Benjamin Franklin: That's correct. But what did you want to put in there? Does that mean the president can't commit crimes? Surely that's covered. Might I add that he should step down at the end of his presidential term?
New founder: No, please leave that behind! Include that too!
Franklin: Or does that mean that the president is also bound by the laws of the country?
New founder: Yes, that's a good idea! And, “Presidents shouldn't stage a coup to become king. We don't want a king.”
Madison: I think it will hurt their heads a little if we stipulate that: “The president should not be the king. The president should not be the king. We don't want a king.” Trust our readers. They know what we went through because we didn't have a king.
New founder: You never know! I think this constitution might be pretty good! Maybe it will last a long time. And if, say, 235 years from now we're no longer a democracy because he forgot to include that little line that presidents don't commit crimes and go unpunished, you're pretty stupid. You will feel that.
George Mason: democratic republic.
Morris: It sounds like you're feeling stressed.
Madison: I don't think it's necessary to say all the obviously redundant things. Our intentions are very clear.
New founder: (Convulsions.) I love that optimism!
Madison: However, I worked so hard on this that I feel like everything you said is already implied there. Is there any fool out there who thinks, “Well, if the president wants it, he should stage a coup?”
New founder: Let's say it! Just in case! I just think I should say everything. Don't add it later. Please say it in a sentence.
Mason: This is what I always say! If you are serious about rights, please write in the text! Please don't add it like an afterthought. If you want people to be able to bring semi-automatic weapons into coffee shops for fun, put that in an important part.
New founder: Wait, did you imagine that?
George Washington: What a low opinion you seem to have of our future citizens. Who could argue that the president would use his office to undermine the republic?
New founder: Hypothetically, this could be a great document that has worked for 235 years and is constantly being improved upon. And a totally bad guy might end up on the Supreme Court, and oh my! Set up a code of ethics for them! And there is also a time limit!
Madison: It seems unnecessary.
New founder: And he argues that, after 235 years of working well, we should clearly dismantle the guardrails that have held everything in place for so long.
Franklin: It's like throwing your umbrella aside just because the rain wouldn't hit your head if you were standing under it.
Morris: It's like someone devising a miracle vaccine that prevents measles, everyone takes it, no longer gets measles, and then says, “I don't need a vaccine!” Measles is gone! ”
Mason: That would be like abolishing child labor laws because no children are currently working.
[The Mysterious, Disheveled New Founder begins to sob.]
