Just a Little Bit on the Constitution and the (Im)Perfection of our Forefathers

For those strict Constitutionalists among us, beware of the hallowed perfection bestowed upon those saintly founding fathers.  (Especially those whom upon further investigation, we find paid homage to Providence yet were agnostic in practice.)  But mostly let’s remember that it took little more that a fortnight before these few good fellows, realized that their perfect document was in need some major edits.

In no time at all, they began the task of appending that which initially seemed so perfect with the likes of a First Amendment, Second Amendment, Third Amendment, etc.  (Re: First Amendment, see my blog of Oct 21, 2010.)  And you know, this is REALLY a very good thing.  Had we been unable redress the fundamental premise of our governing law of the land as our society evolved, then women will still be suffering without suffrage and African Americans would have remained African chattel without the American suffix. 

So while Trusting in God, let’s also THANK God that as Americans we are able to recognize our imperfections, few though they be (come on we’re AMERICANS!).  Really, though, let’s recognize during this thanksgiving season and in our post-election euphoria (or distress), that this democracy of governing (i.e., lawmaking, bill passing, budget setting, etc.) and consensus building (otherwise referred to as cat-herding) is not a perfect system.

Our elected officials are human, as were our founding fathers.  And they are not perfect.  TARP initiated under Bush and implemented under Obama, along with the Recovery Act, may not have been perfect, but I think most of us can reasonable agree we are out of the most significant tails spin.  Invading Iraq may have cost hundreds of American, American allies, and Iraqi lives (and trillions of dollars), but at least we have ended major combat operations in that country.  Was bailing out Detroit the best idea of the economic crisis.  I don’t know the answer to that.  But I’m delighted with the GM announced IPO this earlier this week.  And is our healthcare system a mess?  Well, have you gone to the doc lately, made a variable co-pay, picked up a generic prescription, and then tried to decipher the difference in a subsequent doctor bill or insurance statement “stating this is not a bill”?  Let me tell you:  Healthcare needed an overhaul.  It has been a non-comprehensive, unaffordable, inefficient labyrinth of a mess!  Was healthcare reform a perfect bill?  I think not.  Some refused to come to the table and the remaining participants forged ahead with a single-sided perspective.  Believe you me, it will need tweaking.

And that’s the beauty of our checks and balances, three branches of government, multi-party, crazy mixed up system.  It’s a reflection on our humanity.  And after all, we are only human.  Let’s just hope that like our Constitution, we will continue to improve.