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They did say that. We THE PEOPLE of the United States refers to the people in the United States. That's what it says.
Let me make it more clear for you. Before there was a United States, there were only people. They weren't citizens, they were just people living in America. In the Declaration of Independence, the founders said that "Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed". Government gets its powers from the people who are governed. Government may not have any powers that individuals do not have without government. Since all of the people living within the borders of the United States are subject to the Constitutionally valid laws of the United States, they are "governed" by the U.S. Government. Not some people....ALL people. The U.S. Government derives its powers from THE PEOPLE who are governed by the U.S. Government, and yes this includes non-citizens and undocumented immigrants. They are also subject to all of the laws of the United States which do not contradict the Constitution (such as immigration laws). If they commit murder, they go to jail. If they steal, they go to jail, etc. They are absolutely part of WE THE PEOPLE. |
An immigrant would surely be a "person of France living in the United States". An immigrant wouldn't describe themselves as a person of the United States. He's got you dead to rights, so to speak.
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At best, it is up for interpretation which is what we are doing now and you still lose because everything else is therefore up for interpretation as well. You are too smart a guy to not see the reality right in front of you. |
It depends on what your definition of of is.
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Although we can discuss and debate it. I am wiiling to do that. That still proves the point of "interpretation" |
It's not up for interpretation. It means we the people of the united states.
You keep highlighting the word "of" as though that means something special when it does not. The people who are governed by the United States are THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES. This is where the government drives its powers. |
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It derives its powers from being elected by... the people of the United States. The citizens, the voters.
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Radar, That is not even worthy of a response. You are trying to switch the argument to the derrivation of power and to governance. I would love to debate that with you right after we finish up this one, if you please. One thing at a time. Please agree that: 1) the writers meant exactly what they wrote (you have already done this numerous times) and 2) "of" is not the same as "the" |
Wrong. It derives its powers from the CONSENT of the governed....the permission of the people. It exercises those powers through people becoming elected.
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2. The people OF the United States refers to all of the people who are governed by the United States. All of them are OF the United States because the United States derives its powers from their consent. |
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