our enumerated rights. I’m wondering if our Governor or Legislators have actually READ the State Declaration of Rights which, in the matter of the addition or expansion of rights, supercedes the U.S. Constitution according to its 9th and 10th Amendments.
April 3rd, 2015 at 3:16 pm
Ron W. I see that.
But Tennessee is one of eight(?) states in which an atheist cannot hold public office.
April 3rd, 2015 at 3:42 pm
Is that a law? If so, like many others, it is a violation of the Declaration of Rights in the Tennessee Constitution:
That no political or religious test, other than an oath to support the Constitution of the United States and of this State, shall never be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under this State. –Article I, Section 4
I am a fundamentalist Christian, one of the fundamentals being …stand fast therefore in the Liberty with which Christ has made us free and do no become entangled again in the yoke of bondage –Galatians 5:1. I would much prefer an atheist who follows their Constitutional oath than a professing Christian who doesn’t.
April 3rd, 2015 at 4:25 pm
“I would much prefer an atheist who follows their Constitutional oath than a professing Christian who doesn’t.”
Well yeah, who wouldn’t. Think we’ll ever get anyone that follows the oath of office?
Tennessee Constitution, Article IX, Section II
But it looks like that knife cuts two ways:
ARTICLE IX
Disqualifications.
Section 1. Whereas ministers of the Gospel are by their profession, dedicated to God and the care of souls, and ought not to be diverted from the great
duties of their functions; therefore, no minister of the Gospel, or priest of any denomination whatever, shall be eligible to a seat in either House of the Legislature.
Section 2. No person who denies the being of God, or a future state of rewards and punishments, shall hold any office in the civil department of this state.
The 8 states that feel the same way: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/12/15/which-states-ban-atheists-from-holding-public-office/
April 3rd, 2015 at 4:27 pm
Oops. And yes, Article IX does fly in the face of the U.S. Constitution Article I, Section 4.
It also outlaws dueling.
April 3rd, 2015 at 4:47 pm
rickn8or,
Article I, Sec. 4 is from the Tennessee Constitution’s Declaration of Rights and it apparently contradicts the Article IX disqualifications. The reason is in Article I, Section 1:
Section 1. That all power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority, and instituted for their peace, safety, and happiness; for the advancement of those ends they have at all times, an unalienable and indefeasible right to alter, reform, or abolish the government in such manner as they may think proper.
ALL POWER IS INHERENT IN THE PEOPLE. No Tennessean should be disqualified from holding office. The Declaration of Rights should supercede any other part of the Constitution, any law and any public official!!!
April 3rd, 2015 at 6:39 pm
Ron W, I think we’re in violent agreement here. It seems that parts of the Tennessee Constitution were written by people that didn’t work and play well together. (Or evidently,even communicate.)
According to this USA Today article, there are some Tennessee legislators that are in violation of Article IX, Section I. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/03/19/tenn-atheists-fight-law-bars-office/25051551/
But I would not make the slightest effort to see them removed from office.
The point is moot anyway; I doubt very seriously that an open avowed atheist could be elected to an office in Tennessee anyway, because regardless of candidate’s qualifications or position on the issues, the electorate couldn’t see past his or lack of faith. (See for example all those people that “just couldn’t bring themselves to vote for a Mormon”)
April 4th, 2015 at 12:47 pm
rickn8or,
I was not aware of that contradiction, but the Declaration of Rights Article I, Section 4 should supercede that for the reason I stated before. That would be a good reason for a constitutional amendment to rectify.
People vote for or against people for all sorts of reasons other than the most important reason of fidelity to the U.S. And State Constitutions. Many people voted for George W. Bush because they thought he was a “Christian conservative”. But he certainly did not conserve the Constitution, so I did not vote for him. I also did not vote for Romney, if he was the Mormon to whom you referred. I cared not thst he was Mormon, but he did not appeal at all to me as a constitutionalist and ALL of the Bill of Rights. People voted for Obama because they thought he was a “liberal”, but he is an authoritarian leftist.I do not “waste my vote” on those who demonstrate that they are either ignorant of or disdain their oath to the Constitution. Jefferson said it well, “…it is a dangerous delusion to trust the men of our choice…bind them down with the chains of the Constitution”.
April 4th, 2015 at 12:56 pm
rickn8or,
And yes, I agree! Most of my Christian brethren would ignorantly and even bigottedly vote for a professing “Christian” authoritarian over an atheist Constitutionalist who would vote or govern under the authority of the U.S. and State Constitutions–a sad commentary!
April 4th, 2015 at 2:25 pm
Ron W, like I said, “We’re in violent agreement.” That seldom happens between Christians and atheists these days.
April 5th, 2015 at 8:33 am
rickn8or,
LOL, Yep, I suppose so. like Ron Paul has said, ” Liberty brings people together.