By referring constantly to real world practises where results, either good or bad, have been demonstrated, one can view the laboratory of history and discover enduring truths. That is how our Constituion was created–and it worked–and the lessons from many past governing experiments have stood the test of time. That is why it is not to be considered “flexible” and should not be interpreted loosely to accomodate current fads.

I have used this same case method to examine the thread of progress in mankind’s advance over the last 3,000 years. If you simply look for the few locales where economic progress occurred and a degree of prosperity became widespread in a society you can see how rare and short-lived such crucibles of progress were. Autocrats were everywhere and bever slept. Wherever they managed societies from on high they managed to stifle the genius of their people. But most start-up nations with small governments and a minimum aristocracy allowed economic freedom that encouraged and rewarded the initiative of their people. In such places–like Phoenicia, ancient Greece and Republican Rome, prosperity blossomed. It was only centuries later, with expanded government and new elites that these societires faltered.

Some benevolent rulers maintained their power but gave free rein to entrepreneurs and merchants and this combination worked fairly well until the American colonies proved that democracy, very small government, and the escape from European aristocracies was ther best model for widespread prosperity. That condition has been gradually eroded in America as a new elite aristocracy has assumed control of our schools, governments and major institutions. That trend combines with a victim-dependent populace weaned onto government hand outs to destroy the foundations and twist the Constituion into a shambles.

Treating the Constitution as a “living” document that can be adjusted to meet the socialist theories of the new radical elites could kill the American experiment in freedom and liberty for all.