Making the Supreme Court Safe for Democracy: Samuel Moyn on Reforming an Undemocratic Institution

[@DK-zu6tt]

Thank you Juan for asking the Excellent questions for how to fix this. Though the Dems don't have the courage to do anything meaningful, if they are our only hope, we are lost. This is why we also need term limits for Congress, and we need ranked choice voting so we can have more party choices than 2.

[@kathleenwinston9013]

It's so scary that she won't answer the questions that are already obvious yes or no and clearly set out in the constitution. A peaceful transition of power, and how her extreme right wing membership in a cult with religious beliefs that will prevent her from being able to not violate separation of church and state. Her inability to answer the question about is there inherent institutional racism in our system, is very disturbing as she has adopted several black children. As a white mother of three black children, I had to experience that rascism from the time my children entered adolescence. I witnessed how my sons were treated, and I went to the police station and complained about the harrassment that they received when they were stopped, searched and questioned every time they walked to the corner store. I'm wondering if she's ready to stand up and defend her kids when they get treated like that, especially living in the wealthy white neighborhood she lives in. When she has to go to the school to defend them for getting in a fight with the five white boys who called one of them the n word. and the getting suspended after defending themselves. Then those very boys wanted to be his friends. When I asked the principal if he sent a note to ther parents about the use of a racial slur, I was told that wasn't illegal and he could do nothing about it. I hope she's ready to fight for her kids. And she should stop lying.

[@earthwanderer4729]

Well said!

[@lovely-mk4rt]

ACB is a “constitutional originalist “ please look that up. It’s serious. When the constitution was being drafted, only landowners were considered full citizens that were able to vote. At that time landowners/ holders were rich, white, and usually older. At that time wives and slavers were property. Look up her religious ( cult) and what I’m saying is verifiable

[@lovely-mk4rt]

^*slaves

[@peaceizaverb2582]

Fantastic interview! Thank you! Happy birthday Juan!

[@corujariousa]

The only position that should have a life appointment is the Pope, and they are usually old so the ruling is not so long lived. There should be limits to how many terms senators and House Representatives could serve consecutively as well. I'd suggest no more than 3 terms and have to stay out for at least the equivalent of 1 term before running for reelection. Justices should not serve for more than 9 years.

[@anamariamarquez105]

Feliz Cumpleaños Juan!!! It's a pleasure to look and listen to you and Amy... Thank you y Buena Vida!!!

[@jenwendy7]

Happy Birthday Juan 🎈 🎈 🎈 ! Great show. Supreme Court is scary since I can remember, which are Citizen United days. Love this segment - I'm sick and angry with minority rule.

[@coreyham3753]

Interesting interview and discussion on issues with the Supreme Court.

[@USMCCGAGNG]

If the Supreme Court is going to be another political partisan body... we've already got that in Congress. So it is redundant and no longer needed.

[@herahagstoz6934]

It’s so obvious that the basic power which has traditionally been attributed to the individuals who inhabit the roles of judges has no place in a ideology that holds that no person is above the rule of law. Judges as a group have a the unique privilege of being the law. Hence they become superior to all others and definitively not equal. They are akin to the police who have also traditionally been given the privilege of being “the law”. The pushback against us to hold police accountable is, I believe, the judicial branches’ understanding that holding itself accountable undermines their godlike status as untouchable in terms of being infallible. Only a “higher” (more untouchable) judge to overrule another (something they rarely do and something the supreme judges always grudgingly do if at all). It’s just too much power for too long for anyone who believes in equality and democracy to hold.

[@someonesomewhere1600]

An important point I read recently (Chomsky?): the Supreme Court is not a legal body it is a political body.

[@worththewatch1517]

Who cares? As if even your vote can make any difference considering its legal 🤣

[@ruthdenova5984]

Happy Birthday Mr. Juan Gonzales.

[@marlak4253]

A much needed brilliant argument by Professor Moyn to repair the Supreme Court to protect democracy. The majority of the people should decide issues before the nation, not those selected by a minority view. The Court is clearly in need of repair.

[@elizabethquon533]

Majority rules, people should decide who is on the Supreme Court and limit what type of laws that are viewed by the Supreme Court. Perhaps only laws that deal with the bill of rights. If federal courts decide cases that the Supreme Court's are undecided on then let them deal with it . Limited terms and power over what they judge are all good ideas.

[@ese_cholito]

No, it doesn't, we have a Constitution for a reason. Mob rule isn't the way to manage society, the Greeks learned that lesson the hard way.

[@richietattersall2122]

"The question whether the judges are invested with exclusive authority to decide on the Constitutionality of a law has been heretofore a subject of consideration with me in the exercise of official duties. Certainly there is not a word in the Constitution which has given that power to them more then to the Executive or Legislative branches" Thomas Jefferson, in a letter to W. H. Torrance, 1815. "The Constitution.....meant that it's coordinate branches should be checks on each other. But the opinion which gives the judges the right to decide what laws are Constitutional and what not, not only for themselves in there own sphere of action but for the Legislature and Executive also in their spheres, would make the Judiciary a despotic branch." Thomas Jefferson in a letter to Abigail Adams, 1804

[@watekinggamres9934]

Nice news and best analysis not polite and not politicizing every thing...

[@svlonestar7645]

Great info

[@ibrahimdukku4823]

The Judiciary is 100 politicised going down history, But must it be like that always, if so it's too bad and too sad for American democracy, and the Republican can clinch and stay in power for far too long.

[@whygohome172]

Where I'm from MAJORITY RULES and people get sick of being controlled and unable to choose their own destiny. PLUS they have the advantage of being angry so with nothing to loose you are going to get dangerous and desperate people. Its only a matter of time before masses of homeless congregate and come up with a plan.

[@ibrahimdukku4823]

@@whygohome172 The whole American democracy narrowed to GOP and the supreme court not the majority votes, is( the electoral college)

[@watekinggamres9934]

@@whygohome172 I think people homeless or with other issues can't be denied to do their constitutional/ democratic rights to present their demands with rallies protests etc....

[@mitchellkrouth5083]

get rid of the supreme court

[@joannenayeri6041]

That is what I call rigging/stacking the odds in Trumps/Republican favour. A life job regardless of merit.

[@Hughster49]

No one cares what you call it, the rules are in the Constitution!

[@raishaferreira8099]

Sleazy Vote him away

[@KaikalaMoon]

Happy B'Earth'Day Juan Gonzalez! 🎉

[@mlrible]

Happy B-Day Juan!

[@Imaginme]

I think we have plenty of Catholics on the Supreme Court already. I had no idea they were almost 100% Catholics! How is that diversity? Isn't it interesting the judgements have been varied still. I think we need a couple of Protestants now.

[@joannenayeri6041]

Amend the constitution it is out of date!

[@grayisgood]

Really good. I like when you have people talk about the effects of the court on all of us. The court as an entity.

[@winstonsmith-ministryoftru1609]

This is by far the best interview on Democracy Now in years!

[@doncarlsanders]

With any luck with Amy on the court we might get a ruling on what a natrualborn is.

[@leeporwoll2380]

Why only pack the courts with 2 liberal justices? Why not push for 4 or 5? Why not crush the opposition for once goddamnit!?!!

[@kevinweber5129]

Democrats need to put forward an Amedment establishing the right to Privacy protecting Abortion, Contraceptives, and gay rights. Force republicans to vote against it to use it to run against Republican Senators and representatives.

[@ese_cholito]

America is a constitutional republic.

[@kanani717]

Orange Man Bad

[@gregphilipmusic]

But he doesn’t say *how*.

[@altitudeillume6729]

add 4 more judges

[@AudioPervert1]

Massive yawn ... This court is adjourned and the future has been cancelled ...

[@yourdedcat-qr7ln]

I don't like people interpreting the constitution. Just make sure no laws touch my rights. I should be able to do whatever I want as long as I don't directly impede another from doing the same. Supreme court allows to much infringement on my rights. People are open to bias and mistakes. I don't need them deciding on what I can't or can do with my rights that are God given

[@elenazagaglia4590]

rights are not God given because not everybody believe in God, they have been created by the agency of humans and as humans we have lost the concept of value and respect.

I marvel at you people as long as the court leaned left and legislated from the bench...you were just fine soon as cheques and balances swings the other way the complete destruction of the institution is just fine your a bunch of judicial bigots

[@TheGuerillapatriot]

This a Republic. Property owners should be the only ones allowed to vote on income taxes.

[@tonyfat2458]

Trump is a great man and president

[@USMCCGAGNG]

Your abuse of drugs and alcohol is obvious. Please, get help.

[@tonyfat2458]

@@USMCCGAGNG as a Native American I find your comment offencive

[@tonyfat2458]

@Bob Mama and joe Biden not