Justice Scalia says ’originalism’ protects American liberty
http://www.udel.edu/PR/UDaily/2007/apr/scalia043007.htmlIt was too late to get tickets when I found out about this. Apparently, it was a packed house. The school posted the following article about the event and I thought I'd pass it along to DU.
Some interesting quotes from the article....
"Scalia said he disagrees with the popular view that the Constitution is a living and evolving document that changes with time."
"“Ideally, the Constitution should be the law that's figured out by lawyers,” Scalia said. “Ultimately if the people take control of what the Constitution means, you have destroyed the Bill of Rights, because the Bill of Rights is meant to protect you and me against the people. So, unless you can figure out a system that doesn't leave it to the people, but doesn't leave it to be made up by nine unelected unaccountable lawyers, you are in a terrible fix."
"“If you want more rights, create them by statute, if you want more constitutional rights, create them by amending the Constitution.”"
Regarding his flagburning vote:
"I'm a patriotic person, but, as I understood the original meaning of the First Amendment, ... you are free to condemn the government, to criticize the government, to condemn the Supreme Court, the flag, the country. That's what it's all about: Freedom of expression.”"