Give Up The Constitution? Are You Crazy?

As the pork laden Fiscal Cliff fiasco continues onward coupled with the President's desire to destroy the Republicans and punish the rich for no reason other than his own the thought of giving up the Constitution chills my blood.

Louis Michael Seidman, A professor of Constitutional Law at Georgetown University,  writes in The New York Times that our insistence on adhering to it is really to blame for our dysfunctional government.

It's true that it has been abused almost from it's inception right up to the present day.  It's true that many of it's provisions may seem unimportant though they were included with purpose.  To maintain a balance between the branches of government and to provide order.

I don't think it's the document that's the problem at all.  It's what we've done to it.  It's true too that many arguments base their arguments on their constitutionality when the constitution doesn't even apply.

It represents something we don't much like any more.  Structure.  Guidelines. A statement of vision. And much like the Bible or holy book of any religion, it's ripe for misinterpretation and abuse.  It's the fault of 'we the people', not the document.

Just look at our representatives now.  Many are in office thanks to the gerrymandering of districts making fair and equal elections impossible.  'We the people' allowed that.  The parties have become become such ideologues that comprehensive debate is impossible.  'We the people' allow that too.  Can you imagine what we'd have without some sort of structure no matter how tattered it may be?

Should we pick and choose that which we like and eliminate the rest?  I'd say that would be an impossible task.  We're too polarized as a people for starters.  There is a process available.  Amending it.  But amending doesn't equate with eliminating.

I cringe when I think what politicians would do if allowed to run totally amok. We're too close for comfort as is with a President who has no patience with negotiation.  Somewhere along the way he's come to think he knows what's best for us.  He lectures us.  He demeans us if we don't agree with him.  He punishes those who aren't like him, who don't fit his image of who and what we should be. And he uses his 'privilege' to get his way.

If we sacrifice our Constitution or denigrate it, such politicians will find it far more easy to achieve their goals.

President Obama is not the first President to test our trust in the Constitution, not by a long shot.  Bush did a good job of it to be sure and many others before these contemporaries of ours.

What we could use is a refresher course.  Not taught by some professor who has his own interpretation, but rather by picking up a copy along with the bill of rights and giving each a good read.

Then we should create a test, put together by 'we the people' to be given to every aspiring office holder, elected or appointed, to see if they get the gist of it.

It's past time for all sorts of change in the way our government does business.  It doesn't look promising for any time soon.  But leave the Constitution be.  It's really all we have to remind us who we are and why we exist.  If we lose that we will truly be lost.

Parenting Counts

This morning I was reading about the phenomenal success of the Washington Redskins rookie quarterback, Robert Griffin III. For a 22 year old, it read, he shows a surprising maturity that enhances an enormous talent.  Indeed.

It occurred to me if we as a people would get back to the basics, the country may yet rebound. The basics being parenting. Mr. Griffin was an army brat, if you will, hailing from a two parent family.  Both were Army sergeants and his upbringing was a reflection of their Army discipline.  I don't mean in the way of punishment, but in the pursuit of excellence.

Young Mr. Griffin went on to attend Baylor University graduating with a BA in political science with a 3.67 grade point before embarking on a Master's program in communications.  That he won the Heisman Trophy and went on to NFL success is in many ways beside the point.  I believe he would succeed at anything.

That brings me to the story of a group of young men from the San Diego area known as the Burrito Boys.  They are 13 and 14 year old friends who have made quite a name for themselves for delivering burritos to the homeless every Sunday morning for the past couple of years.

It isn't an idea the boys came up with themselves, but the result of an over the top Christmas wish list that included iPods, the latest in cell phones and so forth.  Nothing unusual for youngsters of that age this day and age.

The parents said whoa!  It's time for a life lesson here. Greed isn't good! So the parents whipped up a batch of breakfast burritos, gathered the boys and headed for the homeless. The venture has evolved from two to seven boys along with the support of their parents, business people and a full fledged non-profit.  The bounty for the homeless has grown from burritos to include everything from books to clothing to tarps and even treats for the dogs. One 14 year old vows they will continue the effort for as long as they are able.

Both are feel good stories.  Both showcase the exceptionalism that can exist among our youth.  Both are because the parents took their responsibilities seriously.  They parented.

The stories may belong to the boys but the credit belongs to the parents.  May there be multitudes of them among us.

Why Bother?

I've really been dogging it lately when it comes to posting.  Not that there hasn't been a lot to comment about.  I'm just wondering why bother. Especially when it comes to our government and the political scene in general.  It's what I write about mostly and nothing is going to change.

Consider, this fiscal cliff deal.  After the people have complained for years that we're tired of the acrimony in Congress, has it changed any?  No. Two days are left before they may or may not throw together one more shoddy plan kicking the problem down the road one more time in any event.  Another "we'll have to pass it to see what's in it" deal no doubt.

For this they, along with all federal workers, are going to get a raise by Presidential decree.  We have all missed our calling if our goal was great pay, Cadillac benefits and darn little work. This is apparently the President's idea of redistribution.  Take it from us and give it to them.

They are so prone to over reactions and just plain wrong reactions yet we're actually beginning to buy into them.  The fiscal cliff isn't going to kill us.  It won't happen over night, number one and protracting something out over 10 years isn't ever likely to happen anyway.  Taxes are going up.  Period.  Obamacare for one. Spending will not go down in any significant manner as long as Obama is President.  The debt ceiling will continue to rise.

Then there is the current flurry of anxiety over gun laws.  I'm no huge fan of guns but I'm not against them either. But having to be seen doing something they're ignoring the health issue and the culture of violence, as in video games; talking tough on guns is so much easier.

Let's face it.  If they can't get their act together to undo a 1949 statute that now puts the price of milk into a precarious position, why should we expect them to do anything else in a timely manner?  They won't.

I listen to the talking heads interviewing politicians on their programs.  Often asked is why they aren't doing their jobs.  The usual answer is it's the other guys fault.  Everything operates in crisis mode if at all.

So I've come to the conclusion that there is nothing I nor anyone else can say or do that will change how government works.  Besides, we're so substantive that our petitions on the White House site seem to care more about whether or not David Gregory is arrested for having an empty gun magazine on his show or deporting Piers Morgan because we don't like his view on our gun laws.  On such depends the future of our country.

I'm feeling every bit as old as Father Time these days and I have no faith in the Baby New Year.  My heros are fast disappearing - the Norman Schwartzkoffs and Robert Borks of the world. I have no desire to go along to get along when I know I can be the best. We've lost that personal pride somewhere along the way.   Sure it exists in individuals here and there, but it doesn't exist in our nation as a whole .

We've settled for mediocrity as a standard and the mediocre as our standard bearers.  But of course it's not my fault.  It's yours.