You make a good point. I think a good solution would be to put the entire Cabinet on the ticket with the President.
I don't think Justices would be swayed by popular opinion if they have no chance for re-election. Also, whether they are elected or appointed, they are selected by people. That means that no matter what, they are going to be thinking about how their rulings will affect their image in the eyes of the people who select them -- whether it's the President/House/Senate or their constituents.
The original reason for the appointment process was because the Founders thought the people are too fickle, and they could not handle such a responsibility. However, today the Senate is not as wise as the Founders envisioned, and they are swayed by big interests. I'd rather have the people in charge. Maybe we could do an electoral college, rather than straight up elections. I consider most of this a moot point, because the states should have the power -- not the federal gov't. We shouldn't be at the mercy of the federal gov't.
I believe that every citizen has the right to say whatever they want. As soon as you allow the federal gov't to impose ANY restrictions on speech, you have given them too much power. Why does that have to be ambiguous? Times change, but that should not. I think of the Constitution as something that transcends society. Just because society changes, I do not think the Constitution should be interpreted differently. I agree that the Constitution shouldn't be used as a laundry list of rules. It should only be used for those VERY FEW instances where an ABSOLUTE law is necessary, to protect the people from the gov't -- like free speech. All other laws should be derived from state statutes.
I knew I could count on you for a good response.
