 |
|
Title: A More Perfect Constitution: Why the Constitution Must Be Revised: Ideas to Inspire a New Generation
ISBN: 0802716830
Author:
Larry J. Sabato
Publicate Date: 2008-07-22
Publish: 2008-07-22
List Price: $16.00
Average Customer Rating: 3.5
Format: Paperback
 |
|
|
|
|
Amazon Lowest New Price: $8.70
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $7.99
Amazon Merchant Price: $10.88
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Customer Review: |
|
1: I read it for my Government Class
I am a college student in Utah. I am taking a class called American National Government. And this was a required book for that class. It was one of the most boring books I have ever read. I like government too! The major flaw I found in Larry J Sabato's reasoning is his suggestion to change the senate to be representative of population, which completely goes against the founding father purpose for the senate, to avoid giving big states all the power. he also proposes increasing the house size to around 1000 members. Congress is already in-efficient, he is just making it more.
I would not read this book again. It was pretty boring. He has some good ideas, and causes you to think about it and formulate your own opinions. but, like I said earlier, I wouldn't read it again.
|
2: Communism in sheep's clothing
I stalwartly gave this book a good thirty minutes, and then had to put it down. Mandatory "Universal National Service" (among other ideas of his) is waaay too communist to be put in a book about an allegedly 'free' America. In a small, relatively petty complaint, I absolutely abhor people who refer to American policies (that only affect Americans) as "universal" as if no life exists outside of the small corner of Earth known as the U.S.A. On top of that, Larry grossly misquotes (by grievously taking them out of context) Thomas Jefferson and George Washington, among others, in an attempt to support his bad ideas. Although I'll grant his book does contain some good ideas, frankly I'd rather spend my time rereading The Revolution: A Manifesto by Ron Paul.
|
3: It Aint Broke, So No Need To Fix It! ...
I say KISS! Keep It Super Simple! It Aint Broke, So No Need To Fix It! ...
|
4: A constitution from Hell!
While Sabato tries to give good ideas, he would actually undo some of the most fundamental principles laid out by the founders. The constitution is by no means perfect, however it's worked well enough and many of his ideas could cause great havoc. He is supporting a fallacy when he tries to make the claim that he is improving not throwing out the constitution. An example of this can be found in his idea for the senate. The senate was specifically set up so that each state would have equal representation NOT BASED ON POPULATION! His suggestion would completely undo this. It would also be wrong to give DC 1 senator, other states 2 senators, some states, 3 senators, and the rest. It would be confusion, chaos, and disenfranchisement. His ideas could work for the House but not the senate. Expanding the House to 1,000 members would only have the one benefit of close contact with constituency. However this would mean bigger government, and more wasted tax-payer money. More committees, less consistency and order. There are reasons why other countries don't have a legislature the size he suggests. A term of 6 years is WAY to long for the presidency. 2 terms is good enough with 4 years in between. Also we should not put in the constitution how primaries should work. Rather they should be decided by the states and the party. This is again another big government "statist" policy. While Sabato certainly gets an A for creativity and spunk he gets a D+ for practicality and respect of the original.
|
5: More perfect Principles
Jefferson said this about the Constitution: "Some men look at constitutions with sanctimonious reverence, and deem them like the arc of the covenant, too sacred to be touched. They ascribe to the men of the preceding age a wisdom more than human, and suppose what they did to be beyond amendment. I knew that age well; I belonged to it, and labored with it. It deserved well of its country. It was very like the present, but without the experience of the present; and forty years of experience in government is worth a century of book-reading; and this they would say themselves, were they to rise from the dead. I am certainly not an advocate for frequent and untried changes in laws and constitutions. I think moderate imperfections had better be borne with; because, when once known, we accommodate ourselves to them, and find practical means of correcting their ill effects. But I know also, that laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths disclosed, and manners and opinions change with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also, and keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy, as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors." (Letter to Kercheval, July 12, 1816)
It certainly is time for a Constitutional convention, but to set the Principles to which government should be subjected, not to tinker with the provisions.
I set out the principles, which also happen to reflect the Ten Commandments, in my book Freedom v. A Tyranny of Rights.
Well worth reading, with the caveats provided.
Joseph BH McMillan
|
|
|
|
|
