One size does not fit all
and seldom fits anyone perfectly.
First, let us all remember that the numbers on the amendments are irrelevant to their legal importance. ALL are equally valid, and equally legally important and binding.
In the real world, the rights enumerated in the First Amendment have a primacy of importance, and daily impact. In the court of last resort, the 2nd Amendment rights have a physical primacy, without which our options are severely limited. Continued respect for our First amendment rights, by the govt is what keeps us from having to resort to the final argument.
Second, lets also remember that no matter how much we might wish otherwise, we have come a long way from the system set up by our Founders. We have to live, and deal with what exists today, and by so doing, create what will exist tomorrow.
American voters can be divided into several groups. One group votes straight party lines. Most do this because of tradition. "Grandad was a Democrat, Dad was a democrat, and so am I," etc.
Another group votes with their wallets, as they see it. "My union says vote democrat, and so I do, because they will keep me working." Or "I own a business, and Republicans are for business, so I vote for them", etc.
Another group are those who vote for the important social/civil rights issues they believe most strongly in. Many gun owners (but by no means all) are there. So are the Abortion folks , both pro and con, the gay rights people, the environmentalists etc. etc.
And there is yet another group that is living comfortably enough that they have nothing important enough to them to bother to vote.
All these groups have myriad degrees, and one can be in one, or several, depending on the precise views you hold, and how strongly you feel about them.
No one seems to be completely satisfied with either of the main parties choices on everything, so those that do vote, mostly wind up voting for whichever party/candidate that seems to agree strongest with their particular sacred cow, accepting the "bad" to get at least a little "good".
Lots of us don't fit perfectly and completely in either camp. Perhaps one reason why so many of us are dissatisfied with politics, parties, and politicians. And all of us "know" things would all be just fine if the politicians actually did what we want them to do. Trouble is, that with so many widely differing points of view, what is right to some is completely wrong to others. And it changes with each different issue, and individual.
Take national health care, for one. To me, it is one of those things, like communism, a fine sounding idea, in theory, but something that invariably doesn't work well in the real world. Forget, for a moment, all the arguments about who pays, and whether it is socialism, and everything else, and just ask your self one question. Do you really want the Federal Government running our health care system? And, before you answer that, look at the fine health care system already run by our federal govt. The VA.
Because, the best of intentions not withstanding, once enough people and bureaucracies get involved with it, that is what it will come down to. Is this what you want for yourself, and your children? And is it right to give our govt agencies the legal authority to force us all into that kind of system?
Now, go on and consider all the other arguments, pro and con, and make up your mind.
Gay Marriage. Something that affects me personally not in the least. However, being a bit of a traditionalist, at least when it comes to language, I oppose gay marriage. I favor "civil unions" having ALL the legal rights of marriage. I just oppose the term marriage being used for anything other than its traditional definition.
Abortion. Being a man, my gut reaction is that I have no place in this issue. BUT, I fully agree and support my wife's position, which she explains this way; She is pro-life AND pro-choice. Sounds like a contradiction at first, but her reasoning is actually quite simple, and logical. She believes abortion (for convenience) is wrong, BUT she believes that is not the govt's decision. The same govt that claims the authority to say "you shall not" has the authority to say "you must!", and that, to her, is wrong.
Guns and shooting are my main hobby, a passion I have enjoyed for nearly 40 years. To me, they are the main factor in who I vote for. I'll put up with an awful lot (but not everything) as long as you leave my things alone. Trouble is, they won't. So, generally, I hold my nose, and vote for the ones I hope will leave me alone the longest.
On this issue, neither party is our good friend. One just wants to do it to us faster than the other. This is, of course a broad generalization, and so, not completely accurate. There are good people who feel the same way we do on this issue in both parties. Trouble is, that they aren't, and haven't been the ones running things for some time now.
) for politicians has become whether or not they support the repeal of laws. Maybe it is the nature of the beast, but the function of government seems to have become producing ever more laws. Whenever politicians actually support eliminating existing laws (and not substituting replacements). I take close notice.