I am going to have to speak out in support of incorporation. I look at this most easily from the perspective of new immigrant citizen. Someone who has traveled many leagues, suffered greatly, given up their homeland, struggled against a mountain of bureaucratic government 
on the American side, to finally become a United States Citizen. What does that mean?
It means they can go to temple, mosque, church, or shrine. They can find salvation through Buddha, Jesus, Mohammad, or Brahma. They can say whatever they want against or for this government. They have the safety from fear of having their door kicked in by police without good reason. All of these protections and many more are granted to them by the highest law of the land - the Constitution! (except in Maryland, or California or X)
Without incorporation states could opt out of these basic, fundamental protections. As much as we rail against the government for oft times violating our rights we have always been able to address redress those wrongs in one (1) of two (2) ways. The first is through electing good representation. The second is through the courts. No state, once it joins the union, should be able to welch on its agreement to hold the Constitution as the highest law in the land. And if enough states truly want to change the Constitution because they believe it is unfair to them they may go around Congress and hold a Constitutional Convention. They have this power on their own (no Nancy Pelosi or Mitch McConnell required.)
What we take for granted as our rights, such as due process and guaranteed right to counsel, are missing in many parts of the world. While most of our state constitutions mimic the federal protections, some do not. Perhaps this is because at the time they were written those protections were taken for granted at the federal level.
We gain strength through a diversity of thoughts, ideas, and viewpoints. But we also gain strength through a unified, national acceptance of our shared and fundamental rights as human beings, those being protected by the Constitution and incorporated throughout the several states. Without this unity we are not a nation, but only a Confederation.
Regards,
Doug
PS - I hope Maryland gets its butt whooped!
on the American side, to finally become a United States Citizen. What does that mean?It means they can go to temple, mosque, church, or shrine. They can find salvation through Buddha, Jesus, Mohammad, or Brahma. They can say whatever they want against or for this government. They have the safety from fear of having their door kicked in by police without good reason. All of these protections and many more are granted to them by the highest law of the land - the Constitution! (except in Maryland, or California or X)
Without incorporation states could opt out of these basic, fundamental protections. As much as we rail against the government for oft times violating our rights we have always been able to address redress those wrongs in one (1) of two (2) ways. The first is through electing good representation. The second is through the courts. No state, once it joins the union, should be able to welch on its agreement to hold the Constitution as the highest law in the land. And if enough states truly want to change the Constitution because they believe it is unfair to them they may go around Congress and hold a Constitutional Convention. They have this power on their own (no Nancy Pelosi or Mitch McConnell required.)
What we take for granted as our rights, such as due process and guaranteed right to counsel, are missing in many parts of the world. While most of our state constitutions mimic the federal protections, some do not. Perhaps this is because at the time they were written those protections were taken for granted at the federal level.
We gain strength through a diversity of thoughts, ideas, and viewpoints. But we also gain strength through a unified, national acceptance of our shared and fundamental rights as human beings, those being protected by the Constitution and incorporated throughout the several states. Without this unity we are not a nation, but only a Confederation.
Regards,
Doug
PS - I hope Maryland gets its butt whooped!
