Today's reading assignment

Today is the birthday of the U.S. Constitution, being the anniversary of the day it was ratified by the ninth State, thus bringing it into force.  A good present for this remarkable document would be to set aside some time today to peruse its short encapsulation of considerable political wisdom.

Far too many people today have the "right" (in reality, a privilege) to vote, without knowing a word of our governing charter.  This is like playing football without knowing the rules.  There's a lot of banging around going on, but little direction, few limits, and somebody's bound to get hurt.

One of the things that set our nation apart was a devotion to a set of principles, rather than a ruling elite or just a blind sense of patriotism.  That's why our officials swear to support and defend the Constitution (though sadly, they are rarely held to account for that oath).  In fact, today's Pledge of Allegiance, viewed from this angle, is contrary to the founding spirit of the nation.  "Indivisible?"  Don't expect to hear me recite that word.  I recently discovered this alternative... seems preferable to me.

I pledge allegiance to the Constitution of the United States of America,
and to the Republic for which it was created to serve:
a voluntary confederation of sovereign nation states,
united in their common belief in the inalienable God-given rights of the individual,
and the necessary restraint of human government.