: A set of rules which were fair because they applied to all, equally. The great majority of the founders despised two things more than anything else:
First, they HATED taxes of any kind, BUT they understood that taxes were necessary. They were NOT proud of paying taxes... They ABHORRED the necessity.
Second, and foremost, ALMOST ALL of the founders were afraid of a federal government. The debates in Philadelphia lasted from May till the middle of September; less than four months. More than three months of that time was consumed crafting and debating clauses to LIMIT the power of the federal government. It was easy to decide what the federal government should do... It was far more difficult to define limitations. Finally, it was decided that if a power was not GRANTED, then the federal government could NOT do it. Exception clauses were agreed to for handling emergencies.
The fruit of their labor worked well for more than 150 years only to be kissed off by an apathetic public more interested in "MINE" than "OURS."
The rich want more, so do the poor -- blacks want more, so do whites -- Hispanics want more, so do Asians -- women want more, so do men -- unions want more, so do employers -- the elderly want more, so do the young -- Jews want more, so do Christians -- Catholics want more, so do Muslims -- and so it goes. This is great stuff for politicians who take pleasure pitting one group against the other and the public loves it. How many more ways can we slice the pie?
"OURS" is without representation.
See The History Professor, for timeline-oriented original documents and factual materials of historical figures and events that led to the founding of America, the evolution of the Constitution, and the political system of the USA.