Friday, July 27, 2012

Book #56 - A More Perfect Constitution

51K6vp9kDcL._SL160_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-dp,TopRight,12,-18_SH30_OU01_AA160_Professor Sabato was at the University of Virginia when I was there. He was one of the more popular teachers, and his political science classes filled up early, and every semester. I never made it to one, but I saw him on TV many times, and thought he was very thoughtful. When I saw A More Perfect Constitution in the library, I grabbed it. I’m curious how we might make this a better country, and this seemed like a good place to start.

The book presents a number of proposals for amendments to the Constitution, along with a few ideas of how we might go about getting the states to petition Congress for a Constitutional Convention, the likes of which we haven’t had in centuries. It’s an easy read, and includes some research done on how the public has reacted to these proposals in surveys.

The proposals are interesting, and cover all different parts of government. There are ideas that hit all branches, as well as the public at large. Universal Service is one I have long advocated for, but there are others, like a 6-8 year Presidential term and an expanded Congress along with limits for judges that make sense.

If you are interested in this country, and how we might change it, it’s worth a read. I didn’t agree with all proposals, and I doubt anyone would, but they do make you think.

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