OPINION:
The Ninth Amendment reads, “The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.” The amendment’s numerical precedence gives it primacy over the 10th Amendment. This flows from the clearly stated intent of the Framers to keep the ultimate political power in the hands of the people.
Notice I said keep, not place. That is because the Founders believed that all political power came from the people. The effect of the Ninth Amendment is to prohibit the federal government from any exercise of political power not granted to it by the Constitution. This implies that the interpretation of the political powers granted by the people to the federal government shall be strictly construed. It also prohibits the states from exercising any political power that conflicts with the powers, especially the fundamental ones, retained by the people, whether they are enumerated in the Constitution or the Bill of Rights or not.
In essence, “We the People” retain the power to reject the central planning and control of socialists and progressives in the Democratic Party, and to stop them in their tracks. All that is necessary is to educate the people of the dangers of going down the roads of socialism and progressivism, and to wean them of their dependence on the federal government. The Republicans can stop them by nominating original-intent judges to the federal courts.
MAJ. JAMES M. DORN
U.S. Army Reserves (retired)
Chino Hills, Calif.
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