[crazygringo]

What's the punishment for that SC when a later SC overrules it, three new justices later?

And while we're at it, are we also creating a three strikes law for lower courts that get overruled by the SC three times?

And what about the courts below them? What if they get overruled by a higher court... which in turn gets overruled by the SC?

I can't wait to keep track of all this ;)

[ls15]

The biggest risk would be that a politician will be wrongfully denied participation when they actually were fit for the job. That's a smaller price to pay than living with a politician who works against the constitution.

[govg]

Blind adherence to a document written ~200 years ago, in a world that has vastly changed cultural and social norms is incredibly short sighted. People elect politicians based on trust, and if the politicians decide to pass a law that is the will of the people manifested.

[ls15]

What are the options if that trust is abused?

People emotionally trick other people into voting for them and then do whatever is on their agenda during their mandate.

[govg]

There is no universal solution to "emotionally trick other people into voting for them". If the politicians don't follow up, you vote them out. The problem in the US stems from lack of choice, owing to the entrenched 2 party system. Almost every other country around the world has more than 2 options, and there are many examples where democracy is functional.

If you're assuming that every voter is intelligent enough to make their own voting decisions, then no one is being "tricked". And assuming to the contrary puts you on a slippery slope of who gets to decide if someone was "tricked" vs not.

[ls15]

I assume that many people find out themselves that they've been tricked shortly after the election and almost 4 years before the next election, when the first promises are broken.

> If the politicians don't follow up, you vote them out.

That's what I think where it lacks options. You cannot really vote politicians out. You can only vote politicians in. In some cases you can even only vote for parties, not for people. The ancient Greeks used to vote people out. I would at least want to be able to vote for party X, but not this guy, not this other guy and definitely not that guy who was the worst liar over the last 20 years, but somehow managed to stay afloat every time.

[6510]

You put up with it until the next election where a new rep abuses you the same way. That way you get the will of the people written into law your whole life long.

[muaytimbo]

People don't elect politicians based on trust, that's crazy. They choose the lesser of two evils (in the US generally).