DEAR EDITOR:

This is a letter of questions about the law of our country, the Constitution of the United States of America. It is also a letter of questions regarding the adherence to law by the governing bodies of the United States of America. It also raises questions pertaining to the citizens of the United States and our participation in government.

The last time I read the Constitution and Declaration of Independence was in junior high school. Although I took classes in law school and reviewed cases corresponding to federal and state laws (Constitutionally derived laws) I was not required to review the Constitution. Recent concerns regarding the U.S. tweaked my interest to review the Constitution. A number of questions nagged at me during that review.

Please read the following Preamble to the Constitution of the United States: “We the people of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

Questions regarding the preamble to the Constitution:

1) Who are the people of the United States who are the recipients of the benefits of the Constitution?

2) Are we continuing to form and perfect the union?

3) Is Justice established?

4) Has domestic tranquility been insured?

5) Are we assured of a continued “common defence”?

6) Is our governing body attending to the general Welfare of the Citizenry?

7) Is Liberty secured for us and our generations to come?

Questions regarding the governing bodies of the United States:

1) Should we expect our elected officials to support the Constitution?

2) Should we expect our elected officials to put their constituents’ concerns before their own concerns?

3) Can there be “too many laws”?

4) Is common sense possible in government or is it impossible to be conceded to?

5) Is our government serving us or have we become its chattel?

Questions regarding citizens’ ability to interact and stand for beliefs

1) Are we willing to seek out both sides of the conversation in order to ascertain truth?

2) Are we closing our ears to what may conflict with what we believe, perhaps out of laziness?

3) Do we fail to take action because of anticipation of failure? or worse yet, because we fear out of intimidation?

4) Do we question our own beliefs and self-examine our motives?

5) Are we willing to take action, participate and do our part (like vote)?

This is not a letter expecting perfection in response to the questions. This is a letter to learn. This is a letter to understand. This is a letter to overcome. This is a letter to do more.

VICTORIA CONKLIN

Cortland