Monker wrote:Peartree12249 wrote:Behshad wrote:Peartree12249 wrote:Mubarak has finally agreed to resign as a result of massive, mostly peaceful, nonviolent protests. My best wishes to the people of Egypt and my hope is that they are able to create a secular government that represents all the men & women of Egypt, allows freedom of religion, speech and expression. One that offers educational & economic opportunities to it's citizens & continues to be at peace with it's neighbor Israel. This is the only way that terriorism can truly be defeated in the middle east.
Or it could go the complete opposite directions. 30 years ago when Iranian people made a revolution to get rid of a dictator (that actually cared for the country ) they ended up in a much worse situation that they cant get out of, with Islamist morons in charge promoring terrorism
That's true, but it seems most experts in the region don't feel that the situation in Egypt is comparable to what happened in Iran. My understanding is that the Iranians practiced a different form of Islam and their religious leaders were much more politically active than in Egypt. Yes, there is the muslim brotherhood, but by all accounts they do not represent the majority of the population. The question is how long will it take them to hold elections and form a govenment? It in the US, the Declaration of Independence was written in 1776, but the Constitution wasn't ratified and a new government formed until 1788. Granted things move a little quicker these days, but this process will still take time. The fact that the Egyptians were able to oust Mubarak after only 17 days is stunning.
This isn't true. The first Constitution, the "Articles of Confederation", was sent to the states to be ratified in 1777...and was being used even before it was ratified. Yes, it was flawed in many ways and was eventually replaced....But, implying it took until the current Constitution to be written before a federal government was formed is simply not true.
You are correct that the Articles of Confederation was created first. Technically it was ratified by the last state Maryland in 1781. But the Articles are not the Constitution that we know today. Here are some of the differences.
The Articles of Confederation (1781-1787):
1. Did not have a President of the United States
2. Every state was independent (sovereign) the United States was not referred to as a nation
3. ALL states had to agree to change the A. of C.
4. Treaties could NOT be made on behalf of the United States
5. Trade agreements could NOT be made on behaf of the United States
6. The A. of C. did NOT unite the states but instead allowed them to remain independent and self-governing.
7. There was no military.
8. There was no power to tax.
The Constitution of the United States (1789-present)
1. Established a Congress, a Supreme Court, and a President
2. Could be changed much more easily than the A. of C.
3. Gave powers to the government to tax.
4. Gave powers to the government to add land.
5. Gave powers to the government to make treaties, tariffs, embargos, and trade agreements.
6. Established the military with the President in charge.
7. Established a House of Representatives and a Senate
8. Left the door open to change (or amend) the Constiutition in the future which we have 27 times.)
Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2011 8:00 am
