The quote you gave is already true. Our government has already repudiated the Constitution in practice. The 1st amendment is already gone. Obama saw to that. The 2nd amendment is under very heavy attack, and free speech is almost non-existent in practice. Ask the Trump supporters how much protection they get to publicly state their political opinion. They get physically attacked just about every time they demonstrate, and the police just stand back and let it happen and then rush in after people get bloodied.
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We are on the verge of civil war.
You are right that the principles of the first amendment have been very much abused, and often ignored, -- but the first amendment still has a restraining power.
Compared to other countries who do not have the 1st amendment, America is still enjoying a lot of freedom!
The sad thing is, as you have pointed out, the signs are appearing that those freedoms are slipping away.
1st amendment 1791
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.ReligionCongress has not (as far as I know) made a law establishing one religion.
However, "the free exercise of religion" --especially Christianity -- has been restricted to exercise "behind closed doors" and has been highly discouraged to show itself in public.
The freedom of speechpeople can still pretty much say what they want to say, without being arrested, or imprisoned, except one must not call sin by its right name -- that may be called "hate speech" and incur penalties.
One problem Trump has is that he misused his "freedom of speech" and didn't carefully consider his words and the impact they made. If he had been more careful, he'd probably have a lot more support as there are many Americans tired of how things were being done in the past and would welcome change. His off the cuff remarks gave the opposition quite a bit of fodder to start their relentless campaign to destroy his presidency.
The pressFreedom of the press supposedly gives the printer or publisher exclusive control over what the publisher chooses to publish.
Though it seems many of the main publishers are on a propaganda platform.
While congress may or may not have made a law repudiating "freedom of the press", it appears some powers that be have put their men and women in charge of the publications and media output, to ensure their agenda is being promoted.
It's actually a "legal" way to get around the 1st amendment, --put your people in charge of the press and media, publish things to promote the agenda, and if action is taken against the press, they would claim the 1st amendment for their protection.
peaceably to assembleThe mobs are getting more and more out of control.
All kinds of protest marches. Like protestors marching against white supremists getting mowed down by a car deliberately speeding through the crowds -- Yes, things are getting more and violent and unreasonable.
But the very restraint shown by authorities, in not interfering unless actual violence occurs, is part of the American idea of no government interference in protest marches, etc.
We are on the verge of civil war.Yes, I believe you are right.
And when, the horrors of the "French Revolution" are unleashed in America, then the so called "holy" dictator will arise and with the aid of supporters, take complete control of religion, of the press, and dictate who may and may not assemble, etc. etc. Freedom will disappear under the cloak of restoring a moral society, complete with a state religion and Sunday exaltation.
Aren't there already a lot of laws in place that would completely annual the constitution in a crises situation?