Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I have read all of Christopher Phillips's books about engaging in contemporary socratic dialogue. His latest, CONSTITUTION CAFE, is a much appreciated and exciting follow-up to this project. Here the focus is the question, "How could we, the American public, 'rewrite' the Constitution?"
The book is a series of discussions from around the United States with diverse groups covering different Articles and Amendments. Two examples are lawyers talking about the patent clause and teenagers talking about the voting age amendment. Each group comes up with new Articles attempting to redress perceived problems with the existing Constitution.
While I like the _ideas_ proposed by the groups, I found any given one slightly unsatisfactory. I think this is the point: it is difficult to write a one-size (and time)-fits-all Constitution. Particularly in the case of the 2nd Amendment, Phillips gives an example of where there is so much schism between the participants they come up with two conflicting versions. I would have liked to have seen more instances of this.
Phillips's historical interludes on the conflicts the Founding Fathers had among (and within) themselves highlights the difficulties and compromises needed back in 1783. I especially liked the dichotomy between Jefferson's democratic ideals vs his actions as the 3rd President. I think this drives the point that the US Constitution is a living document subject to constant rereading and reinterpretation.
If you are looking for concrete action items to solve America's problems, you will be disappointed; likewise, if you seek a scholarly treatise or a polemic.
My only wish is that a copy of the most current US Constitution had been printed in the book--I ended up buying myself a copy of the US Constitution to thumb through.
In conclusion, CONSTITUTION CAFE is in keeping with the idea and ideal of Phillips's contemporary socratic dialogues. The point is not necessarily coming up with The Answer; rather, his books outline a way for the public to collaborate in seeking answers. I plan to use this book in my future Socrates Cafe dialogues.
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The author of the Socrates Café trilogy hits the road once again-this time to inspire a new, nationwide Constitutional Convention.
Energized by the initial optimism surrounding Obama's presidency and, conversely, the fierce partisanship in Congress, Christopher Phillips has set out to engage Americans in discussions surrounding our must fundamental rights and freedoms, with some help from Thomas Jefferson. A radical in his own day, Jefferson believed that the Constitution should be revised periodically to keep up with the changing times. Instead, it has become a sacred, immutable text-and in Phillips's opinion, it's in need of some shaking up.
From a high school in West Virginia to People's Park in Berkeley, California; from Burning Man to the Mall of America, Phillips gathered together Americans from all walks of life, moderating dialogues inspired by Jefferson's own populist political philosophy, formulating new Constitutional articles. With contagious passion and conviction, Philips has taken up Jefferson's cause for a truly participatory democracy at a time when our country needs it most.
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