Educate Your Vote: Learn About the Constitution - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

SecretMethod70 · 08-20-2004, 11:43 AM

I came across something very cool on bittorrent a little while ago and wanted to post it here. Problem is I wasn't sure if it was something that was supposed to be freely available, so I couldn't post it here until I found out. Well, now I did find out and it's OK, so here it is...

As I'm sure you're all aware, the Constitution is supposed to be the basis of everything our government does. But is it? Do you really know what the constitution says?

The Libertarian presidential candidate Michael Badnarik has spent over 18 years studying the constitution, starting in 1983. He has also taught multiple college classes on the constitution which brings me to the reason I am posting here.

I found out about the classes he's taught by running into a link for it on bittorrent. Below, if you have bittorrent, you will see a link to download a 1GB collection of videos - 8 total and each an hour long - of his class on the constitution. The class is very interesting and, in my opinion, something that everyone who plans on voting should watch.

If you do not have bittorrent, that's OK. He had links on his website to a site hosting the videos as well. A link to that site is also below.

And, lastly, there was also a link to a 2 hour, condensed presentation of the info in his class. Since I am watching the class I haven't listened to the audio presentation, but I have no reason to doubt the description that was given.

To steal two quotes from the opening of his class...

Quote:

Originally stated by Dr. Benjamin Rush, signer of the Declaration of Independence, in 1786
Education is favorable to liberty. Freedom can only exist in a society of knowledge. Without learning, men are incapable of knowing their rights, and where learning is confined to a few people, liberty can neither be equal nor universal.

Quote:

Originally stated by Daniel Webster
I apprehend no danger to our country from a foreign foe. Our destruction, should it come at all, will be from another quarter: from the inattention of the people to the concerns of their government. From their carelessness and negligence I must confess that I do apprehend some danger. I fear that they may place too implicit a confidence in their public servants and fail properly to scrutinize their conduct, that in this way they may be made the dupes of designing men and become the instruments of their own undoing. Make them intelligent and they will be vigilant. Give them the means of detecting the wrong and they will apply the remedy.

So, with that said, here are the links

[edit: bittorrent removed since I was the only one left seeding it. The web site is faster to download from now]

web site for videos:
http://www.archive.org/movies/detail...chael_Badnarik

web site for 2 hour audio presentation:
http://familyguardian.betterthanyour...k/Badnarik.htm

Cynthetiq · 08-20-2004, 12:48 PM

i'll comment after I download and watch it...

SecretMethod70 · 08-21-2004, 08:21 AM

Just so you all know, I'm one of as many as 5 seeds of the file on bittorrent, and my computer isn't always connected to the internet. So, the best way to get the videos may be to use the webpage instead.

PDiddy · 08-22-2004, 12:43 PM

I am constantly shocked by the number of people sure that the Consititution requires ____.

I see emails at work from folks certain that the 1st amendment prevents co-workers from expressing their religious opinion, as well as from people at work who think that the 1st amendment protects your right to prostyletize at work without fear of being fired.

08-20-2004, 12:48 PM	#2 (permalink)
Cynthetiq Tilted Cat Head Administrator Location: Manhattan, NY	i'll comment after I download and watch it... __________________ I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not. What's the best nation in the world? DO-NATION!

08-21-2004, 08:21 AM	#3 (permalink)
SecretMethod70 Human Administrator Location: Chicago	Just so you all know, I'm one of as many as 5 seeds of the file on bittorrent, and my computer isn't always connected to the internet. So, the best way to get the videos may be to use the webpage instead. __________________ Le temps détruit tout "Musicians are the carriers and communicators of spirit in the most immediate sense." - Kurt Elling

08-22-2004, 12:43 PM	#4 (permalink)
PDiddy Upright	I am constantly shocked by the number of people sure that the Consititution requires ____. I see emails at work from folks certain that the 1st amendment prevents co-workers from expressing their religious opinion, as well as from people at work who think that the 1st amendment protects your right to prostyletize at work without fear of being fired.