Constitution is at risk

Those who revere the Constitution of the U.S. and the rule of law are a diminishing minority seen as being stuck in the past. The more contemporary view is that, while the Constitution may provide guidance, it mustn’t impede government from serving the greater good. The latter view is in ascendancy. To wit: The Constitution is circumvented, in my opinion, by appointing czars and others in ways so they need not suffer indignities of congressional confirmation. Taking over dysfunctional corporations and protecting interests of union workers over those of constitutionally protected stockholders is applauded. Unelected officials who might overturn a law that compels people to buy products against their will and to engage in practices they believe violate their religious beliefs are painted as extremists.

The claim that Marco Rubio, Bobby Jindal and Barack Obama do not meet constitutional “natural-born citizen” requirements to be president, as defined by the Supreme Court in Minor v. Happersett, as a child born in the U.S. to parents, both of whom are U.S. citizens, is shouted down with demagogic ridicule. Yet all have at least one parent that was not a U.S. citizen at their birth. But we no longer let the Constitution and the rule of law stand in the way of political ambition and expediency. And the beat goes on, and on, and on. Perhaps it’s time to capitulate to their more modern view of the world. Never, never, ever. MARK ALSPAUGH Hot Springs Village