Lets take a quick look:
Amendment I: 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.
Just see how the ALCU acts when even the mere mention of God is made in school, or the picture of the ten commandment in the courtroom. They always scream that God is being jambed down their throats ... they demand separation od Church and State ... yet the phrase or intent is not even mentioned in the Constitution.
Amendment II : A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.
Ha, ha, ha ... just try carrying an arm down the streets of any major city ... there are more laws on the books against guns than any other topic in our legal system ... to date about 20,000 gun laws ... how is that not an infringement. In Illinois now, you cannot even defend your own home.
Amendment III : No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
So far, this one is in tact. I think.
Amendment IV : The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Yep, this one is on the way out ... warrants ... nah, not if the police smell something funny ... or they don't like the nervous look on someone's face ... the State of Oregon has already legislated this right away ... probable cause is now what the police think it is.
Amendment V : No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
Property rights and Double Jeopardy? ... just ask those who are found not guilty then sued to high heavens. and the seizing of private property without just compenations ... ha, ha, ha ... just watch as Cities find crafty ways to constructively destroy property value, then claim they are paying just compensation ... or how the government take the use value from an owner by shoving some environmental law against his land ... but does not compensate ... ha, ha, ha ... lost that right.
Amendment VI : In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.
Speedy trial by a jury of your peers? think again people. Just ask people in jail for months to a year or more awaiting trial ... and then peers? They now use anyone from the streets ... not a peer. And your rights to compel witnesses or seize information to defend yourself? Ha ... just watch what happens when pre-trial motions are made, most judges ignore many of the defense requests. What right is you have to beg the court and then be told no?
Amendment VII : In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
This right is still okay.
Amendment VIII : Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Excessive bail or fines? Cruel punishment? Just sit in any American prison ... and tell me about cruel and unusual punishment ... excessive bail? Excessive fines? If you ever see the inside of the court room as a defendant, you will discover how the court manipulates heavy fines and gets away with it because the defendants cannot afford to fight to system. Many, if not a majority of plea bargains are done because people cannot fight, and public defenders are too overloaded to be of any real good to those they defend. They cut harmful deals to get it over with.
Amendment IX : The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
This is one Amendment where the Conservatives miss the boat. When the Supremes declare a right, Conservatives will demand to know where it is said in the Constitution ... but the point of the Constitution was to limit Government ... otherwise all rights are presumed to be with the people and their states. Well, the civil war killed states rights and these have eroded ever since to almost nothing. And the rights of the people are not respected. Driving, by the above standard is a "RIGHT" of the people, but the States have managed to limit it to a privilege. Well, I agree with that one. But, the Liberals miss this one when it comes to other rights, such as bearing arms, etc.
Amendment X : The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.
The federal government has been out of control for a long time. They manipulated the income tax system to twist the arms of the States with revenue sharing ... so that when Wyoming decided to chuck the 55 MPH limit, because it is a waste in big states, the Feds threatened to cut off economic benefits ... and rough, tough Wyoming buckled under Fed pressure ... ha, states rights died a long time ago ...
Stay tuned for the balance of the other Amendments ... see how few rights you have remaining.
Jim Whitney