Constitution 101

[Epee1]

Well since some around here were offering free courses on subjects, I felt it only appropriate to offer one on the Constitution.

http://www.hillsdaleoffer.com

[LongBlade]

Sweet! I'm sure I can learn more. Thanks.

[LongBlade]

I just watched Part 2 of this week.

I was struck first by the thought that I couldn't imagine Barak Obama doing this - I'm not sure he's a smart.

Second, I'd love to see prof Arnn and Obama debate the Constitution. I'd pay good money to see it.

[Epee1]

Yep I watched part 2, and will start part 3 tonight for this week.  I agree, Obama's position and all congress for that matter is untenable in terms of governing from the original precepts of the Constitution.

This series is fantastic.  I have one of my regular ed teachers using this series in the classroom. It is above most of the students, but they are asking questions, and that's a good thing. 

[Smuckatelli]

He seems to really like Tocqueville.

He closes out parts 3 & 4 talking about him...not the exact same words but the same message.

[Epee1]

Lecture 3, yep Smuckatelli he quotes Tocqueville quite a few times.  In the first two lectures, he quotes a lot of Madison's writings.

I'm hoping that this series will be available on CD with all the resource material. 

I'll watch lecture 4 tomorrow, read the material and then take the quiz.

[Epee1]

More reference to Tocqueville in session 4.

I thought his reference to the Federalist Papers and laws that could not be understood by the people were not constitutional was interesting.  I can think of a few laws that would not pass that test.

The Q&A is up, and I will watch that tomorrow, looking forward to next week's lessons.  I haven't taken the quiz yet.   

[LongBlade]

I think the Q&A is even better than the lectures. It drives exactly to the point, and is more succinct. The lectures are enlightening for the contemporary documents they cite, but if you want a down and dirty synopsis of the last week, the 22 minute Q&A is perfect.

http://www.hillsdale.edu/constitution/week_01_qa.aspx

[Epee1]

Week 2 started.  It focuses on the Declaration of Independence. 

[LongBlade]

I watched it last night with headphones while the fam sat through Bachelor.

I'm not sure if it was because the sound had to be blaring to override Bachelor or not, but I didn't find this discussion quite as riveting, though it was chock full of good things.

Nevertheless, I agree with his premise that we need to understand the context of the Founding Fathers' writings in order to understand the Constitution, and the Declaration is a great place to start. I also find it amazing that so many extraordinary documents were produce by so few people in such a short period of time.

[Epee1]

What's that saying about getting to many people together to work on something?  You end up with laws that no one can understand and are 3000 pages of socialized crap to take more of our freedoms.

It will never happen, but state legislatures should choose US Senators like they use to.

I bought the Constitutional Reader.  It's a monster of a book.  It's the same book the students use for this course.

[LongBlade]

Wow.

Son of Montfort ( ;) )delivers a stunning lecture on separation of powers, uses The Lord of the Rings to clarify his point, and tells us why the Founding Fathers weren't Libertarians!

This is one lecture you shouldn't miss!