Back in the old days we had common enemies, from the rockasaurus to the sabertooth alley cat we, as humans were united in battling for our collective survival.
Things were going fine and we all shared the workload. Those endowed by nature protected and hunted while those with more intellectual prowess took care of inventions, tools and storytelling. Humanity was basically all concentrated in the same geographic region and it would be many a year before the idea of third world countries came to be.
Decisions concerning justice were made by collective consensus, a rudimentary idea of democracy.
To find out what the dinosaurs are up to now please continue after the Bullwinkle and Rocky symbol.
A very short time after the invention of the foot powered car (pre-historic Prius), we started to develop languages like pig Latin, Esperanto, and English. Despite the overuse of the letter “f”, English permitted those with intellect and delusions of grandeur to introduce the idea of governance. For many a decade, newly invented religions and the ever developing human trait of “thirst for power”, saw the emergence of government and a ruling class.
After a brief respite to allow the Ark to be emptied, some Greek fellows got together and under the influence of ouzo and feta cheese, put forth the original tenets of what we know as democracy today.
We fast forward a few hundred years to the late 1770’s and saw the return of God to the soon to be United States. Having used up his tablet stock, God just jotted down on parchment, the Declaration of Independence and Constitution. Unable to stay we would not hear from God again until his meeting with L Ron Hubbard. Recognizing the need for some inalienable rights, the Constitution was written so as to insure a number of important ideas.
The first amendment was written to insure that corporations could have all the benefits of existence, without the consequences, the second was drafted to allow for men with small genitalia to carry assault weapons into family restaurants, and other than slaves and native Americans, everybody got an amendment. It was sort of like Oprah.
Among the basic rules directly handed to Betsy Ross by the Almighty, was the idea of the separation of powers. The four branches of government, executive, legislative, judicial, and special interests were supposed to be separated. The founding fathers decided that no religion was supposed to be injected into our new democratic system either. This so enraged God that he created the Jehovah’s witness harassment program, which exists to this day.
The idea of the separation of powers is the very foundation of democracy, and all of those living in said democracy could rest assured that the judiciary would simply interpret laws and apply the necessary ruling, punishment, or decision with no regard for political dogma or personal allegiance.
So long as the justice branch is fair, apolitical, and makes decisions void of religious association, all would be well. Every American could rest assured of certain rights, like a speedy trial, cavity search, perp walk, and an equitable treatment and sentencing.
In order to make sure that laws, passed by the legislative branch (the pre-Obama era), were based on a strict interpretation of the Constitution, a body of experienced intelligent, and most importantly impartial jurists was created.
The Supreme Court of the United Stated or “Supremes”, was created. Nine members were designated for life, and administered by a chief justice. Although the nomination is for life, each justice can decide when he or she will step down. When a position opens up on the SCOTUS, it’s up to the sitting president and eventually his or her Tarrot reader, to designate the replacement. In the same Constitutional spirit of fairness, said nominee needs to be confirmed by a majority vote of Congress.
Just in the interest of historical accuracy, we need to mention that the term “majority” means that of a particular voting body, fifty percent of their number plus one vote are required to obtained said “majority”. Since 2009, this majority rule was amended by the Negro Majority Act, which requires 60 percent of the voting body to obtain “majority”.
At present the impartiality of the SCOTUS is alas no more. There are five “conservative” justices, and they are now interpreting the Constitution with a politically skewed bias. Yes sometimes all nine justices or more than five will rule in a like manner, but this is due to either ruse, or the impossibility to render a contrary decision.
Progressives, descendants of the Enlightened one’s and the Mothers of Invention, are faced with an important mission. More than any individual election or single piece of legislation, and in light of the sad state of the SCOTUS, we need at least five progressive justices on the bench. Having a Democratic House and Executive is obviously great, but given the blatant disregard of logic, the incorporation of religion into the decision making process, and obvious political bias that tarnishes all recent decisions, those five progressive judges are the most important elements for America’s future.
From philandering cross-eyed lion to bloviating bigot, the DC five have made their way forward known. The court must have at least five progressives. To quote a famous philosopher of floor polishing fame, Bruce Buffer, “It’s Time”!