In a 1987 survey, nearly half of Americans surveyed believed the phrase “From each according to ability; To each according to need” came from the U.S. Constitution.
The Constitution even today does not offer an affirmative guarantee of the right to vote. If we truly want to build inclusive democracy, we must articulate an affirmative vision of an expansive right to vote in the Constitution itself.
Eric Foner, the pre-eminent historian of the civil war and Reconstruction, sees parallels with our own time but warns yesterday’s solution would be a disaster
“Most of all, I feel that I cannot be complicit in any way when I’ve seen so many examples of soldiers and police acting in bad faith,” he said via an encrypted text message.
This book argues the fight for true equality begun 150 years ago continues and draws clear connections between the limitations and loopholes written into these 19th century amendments and the most intractable debates dividing 21st century America.
My worst nightmare is that if it is not safe for folks in big cities in swing states to line up you see some state legislatures invoking the right under Article II, section 1 of the constitution to appoint Electoral College electors themselves.
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