Frank's Musings

Jaime Reskins’ argument in the 9/28/22 NYT opposes the Jan. 6 insurrectionists’ claim that their right to interfere with the functioning of the government is protected by the Constitution. He states that any such right is absurd on its face because the Constitution set up an authority to define and defend the very order its drafters had established.

There may be a higher principle which guaranteed the legitimacy of the colonists to rebel against their foreign oppressors; but that natural right cannot be codified. No constitution, even a customary one like England’s, provides for its own destruction. That means that the only justification for a rebellion must be found in natural law.

Congressman Raskin also failed to make a logical denial of the Jan. 6 rioters’ claim.  Of course, they violated the Constitution—that was their intention.  The appropriate accusation of the insurrectionists is treason.  In fact, no matter the punishment they receive from their court trials, they are lucky to emerge with their lives.