-=> Quoting Sondra Ball to Jim Casto <=-
 SB> That's true.  As someone I know said, in talking about civil rights
 SB> issues, "Even Supreme Court decisions have been known to be overturn
 SB> by a different set of judges."
 
 Happens quite frequently. The last session of class we spent the whole three
 hours discussing "U.C. Davis v Bakke". That's the case where Bakke, a white
 man, was protesting against the "Affirmative Action" policies of the
 University of California Medical School at Davis, California. The opinions
 and the decisions of the Court were far more complex than the media told
 the public about that case.
 
 SB> I'm open to it not being the earliest.  Like you, I probably wouldn't
 SB> buy that book.  I try to avoid buying books I will almost never use.
 
 Haven't had a chance to check on that book yet. But school is now officially
 over for me.
 
 SB> True.  It was not ruling on slavery, although it was ruling on issues
 SB> that affected slavery.
 
 That I will agree with.
 
 SB> That's true.  Often, Supreme Court rulings have only limited
 SB> applicability, because they define their vierdict in very narrow
 SB> terms, often because of the silence of the constitution, I suppose.
 
 In some cases I suppose that true. In other cases, the Judges are very
 narrow-minded, hence they render narrow verdicts. In other cases, I think
 they just concur without even writing their own individual opinions. It's
 hard to say.
 
 SB> And I think we are a long way from any such amendment.  There just
 SB> isn't that much agreement on the issues right now.
 I agree. Tha last amendement to be ratified that affected large numbers of
 people was #26 which lowered the voting age to 18. The very _last_ amendment
 that was ratified has to do with Congressional salaries. First proposed in
 1789 finally ratified in 1992. Lots of agreement there.  The last 
biggie"
 to fail ratification (as best I can recall) was the ERA.
 SB> And, like slavery,
 SB> the folks on each side of the issue are ususally so emotionally
 SB> attached to their veiwpoint that they can't even *hear* the other side.
 
 That's probably true, also. But in some cases, people can _hear_ the other
 side, but still not agree. The only thing ratification of an amendment
 requires, however, is _enough_ agreement in the legislatures in 38(?) (or
 is it 33?) states.
 Jim
--- Blue Wave v2.12
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