During the battle to ratify the US Constitution, many Americans worried that the founding document failed to list specific rights to be protected against government's tendency to abuse power. Thomas Jefferson gave voice to their concerns in a letter to James Madison: "A bill of rights is what the people are entitled to against every government on earth...and what no just government should refuse."
Reluctant at first, Federalists agreed to add amendments protecting personal liberties. Madison along with several others, crafted a set of 10 amendments, a Bill of Rights, which ironically, were ratified December 15, 1781. These of course, constitute the first 10 Amendments to our Constituion.
The battle to protect the liberty of individual rages on. Round 1: limited government prevailed when a Federal Judge struck down the provison, in the recently "passed" Health Care bill, mandating that every person in these United States must secure for themselves Health Insurance.
It's certainly not over yet. These are historic days. Regardless of what the future holds, the strength of our Nation is demonstrated by the civility of our process. I am so proud to be an American. May God bless our nation.
