I ran across the website Who Killed The Constitution recently; they’re promoting the new book of the same name, by Thomas E. Woods and Kevin R.C. Gutzman. If those names sound familiar, it’s because I plugged Tom and Kevin’s work last month. The U.S. Constitution is dead, and they prove it, with example after relentless example. The “Left” will appreciate some of their case studies — such as the draft, free speech, and medical marijuana — while the “Right” will cheer others: forced busing, the confiscation of Americans’ gold, and the school prayer cases. Please go check out Who Killed The Constitution and buy the book!
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6 Comments
How are school prayer cases subverting the constitution instead of vice versa?
Looks like a good book.
Buy the book for their explanation, Tyro.
For my part, I’d rather attack the entire idea of “government”-run mandatory schools (mandatory in terms of tribute, er, funding if not in terms of attendance) than attack specific policies in the schools (except as precursor to attacking the entire idea of “government”-run mandatory schools).
If we accept the premise that “government” has a moral obligation to forcibly take money from everybody, willing or not, to “educate” children, and if we accept the premise that the U.S. Constitution has placed limits on the “governments” of the several states as to policies which may appear to be a statement of “governmental preference” given to any specific religion or religious set of practices, there’s a sufficient framework for debate, but I think those premises pretty much lead to a foregone conclusion that prayer in schools should be private and outside of any official capacity, i.e. student-lead. As mentioned, I have problems with those premises …
Bill,
By your mention, I thought you knew something of their argument. I’ve heard plenty of arguments of how mandatory school prayer is against the constitution, but I’ve never heard anyone on the right feel good about this. Just hoped you could shed light on it.
Setting aside the question of whether it’s a good idea to have mandatory education (or what is “public” about an education system which is often actively hostile towards the parents), the US constitution seems pretty clear on the role of religion in public institutions. Students are free to pray and hold religious services, but the school cannot favour one over others. We can debate whether public schools should exist, and we can certainly debate whether the constitution as it stands is a good one, but given those premises, yeah, I think the conclusion is clear.
My understanding is that the political right wants to integrate religion into schools and so have been undermining the constitution (again, leaving aside the question of whether this is good or bad). That’s why I can’t see why the right should cheer. They may have a case in other areas, but I just don’t see this one.
I quoted their promo, I don’t have a copy of this book yet, but I’ve got others by Woods and feel confident this one will live up to them.
I see, I guess I misunderstood.. It does sound interesting and I hope you’ll update us with some more details if you get a copy.