On this day in 1787, 55 men gathered at Independence Hall in Philadelphia to wrap up their discussion of government that would fundamentally change the nature of the United States. The previous years since the Revolution had been somewhat of a speed bump in the American experience as the Articles of Confederation proved to be too weak to hold the fledgling nation together. In creating the Constitution, the delegates created something unparalleled in the history of mankind. Perhaps it is because it seemed so easy to our founders that we today cannot understand why others around the world take so long and struggle so hard to achieve the same freedom. Perhaps it was a unique time in history in which a collection of ordinary men with extraordinary talent came together and formed something so masterful it cannot be repeated. Perhaps some divine hand actually was shining down upon us that year. In any case, the Constitution remains the guiding light of our entire way of life.
Politically speaking, Republicans and Democrats argue about Health Care, National Security, and a whole host of other issues of the day. We both have fundamental beliefs about how to improve this already great nation. However, when you strip away the issues and the politics of it all it is the Constitution and its interpretation that truly sets us apart. For the Republican, the Constitution is a blueprint manual to be followed to the letter. Fundamentally, a Republican wants to make sure we are doing things as the framers intended. For the Democrat, the Constitution is alive and allows us to use its message in a world vastly different from that of the framers. Fundamentally, a Democrat wants to find modern meaning in a document that continues to be the best guide to running a government. This debate is what amazes and fascinates me about politics because despite 220 years between us and its creation there is still passion raging about this dichotomy of strict construction vs. living document. It permeates every discussion of every issue we debate in this country and I hope it is never solved as I fear that (more than any terrorist or natural event) if that passionate debate over the fundamentals of the Constitution ends it will bring down this great country.
