Constitution Day 2007
What is the most important date in American history? Most of us would swiftly answer the Fourth of July. But think about today, September 17th. On this date in 1787 the convention in Philadelphia completed work on one of the greatest acts of creative leadership of all time, "this Constitution of The United States." Their work rescued America from what Madison later described as "gloomy chaos" and set the world marching toward what we can now see as the Age of Democracy.
Yet there will be no parades today, no picnics or fireworks. Perhaps a library somewhere is sponsoring a talk. Constitution Day will pass largely unnoticed. It is not surprising. Americans have over the last 40 years drifted away from a connection to our Constitution, the document that invented the United States as we now understand it and helped America to become the longest enduring democracy in history (Athens lasted 170 years as a democracy).
We revere the framers. We gobble up books about them and love snippets of their wisdom. They have become our secular gods. Yet we have little sense of what it was they actually invented. We know that the Declaration of Independence proclaimed our liberty. But liberty alone, as it turned out, was not the answer to the question of how to create a successful nation. As the framers learned in the eleven years following 1776, liberty unleashed the ambitions, the self-interests of individuals, factions and states. Selfish behavior was so rampant that the army nearly starved in the field of battle. Farmers took up arms. States threatened border war with other states. The country, if it even was a country, was falling apart. This was the "gloomy chaos" Madison confronted when he entered Philadelphia.
He and his fellow delegates saved America by recognizing that the pursuit of self-interest, which lay behind all the chaos, was fundamental to human nature. Before 1787 self-interest was something that had to be transcended to preserve Democracy. But the Constitution turned "vice into a virtue," harnessing ambition and channeling it into a system of representative government that pit interest against interest to find the greater good. Power was separated and balanced. The system was driven by "conflict within consensus" as historian Michael Kammen summed it up. There had never been a government like it before. This was their great invention: a government that let people be free by recognizing what people were really like.
The power of their invention is inarguable. Out of that sweltering hall in Philadelphia, out of that crisis of the early American nation, emerged a blueprint for government that was designed to let the people govern themselves despite their imperfections. It did not count on people to be selfless or bigger than themselves. "If men were angels, no government would be necessary,' wrote Madison. This new idea for government presumed people would pursue their own interests. Indeed it counted on them to do just that.
And it created paths for others to disagree, and resist them, or argue for something different. Their invention was a government designed to channel these struggles. To impede change until enough people supported it. To force people to the middle To encourage compromise. To spread power around so, in Hamilton's succinct vision, the few could not oppress the many and the many could not oppress the few. A lot could get done if people worked together in this system. But, if they fought each other, it could all grind to a halt.
In other words what they sent out from Philadelphia 220 years ago today was not just a piece of parchment. They created a new set of ideas about government and democracy. They had no idea how effective those ideas would be
The American "experiment" has worked better and lasted longer than any alternative.
But we do not recall all this for a history lesson. Because today, despite all our success, many Americans are feeling deeply frustrated and disillusioned with the functioning of their country. "Our conviction about American greatness and purpose is not as strong today," William J Bennett writes on the very first page of his History of The Untied States.
We are searching for a renewal.
The Constitution itself is a good place to start this day. It is after all what makes us Americans. We are not a country defined, in the words of journalist Ray Suarez, "by blood, or clan, or land origins, or religious belief." Rather, we are held together by the strength of our shared beliefs in our Constitution and its principles -- such as a respect for process, a willingness to compromise, a tolerance for dissent. We call this our Constitutional Conscience
But we have been drifting away from these principles and our modern politics has become brittle, confrontational and uncompromising. Our common bond has been unraveling. Recent experience reminds us that we make mistakes as a country when we move away from how our system was built to work. When people say now they wish The Congress and the media had done more to question the march to war in Iraq they are saying, too, that they wish the leaders of congress and the press had done more to assert their authority, and fulfill their responsibilities, under The Constitution. Even many proponents of the war concede now that the checks and balances did not work well. We believe that is precisely because of a weakening of our sense of our Constitutional roles, our constitutional conscience. Voters do not reward elected officials for executing their constitutional responsibility so it is little wonder that most elected officials don't pay much heed to those responsibilities. "People revere the constitution yet know so little about," Senator Robert Byrd said, "and that goes for some of my fellow senators."
Ronald Reagan, one of our most important 20th century presidents saw this problem coming as he left office. He warned of what he saw as a growing failure to appreciate our own history. Ultimately, he said, this would eradicate "the American memory" and threaten the American spirit. Some years later, Derek Bok the former president of Harvard worried that no one any longer bothers to prepare people to be citizens. Civics has nearly vanished from our curriculums, squeezed out in many cases by the understandable drive to teach science and math. We do that to assure our competitiveness in the world economy. But we should be just as concerned about our moral authority in the world. Moral authority comes from the strength of our principles. We are the inheritors of one of the greatest statements of democratic principles ever written. One piece of rehabilitating our moral authority in the world and our confidence in our selves is to reconnect with our own statement of best principles, "this Constitution of the United States." Franklin Roosevelt, our other great 20th Century president, said we should read The Constitution "again and again" like the bible. Or maybe we should all go to that Library talk.
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I don't know about other areas of the country, but in my little nook of the midwest, this day is being remembered in the schools. We have failed to produce a new generation willing to read and understand what the Constitution gives us as Americans. They know little about past history and how our current problems are reflected in the past. They don't understand the need for voting or intend to. They do not read the nespaper or watch any news programs, because they are immersed in their iPods or the latest escapade of their favorite celeb.
And we as adults, have used the Constitution improperly. I had not read the Constitution since civics class a very long time ago. Wow, what men these were that wrote that piece of paper! We as humans are not perfect. But together, we can change the world.
I am one of the authors of the article Constitution Day 2007. It is adapted from our book The Genius of America: How the Constitution Saved the Nation and Why It Can Again. This book is being released tomorrow.
I have never posted a piece before and I have to say it is both exciting and slightly unnerving to do so, given the possibilities for such immediate response. Now that I have read all of the posting, some comments seem appropriate. Of course, for those who like the piece thanks much. And for those who offered constructive criticisms, thanks also. On some specific points. Of course, we understand that America is a Republic and not a pure democracy and in our book the Genius of America we explain that and its history. The fact is that the framers saw pure democracy as destructive of liberty and designed a constitution to thwart. How wise of them we think.
On Ronald Reagan, we do not share his vision of government as being society’s problem nor his conservatism. But we do share his farewell view that civic illiteracy was undermining our country. This view is consistent with the many comments about the need for civic education, which we share.
As for Reagan importance in American history, the fact that his shadow still shapes much debate in this country speaks for itself.
Again we appreciate the learning experience the comments offer and probably crassly urge you to read our book, The Genius of America.
Thanks Enrico for this great piece indeed. I will buy your book, The Genius of America, tomorrow.
I think that in order to restore the US, we have to restudy our Constitution and the wisdom of our Founding Fathers and go from there.
I would also recommend the following publication to read: Jacob Needleman, The American Soul - Rediscovering the Wisdom of the Founders, New York 2002.
It's so simple and fragile that it's terrifying - "We the people....
Get it right George!!!!! It's Dubya not "W" lol
"Ronald Regan [sic], one of our most important 20th century presidents saw this problem coming as he left office. He warned of what he saw as a growing failure to appreciate our own history. Ultimately, he said, this would eradicate 'the American memory' and threaten the American spirit."
And yet the Reagan administration freely capitalized on that very loss of collective memory to get away with the Iran-Contra affair. The criminals involved happily painted themselves as patriots with the guts to do "whatever it takes" (which, two decades later, would become Jack Bauer's favorite euphemism for torture) to "spread democracy"--which they seemed unable to define, except that it was what we had in the U.S. (a favorite tactic of the far right is to conflate capitalism with democracy).
Reagan may have seen a constitutional crisis coming, but the record shows that he and his crew of thugs welcomed it and took advantage of it.
Bush called our Constitution "just a goddamned piece of paper," showing once again his utter stupidity and disdain for our freedom. The reason the Constitution remains popular is that it creates a government that in principle leaves people alone to live their own lives the way they see fit. However, there are always people who find that process too challenging or confusing, so they can seek out the regimentation of their choice, be it Moslem, Scientology, Communism, Mennonite, whatever, and all within the framework of the Constitution.
Before they become citizens, immigrants have to take a test about American history and our government. The irony, of course, is that these new citizens know more about the Constitution than native-born Americans do.
Remember that infamous poll which asked Americans about certain rights and the respondents thought should be rescinded? The rights they were all too-willing to give up (in the interest of "national security"?)was a chilling revelation.
Once again-- more evidence that our public education system is incompetent.
Unfortunately I must say that the US Constitution seems not to work or has been distorted by lawiers/layers (makers) throughout US history that there is a big gap between what is written and what has been implemented. Sorry, guys, but the USA are definitely no more the promissed land where people can pursue happiness.
The "system" is far from outdated! We make it work or not. What system of Government would be so much better for all the people? Broken in places yes! Fixable, definately!
Eric Lane and Michael Oreskes snap us back to reality with their "Contitution Day 2007" article. We have all taken our constitution for granted feeling that our leaders are "angels" preserving and protecting our best insterests.
Americans have always had the responsibility of governing themselves through the ballot box even though for years many and sometimes most refuse to exercise that democratic duty.
I recognize in my daily life the role of mass media in my decision making. I am constantly bombarded with information telling me what to purchase and what entertainment to patronize while my government tells me what country to hate or what country to love.
Every day I realize how difficult it is to make intelligent decisions because my experience is filtered through a media agenda frequently created by someone with ulterior motives.
Hermann Goering said at Nuremberg that governments tell their citizens what to believe and the citizens believe their governments.
Do we become cynical if we doubt? Is it not our responsibility to question, to challenge, and to think for ourselves?
Our constitution will work best if citizens are active participants rather than passive observers.
Today is indeed a great day of celebration. No country in world history has been given the pathway to good government as we were given with the Constitution.
The real date to celebrate, however, is December 15, 1791. That's the day that Virginia ratified the Bill of Rights making it part of the Constitution.
Without the Bill of Rights, the Constitution would be an empty shell. So lets celebrate the Constitution but do it with equal reverence to the Bill of Rights.
In many ways, WE THE PEOPLE have failed to honor this country.
We sat watching hours of celebrities, sports and other channels, instead of serious news reports. We substituted real news for Fox, and did not demand fair, balanced or truthful reporting, much less listen to others with differing opinions.
We failed by wasting gallons of oil needlessly due to our egos and selfish comfort. While the US has less than 5% of the world's population, we use more than 25% of its resources. Despite the long gas lines (in the late 70's), our memories are short, and we too greedy.
We failed because we wanted to feel safe (after 9/11), and thought forsaking a bit of freedom, and our rights would make us secure. Yet, we witnessed the debacle of FEMA after Katrina and then realized we were no safer for our loss of liberties.
Very few, if any, objected or debated Bush's policies, the logic of a war in Iraq, when our target was Bin-Laden and Al Qaeda in Afghanistan.
We were glad to get our tax cuts, while federal fiscal spending soared. We now have an annual budget deficit of $500-billion, and national debt of over $9-trillion, for which our future generations will pay. We took our short-term pay-off and left this debt as a legacy to our children.
We did not consider the toll "our way of life" was taking on the environment. Will the climate changes afford for sustainable food production? Will the air they breathe and water they drink be harmful to them and their future generations? Will our children live in the dark and cold, unable to move or work for lack of energy? Will global warming wash away our coastal cities and eradicate forests, parks, mountain ranges?
WE THE PEOPLE, for the sake of a short-term gain, and apathy, have done serious harm to our nation and the world.
While listening to the morning news on a Phila station, I nearly choked on my coffee when I heard that DICK CHENEY WILL BE AT THE CELEBRATION AT THE CONSTITITOPM CEMTER IN PHILA.
We may be too far gone.
years ago my mother told me she had a teacher who told the class that our nation would be destroyed from within. he said it would be through our educational system. or lack thereof. i'm not surprised. i see many young adults today that can barely read let alone figure out a math problem without the help of a calculator. there is no focus on the process of dealing with a problem. they also have no understanding of history. be it recent or as a young person today would say ancient. there is no focus on the founding principals of our country. let alone anything to do with the constitution or even how government works. no pun intended.
What we are experiencing as a nation is a TOTAL LACK of appreciation & affirmation of one of the greatest documents in recorded history: The U.S. Constitution!
Our nation is obsessed with the immediate! Our nation is addicted to self-interest!
Our nation is wallowing in self-adulation!
The Constitution is written for a nation of citizens who desire to have equality under the law; the Republican Party is designed for
self-interest, self-adulation and immediate power/control!
NOT ONE REPUBLICAN since Ronnie Raygun has had the nation's best interest at heart! Each of them have been privileged individuals who were driven by an ideology that insists upon their personal power and presidential control to empty our American treasury to enhance their corporate fascist elite businesses and corporations- no exceptions- look at their records and how they spent America's money and who benefitted! This is not rocket science; this is a matter of who gets the $$$MONEY!
As long as Americans are so driven by self-interest, immediate gratification and self-adulation Republicans will continue to have their way with our nation and we will continue to follow the path of WAR because WAR MAKES MONEY FOR REPUBLICANS and THE STOCK MARKET!
The facts speak for themselves but a nation bent upon individual self-interest will allow their leaders to pursue their own self-interest and thereby politicize our Constitution to the point that it no longer serves the need of a nation but serves the self-interest of politicians!
I enjoyed reading this article. I agree that most americans don't even know what our constitution says much less what it means. I am guilty myself in this area and you have given me a renewed desire to go read it. I believe it was Ben Franklin that said "If you give up liberty for freedom, you don't deserve libery nor freedom." Probably not an exact quote but I think it rings true non the less. We as americans need to know these ideals which were penned centuries ago. For if we don't remember our history we are doomed to repeat the same mistakes again and again.
Thanks for the inspiration.
I can't wait until a Democrat is elected and says, loudly, proudly, and means it, as part of the oath of office, that he or she will "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
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