Is the United States Constitution still relevant? When is the last time you sat down and read the document that is the topic of so much debate? I decided to give a thorough reading  after feeling that much of debate was less about our own revelations and opinions but rather soundbites and quotes from those before us. After giving a thorough reading of the document, I realized there is little outside of bare-bones-structure. This is to say there is a basic framework laid out with little detail on top of it as to allow each generation to define and shape their own society. This was not on accident. Men such as Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson were not perfect in their lives, but saw the ills of society as something to be handled by their posterity. Was this a morally acceptable way to live one’s life?  Well that can be up for debate, but at least they made sure and allowed room for growth by not placing heavily dated restrictions and ordinances in the Constitution. The most heavily “time-stamped” and generation-specific pieces of the Constitution are found in the amendments which are meant to progress our society and protects us as citizens. These are things we are proud of so we are not concerned with them as much, but instead turn a focus to the intentions behind the meat of the Constitution, which again is just a basic framework.
In recent days, the U.S. Constitution has been maligned as racist, sexist and bigoted, or rather that because its founders had some of these qualities that the document must be an attempt to maintain their power(Yes, I left out the Oxford comma after "sexist" because #downwiththeoxfordcomma). Karl Marx, a German philosopher, believed that people in society functioned as individuals seeking to attain more power. Every statement and action is an attempt to ascertain more power. Marx’s view has seen a resurgence in popularity as self-described Neo-Marxists have formed. The reemerging of Marx’s philosophy is why a swath of society is painting the Constitution in a bad light. They believe the founders as privileged white males structured the Constitution to maintain and grow their power. This is not only a pessimistic view of people but a self-righteous one as well. How can we look down at men 250 years ago? They broke many rules of the day about hierarchies and who should have power and voice. Were they as progressive and advanced as us? No, of course not. But were they some of the most progressive regarding personal freedoms and rights in their age? Yes, they most certainly were. When we start judging people on their worst qualities and condemning anything attached to them because of this, I believe we enter a very dangerous realm. No one wants to be evaluated off their worst moments and ideals. I also believe we are very naïve to think in 2021 we sit at the peak of morality. It is only common sense that in 100 years people will question parts of our society as immoral just as we do to our predecessors. All this to say the U.S. Constitution is not an attempt to grab power by oppressors but rather the best of its day at bringing power to the proletariat and shifting society. And if I am wrong and it is an oppressive attempt to retain power, well, it was a horrible failure at its goal.
Throughout the Articles describing the movements and processes of the legislative, executive and judicial branch a launching pad is laid that each generation can blast off from and shoot for the moon. In the 1930s, we could radically increase social welfare and restrict banking to protect from another Great Depression. In the 1960s, we could fight against ill-conceived war, racial injustice, and inequalities. In the 2010s, we could fight for prison and justice reform so everyone gets to enjoy the freedoms and protections laid out in the Constitution and its amendments. And in the future we can launch into whatever great ill of society we want to tackle next. We do this from the foundation of a Constitution that does little to influence us but provides a structure to conduct ourselves. And we do this as the United States of America united under the U.S. Constitution. Just a thought