September 16, 2020 Issue, Page 4 of 8

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Page 4 The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma ‘Wednesday, September 16, 2020 Opinion Page Point: Who can save our “ElkCituNews Constitution? Only We the People Serving Western Oklahoma since 1901 Opinion: For more and By Elizabeth Wydra, In- sideSources.com constitutional patriotism ex- ists than the tireless resis- key resources and, ultimate- gradually reverting to being ly, what course our nation merely words on parchment more young people, home What is a constitution? A constitution is made up tance of abolitionists such as Frederick Douglass, who re- will take into the future. What happens, though, under glass at the National Archives? is where the living is of words and sentences, ex- fused to let his fellow Amer- when enough people stop From Kenosha, Wisconsin, plaining how a government icans turn their eyes away caring about the commit- and Minneapolis to Los An- The Oklahoman should and should not op- from the colossal chasm be-ments promised by our Con- geles and Washington, D.C. erate, and declaring which tween our professed found- stitution? What happens We can add an item to the list of similarities between the - and countless cities and people - and what values - a ing ideals of freedom and the when they become tired of COVID-19 pandemic and the Great Depression - the per- government should protect. fact that the nation allowed its protections being denied towns in between - people centage of young people living at home. in America are taking to the A democratic constitution, the brutal enslavement of to them; when they see the however, means little on its human beings. faithless among them in streets, taking to the ballot A Pew Research Center analysis of monthly census data found that in July, 52% of young adults (those 18 to 29) own, no matter how broad- Knowing our Constitu- charge of government, going box and taking our leaders ly and fairly it’s written. tion, even with its flaws, unpunished after routinely to task. They are demanding, lived with one or both of their parents. That’s up from 47% Words cannot enforce them- could be wielded for eman- violating our Constitution’s in the final analysis, that our in February. selves. Words, under glass cipation, Douglass and sub- rules; when they see those nation live up to promises It is the highest percentage since the end of the Great in a museum, cannot make sequent movements of the who sought power by pro- made in our amended Con- Depression, when the 1940 census showed 48% of young someone do something they people ended the nation’s fessing fealty to the Consti- stitution: Equality. Justice. don’t want to do, or prevent original sin of chattel slav- tution’s text and values, toss The right to vote free from adults lived with their parents. Pew notes the peak may them from doing something ery, and continued to fix that fealty aside when com- discrimination. Leaders ac- have been higher during the worst of the Depression in the they're determined to do. founding mistakes, bringing manded by a charismatic po- countable to the rule of law. 1930s, but no data exists for that period. No, what makes a con- more people under the Con- litical leader? We have seen all too often The 1950 and 1960 censuses showed a decline in the stitution work in a demo- stitution’s protection and What are we doing about of late that political leaders cratic society are the people expanded our democratic the fact that the words of our share of young adults living with parents. However, the - people in the corridors society. Constitution guarantee equal and institutions will fail us. monthly share in the Current Population Survey has been of power and in the street, We owe gratitude to those protection of the law for But our Constitution doesn’t from presidents to the gen- who ensured the full prom- all, speak of equal citizen- begin with “We the Lead- above 50% since April; it had not happened in 34 years eral public - who agree to ises of liberty and equality ship for all, yet police vio- ers.” It begins with “We the that CPS data has been available on young adults’ living follow and respect its text, were actually written into lence against Black people People.” We are the source arrangements. history and values without our national charter, and continues, unaccountable to of its strength and the well- In February, 24 million young adults were living with being forced. For a constitu- now we must breathe life justice? Have we stopped spring of its meaning. Only their parents. By July, the total had climbed by 2.6 million - tion to last, that respect must into these words. We do caring about enforcing our we can do the hard work of 2.1 million of whom were in the 18-to-24 age group. flow from the generation of this by investing them with Constitution’s manifold pro- giving it life, and of protect- those who drafted it, through meaning and power, striving tections of the right to vote ing it for the generations “Most in this youngest age group already lived with their all the generations that fol- to wring from them every against discrimination based who follow us. I believe we parents, but the share grew to 71% in July from 63% in low, even through vigorous drop of hypocrisy, and hold- on race, sex, age or ability to will. February,” Pew researchers found. disagreements about what ing the faithless among us pay any kind of tax? Or its Elizabeth Wydra is presi- This pattern, they said, aligns closely with job losses words should be in our na- accountable to them. We do powerful stand against reli- dent of Constitutional Ac- tional charter and what those this by telling one another, gious tests, or its monument since February. already there mean. Every every day - both as individu- to the rule of law? Are the countability Center, a public “The youngest adults have been more likely than other interest law firm and think generation must agree to re- als and through our institu- words of the framers in Phil- age groups to lose their jobs or take a pay cut,” researchers new that founding commit- tions - how our Constitu- adelphia - and of the framers tank dedicated to promot- said. ment and, when necessary, tion’s words are supposed of critical amendments ad- ing the promise of the Con- reconstruct it _ even funda- to settle disputes about who opted after the Civil War, the Stitution’s text, history and Nine percent of young adults said the coronavirus out- mentally remake it. has power in our society, progressive movement and values. She wrote this for break had prompted them to relocate temporarily or perma- No greater example of this who in our society may get the civil rights movement - InsideSources.com. nently. Among all adults who moved due to the pandemic, 23% said the primary reason was the closing of their col- lege campus; 18% cited job loss or other financial reasons. Counterpoint: Our republic - can we keep it? The number and share of young people moving back By Trevor Burrus, Inside- But it wasn’t supposed to egated a significant amount threat. Under current law, home increased across the board, “for all major racial and Sources.com be this way. To the framers, of that power to the presi- an opposing president can On Sept. 17, 1787, whileCongress was the central dent by allowing him to switch significant environ- ethnic groups, men and women, and metropolitan and rural leaving the just-finished player in our federal govern- unilaterally regulate foreign mental regulations, impose residents, as well as in all four main census regions,” the Constitutional Convention ment. Due to their frequent commerce in the interest of “national emergencies” to study said. in Philadelphia, Benjamin popular election by relative- “national security.” solve pet projects, radically Researchers also found that the number of white young Franklin was purportedly ly small and homogenous In other words, Congress restructure immigration, sig- adults living with at least one parent increased more than asked whether the delegates constituencies, members of gave away its power to the nificantly alter regulations for other racial and ethnic groups. That is a change from had produced a republic or a the House would help har- president, and courts have on businesses and even fight decades past, when whites were less likely than Asians, monarchy. monize the interests of the generally refused to step in undeclared wars, all without He allegedly said, “A re- country by vigorously fight- to assess whether something asking Congress to do any- Blacks or Hispanics to live with their parents. public, if you can keep it.” ing for both local and nation- is truly a danger to “national thing. Researchers said this change in living arrangements “may Now, 233 years later, our al interests. security.” This is no way to run have an impact not just on young adults and their families, constitutional republic has Senators, who in the origi- But an overly powerful a constitutional republic. but on the U.S. economy overall, reflecting the importance been substantially eroded. It nal Constitution were cho- executive branch is not just a Although today the Bill of the housing market to overall economic growth.” is time to rediscover to the sen by the state legislatures, feature of the Trump admin- of Rights is the most well Growth in new households trailed population growth founding principles of our would compose the senior istration. Trump inherited known part of the Constitu- Constitution if we want to deliberative body, which, the stunningly broad powers tion, when the delegates left before the pandemic, Pew noted, and slower household last an additional 200 years. because of the longer terms of the presidency because the convention there was growth “could mean less demand for housing and house- The current violent clash- and statewide constituen- almost every past admin- no Bill of Rights. The de- hold goods. There also may be a decline in the number of es in our streets have many cies, would look more to- istration has increased the bates in the convention were renters and homeowners, and in overall housing activity.” causes, but they are partly ward the long-term health of scope of presidential power. about constitutional struc- That’s speculation. What’s certain is that many moms about what kind of country the country. The Obama administration ture - how the separation each side desires. This presi- Seemingly no framer purported to redefine the and dads don’t have the same elbow room around the house of powers, checks and bal- dential election year, as with imagined, however, that concept of gender when it that they enjoyed just six months ago. essentially all election years Congress, rather than jeal- came to public school bath- ances and other guardrails of the Constitution could in the 21st century, has been ously guarding its power, rooms by publishing a “dear ensure a limited, effective, touted as an existential threat would freely and gladly give colleague” letter instructing by both sides of the political it to the executive branch. schools to let students use responsive and democrati- aisle. Many people feel that, Over the last 90 years, Con- the bathroom of their gen- cally accountable federal if the “other side” takes the gress has passed statute af- der identity. As a supporter government. Now, too many presidency, then there will ter statute that empower the of transgender rights, I was of those guardrails are either be a concerted effort to de- executive branch with im- nevertheless shocked the ad- broken or completely disre- stroy their way of life. mense discretion not only ministration would so casu- garded. In a country as big While American elections on how the laws will be en- ally force such broad social and diverse as America, we are rarely as existentially forced (the classic role of the change. cannot continue to exist in a threatening as pundits and executive branch) but even Transgenderism and bath- state of perpetual presiden- partisans claim, it’s under- what the laws say. rooms is the type of issue tial whiplash. standable why people feel This was on display when that should be debated in Our republic is eroding. this way. Congress has basi- President Donald Trump im- Congress, not imposed by Can we stop it? cally been a do-nothing body posed steel tariffs by claim- the president. Trevor Burrus is a re- for more than a decade. The ing they are in the interests But Congress doesn’t search fellow in the Cato the editor to presidency has become the focal point of policy mak- of “national security.” While the Constitution explicitly work, so we’re left with a president who has powers Institute’s, Robert A. Levy Center for Constitutional [email protected] ing and policy change in the gives Congress the power that even King George III Studies and editor in chief federal government. Who to “regulate commerce with didn’t have. No wonder peo- of the Cato Supreme Court the president is matters more foreign nations,” the Trade ple view a presidency of “the Review. He wrote this for In- now than ever before. Expansion Act of 1962 del- other side” as an existential sideSources.com,