What next, knee breeches and powdered wigs?
For years in political discourse a resort to quoting the U.S. Constitution was treated as a gasp of musty air from an irrelevant past. People turned their faces away. Scholars at places like the Claremont Institute tried to rouse the few who would listen with readings of Federalist # 51 and published books for eager students gathered by groups like ISI, the Intercollegiate Studies Institute. But since the days of Prof. Woodrow Wilson, Ivy League universities taught that the Constitution should be interpreted as a "living document," which meant essentially that it had to change with the times. (And guess who got to decide what the "times" required?)
Then, about two years ago, ordinary people started reading the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, and those hallowed old commentaries, the Federalist Papers. Talk show hosts like Glenn Beck, however eccentric and avuncular, started teaching about the Constitution on the air (are they allowed to do that?). Books about George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, who revered the Constitution, gained larger audiences. The Tea Partiers in 2010 started injecting the Constitution into everyday campaign speeches. Last month, the newly elected members of the House of Representatives opened its term with a serial reading of the Constitution--with members from both parties.
Now we have a federal judge, Roger Vinson, in Orlando giving his own extensive lesson in the Constitution as the backbone of his landmark ruling that Obamacare is unconstitutional. His opinion goes on and on about the significance of what the Founders intended and how relevant--and binding--is their wisdom today. The White House is calling the judge "activist". Defenders of the Constitution will have a lot of fun with that one.
So, how do we accommodate the failure of American public schools to teach the Constitution in classrooms? By using an episode like this to teach the adults of America their own heritage. It is a highly unusual opportunity to get the attention of the general public.
Unlike the Obamacare law--2000 pages--the U.S. Constitution is an easy read, even given the 200 year old prose. How long has it been since you looked at it? How long has it been since major media (memo to FOX!) ran programs explaining the Constitution?
According to my faithful scribe, Alex Lykken, you can get a free copy from the Heritage Foundation by giving them your contact information (yes, the Constitution permits marketing gimmicks like this), or buy them for $1 each if you want more than one. (And only 50 cents for 100 or more.)
You can get the Constitution in bulk for only 30 cents each from the National Center for Constitutional Studies if you order 100 or more.
Maybe your book club that is always looking for the latest thing should re-discover that comeback best seller, The U.S. Constitution. Maybe it should be read by that little group in the White House led by the former adjunct law professor. It's never too late.
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