The Constitution and Tampa Bay
Peter Robinson ·
Oct 22, 2010 at 10:56pm
Just got back from Day One of my business school reunion where I had a fascinating conversation with the wife of one of my classmates. She and her husband live in Tampa, and lately she's been working in a Barnes and Noble bookstore. What do customers ask for when they walk into the store? Glenn Beck, works of American history, and--could any news be more heartening?--the Constitution of the United States.
Tocqueville would have felt gratified, if unsurprised, don't you suppose, Paul?
- Comment (12)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (1)
Comments :
Re: The Constitution and Tampa Bay
Well, yes, Peter, it could be more heartening. You know how I would have liked that sentence to end--with "the Constitution of the United States, and that book about Margaret Thatcher everyone is talking about, the one by that woman who was on Uncommon Knowledge?"
But I'm glad they're headed generally in the right direction, so to speak.
Aug '10
Re: The Constitution and Tampa Bay
I tried to get to Beck's 8/28 rally, and eventually did - after negotiating the worst traffic jam in history when three of the four freeway lanes into D.C. were closed that morning by the state of Virginia (what a coincidence!).
By the time I got into the city there was no chance of parking, so I drove south twenty miles to Washington's house, Mt. Vernon. It was overflowing with cheerful families, and strained to maximum capacity. I asked one of the docents about it, and she said, "Ever since Glenn Beck started talking about George Washington, the crowds have been huge. It's like this almost every day."
It's off-the-chart great, by the way. The best museum and historical site I've ever seen, with extraordinary multimedia exhibits.
Edited on Oct 23, 2010 at 4:35amOct '10
Re: The Constitution and Tampa Bay
Book...store? What is this thing? Seriously, I still like going to book stores, but I find myself reading most of my books on my Kindle. For example, for less than ten dollars, I just put Claire's new book on it. No shipping. No waiting in line. Boom! Instant Claire! How is that a bad plan?
I hope recent events result in large amount of voting Americans taking an interest in educating themselves about the Constitution. We lost our constitutional republican form of government in large part because we made the decision to turn large parts of the educational system over to the government and the public employees unions. We need the public to understand what they lost so that we can regain it. That's going to have to take a route other than the current educational system (and that includes the law schools). I don't watch Glenn Beck, but if it's making an effort to educate people about the Constitution, God bless the man.
Re: The Constitution and Tampa Bay
Tocqueville would not be surprised about any of this.
Aug '10
Re: The Constitution and Tampa Bay
But do the Barnes and Noble employees express vocal disdain to the customers buying these items? Because the last time I bought National Review in a Barnes and Noble, the woman ringing up the sale groaned with disapproval at my purchase.
I subscribed to NR right after that.
Jun '10
Re: The Constitution and Tampa Bay
Hi Peter,
I'm not sure if you watch the NBC show "30 Rock", but on this week's show, the conservative executive of Cabletown, Jack (played by Alec Baldwin, ironically) was on a roll. He described an entire day of making no mistakes as "Reaganing." Later, Liz Lemon (played by Tina Fey) suggested that Jack may be superior to Reagan for his day of triumph, to which Jack replied (in jest), "If you ever disrespect Reagan again, I'll smack those teeth straight." ... It appears that even the libbies are talkin' about your hero Reagan these days... in their own special way...
I should note that they insinuated that at the end of Reagan's presidency his mind began to "sleep" and that jelly beans were used to revive him. What is it with Hollywood libbies trying to claim that Thatcher and Reagan got worn out or senile by the end of their political careers? I mean, these are two of the most influential politicians of the 20th century (in a good way). I guess you have to subtract from their accomplishments somehow if those accomplishments are substantial and antithetical to the Hollywood libbie beliefs.
Cheers,
SG
May '10
Re: The Constitution and Tampa Bay
I think a lot of people see the Constitution as an unapproachable, complicated, and subjective (this one is somewhat true) document, something best left to historians and lawyers. Like someone said on here a few days ago, it's mostly a procedural document, and is kind of boring to read if you aren't thinking about governmental structure.
As for substance, whenever I hear a self-taught citizen talk about the Constitution, they usually do it EXACTLY right: they first formulate their own opinion about the role of government and federalism, then they learn about the Founders' intent and what the Constitution ACTUALLY means/ordinarily meant at the time it and its amendments were created, and they only use Supreme Court decisions as to how the Constitution currently functions and as case studies for understanding it. When you learn about the Constitution in school they use court cases to teach you what the Constitution means, but that's not right. That said, you still have to work within a system of current Constitutional jurisprudence, while keeping in mind the goals of the correct interpretation of the Constitution. Being a so-called "layman" is of huge advantage. (1/2)
May '10
Re: The Constitution and Tampa Bay
Also, I think it’s vitally important to formulate your own idea of government and federalism BEFORE understanding the Constitution. Before I learned the copyright system I looked only at the goals of copyright, and then thought about what an ideal copyright system would look like. When you compare what you think should exist to what actually exists you tend to be much more critical, and less likely to be led astray by later interpretations. Of course, this really only works if you take an originalist view of structures like the Constitution. In my case, it made me appreciate the Founders’ vision even more. And really, I don’t think the Supreme Court cases up to the 1930’s are all that dissonant, at least not the ones that have come to matter. (2/2)
Re: The Constitution and Tampa Bay
Same here. And my appreciation just keeps growing.
May '10
Re: The Constitution and Tampa Bay
I resisted getting any kind of e-reader (actually, I had my 1st e-reader on my Compaq Ipaq years ago) because I didn't want to spend any $ on another piece of technology. But then I broke down and "got my husband a Kindle" for Father's Day thinking that like all other technology I buy him, he wouldn't really use it. I was wrong. I fell in love with his Kindle and was so disappointed that he loved it, too, that I got my own. Now I'm a bit of an e-reader snob: "Is that book on Kindle? No? I don't think I want to read it."
But truth be told, I still love going into libraries and book stores and get a tingle up my leg whenever I pass one.
Jun '10
Re: The Constitution and Tampa Bay
Now you tell me! I had to repeat a constitutional law course. I think I would have gotten at least a B from Justice Scalia but the Ginsburg wanna-be I had for the course gratiously offered me an incomplete rather than an F. (She probably would have flunked Scalia too, so I didn't take it personally) The next go-round, I ate it up, spat it out, and aced the course. I probably could have clerked for Ginsburg -- I had that sucker living, breathing and doing tricks
Edited on Oct 24, 2010 at 12:39pmMay '10
Re: The Constitution and Tampa Bay
Pilgrim
I think I would have gotten at least a B from Justice Scalia but the Ginsburg wanna-be I had for the course gratiously offered me an incomplete rather than an F. (She probably would have flunked Scalia too, so I didn't take it personally)
I can only imagine her faculty lounge war stories, enlightening the 18th century peasant into a 20th century progressive.
My con law prof was a "European constitutional scholar" who clerked for Souter. He built the core of our course around Breyer's casually mentioned six tools of interpretation, of course without ever disclosing them as from Breyer. In this episode of Uncommon Knowledge, Peter asks Scalia what he thinks of Breyer's "tools", the last couple of which the good justice renders a bit of a chuckle. Well, the joke was on the 100 or so students walking out of that classroom thinking judges are policy warriors.
Edited on Oct 24, 2010 at 8:59pm