How different would our country be if...

[Aunt Sponge]

The Framers of the Constitution (mainly, James Madison) wrote "Life, Liberty and Property" instead of "Life, Liberty and the Persuit of Happiness"

Property is what the phrase use to be - that is what the colonists took it to mean back then, and James Madison changed it to be more pallatable and flexible.

[BubblesofBeer]

Hmmm I think we don't have a lot of regard for the pursuit of happiness as it stands right now. We as a society work really hard to take rights away and such. Thus stifling ones pursuit of happiness.

[OliveJuice]

I think that "Pursuit of Happiness" is kind of a joke. It basically tells me that I have the right to TRY to get to my happiness but actual happiness, now that's a rarity!

But I also think that the whole thing is pretty fuddy. "All men are created equal"? Yet at the time that didn't include people of other colors or women for that matter.

[LoveKiss]

Hmmmm... I dunno. Has "the pursuit o0f happiness" line ever been used as justification for making a law or backing one up after the fact in a court case?

[Aunt Sponge]

"persuit of happiness" - i consider our entire government to adhere to this.
Consider it as "it's what the people want" or as in "the customer knows best" ... and if it'll make us happy in some way - and we as a majority reason in it's case - we're likely to get what we want.

I think it has more weight, whne you really think about it, than it sounds. It's not talking about individual "go, be happy, don't work, don't be depressed!" ... but this notion of being content with your life is why we're in the middle of reforming healthcare - some people still don't have healthcare options and they would be much more content and happy if they did.

I think, though, that "persuit of happiness' helps to ensure our freedom of speech, etc - and prevents people form banning certain forms of entertainment, etc.
However - if it was "property" then I honestly think that would had an undoing effect - since women were often considered "property" we might not even, now, have the right to vote ... etc. We would be a completely differnet country.