The Constitution of the United States is unequivocally considered the epitome of the political foundation of a free people.  The principal tenant of this document is government of the people, by the people and for the people…democracy.  Yet I have growing concerns that expectations of this document’s infallibility have resulted in our apathy toward these freedoms (Remember, only 54% of eligible voters cast ballots in the last election.)

Arising issues bring to question as to whether this revered document is truly fail-safe in protecting the individual freedoms of our citizens and ensuring against domination by radical political and religious minorities.

Let’s consider these issues:

• Three of the last seven Presidential elections resulted in the winning candidate garnering less than the majority of the electorate. This manifested itself in the last election with a nearly 3 million vote advantage to the losing candidate.
• The increasing preponderance of a growing plutocracy where the nation’s oligarchs are allowed to dictate election results through their monetary contributions and, in turn, receive favorable benefits from the administration.
• The ability of action (and inaction) by a political majority of the legislative branch to thwart actions in the other two branches.
• The application of insidious gerrymandering to ensure uneven political dominance in populated areas in the nation.
• The judicially undisputed voter suppression laws throughout the union directed towards lower income and non-white citizens.
• Increasing partisanship in our nation’s judicial systems.
• Isolationism as a means of political control.

One can only wonder if the Founding Fathers were simply too naïve in their vision of the nature of future affluent societies and actually set in place a system which, once political control was achieved, prevents any valid future opposition.

For the sake of my grandchildren I hope I am over-reacting.  But, my observations tell me maybe not.