What's Happening to the Constitution?

Two articles struck a nerve with me this week.

The First, from the Volokh Conspiracy, discusses a recent 7th Circuit decision that essentially dismisses the Fourth Amendment's prohibition on unreasonable searches and seizures if police think you look sketchy. Apparently, in the 7th Circuit, one now needs to carry an ID at all times and is required to give a police officer your information upon their request- or face arrest.

Sir, Your papers, please, or face arrest.

Intolerable curtailment of our civil liberties, my fellow citizens. It's happening right under our noses. People are celebrating it in the name of safely and national security.

The next, from The Faculty Lounge, discussess a recent poll that gives support to a phenomenon about which until now I only had a hunch: Obama supporters largely don't care about the Constitution.

From the post:

According to a Rasmussen poll published Sept. 5, 2008 only 29% of Obama supporters think the Supreme Court should make its decisions based on the Constitution. Nearly half of Obama's supporters think that the justices should decide on the "judge's sense of fairness." By contrast, 82% of McCain supporters think the Justices should rely on the Constitution, and only 11% of McCain supporters think the proper basis for decision is the judge's sense of fairness.

This is both flabbergasting and sickening. Flabbergasting, because Obama himself was a Constitutional Law adjunct at Chicago. Sickening that the masses who have swarmed to support a candidate, whose entire campaign is based upon rhetorical Change and Hope, have no knowledge or care for how our Government is designed or the history of our nation.

I'm not giving the McCain supporters a pass either - how many of them who think the SCOTUS should follow the Constitution have actually 1) read the Constituion or 2) understand the ramifications of their support for the Constituion? I'm betting the percentage is very small.

On the anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center towers, it's important to reflect upon what makes our Government and our Country different from others. We should contemplate our freedoms and make ourselves familiar with the Constution and the ideals embodied within the document. It's an imperfect document, but it has within the capabilities to amend it when necessary.

Everyone should have a refresher.