Does Preamble to the Constitution Still Speak to Us

The six goals of the preamble to our Constitution are: To form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty. In our day, we seem to have lost the serious consideration of those goals. We tend to go from story to story in the constant pursuit of the most up to date “news” without taking the time to consider our foundational goals. Where do we fit in the broader picture of American history? What is our position in the continuing story of our country?

What does it mean to form a more perfect union? Nations are new inventions of history, with the United States being a pioneer in that experiment. We were no longer subjects, basically owned by a monarch. We draw imaginary lines on maps and make believe the people within each boundary are different from other humans living within other lines. We develop symbols and myths to create a feeling of belongingness that we call nationalism. These are essential to create a feeling of community within a nation, but can be destructive if it leads to feelings of difference and even superiority to other humans living on our planet. Can individual citizens work together to promote the welfare of our country as a whole?

In the case of the United States, it is not only a union of people, but of states. These states are spread across a broad geographic area with vast differences in resources, history and populations. We even had to fight a bloody war to preserve our “perfect union,” and continue to struggle with the aftermath. The states are, after all, as artificial as the geographic designation of the territory of a nation. Their boundary lines were drawn as artificially as the nation, and build their identification ties around their own unique symbols and stories. Can the various states work together for the welfare of our country as a whole?

The magic of the United States, except for the Civil War, has been to manage the vast differences in its peoples and states through compromise. The “perfect union” is not a unitary state, but a complex amalgamation of differences harnessed to an idea of freedom to express individual and states interests. The magic glue of an democratic nation is compromise. No one, or group is completely right. Is it possible for United States citizens to listen, debate and compromise with each other to find a common good?

We have a goal to establish justice. What does that mean? Does that apply to all people equally? Is justice racially based? Is justice economically based? Is it free and available to all, or is it a commodity in a capitalist society, to be bought and sold according to one’s economic position? In order to have justice does one have to be of the right race, a member of the right religious practice, or a member of the correct social and religious class? How we answer those questions determines our willingness to live in a democratic society.

To ensure domestic tranquility is another goal. What does that mean?  Does it mean to control the members of the nation who disagree, and protest against one’s own vision? Does it mean that law and order means to ensure the status and freedom of a certain race, religion and the ability to acquire unlimited wealth and political power free from regulation and limits imposed by a democratic process? Does it mean that legal procedures must be followed in the pursuit of tranquility by enforcement agencies? Our answers to these questions determine our willingness to live in a democratic society.

We have a goal to provide for the common defense of the nation. What does that mean? Does it mean that we are committed to the defense of our homeland from invasion? Does it mean that we should be committed to pursue our national economic objectives through military means? Should we have a strong Defense Department, or an aggressive Department of War? Vast amounts of national effort and treasure depend on how we answer those questions. Are those questions ones that should be answered by democratic procedures, or the aims and policies of an elite or single individual?

To provide for the general welfare is another goal. Do we have responsibilities for how we organize the nation so that all citizens are offered the opportunity to make a living and live a decent life? Do we believe in progressive taxation, limits on oligarchic wealth and power in politics, more equal access to quality education, healthcare, childcare and other benefits of a modern society or the reservation of those for the oligarchic class?

The last goal is to secure the blessings of liberty. That goal takes awareness and effort. Mass media, AI, oligarchs and the web are threats that are willing to take our individual judgement and make important decisions for us. Keeping our eyes on the goals of our Constitution and committing to implement them in the best ways available to a democratic system are our best paths to securing the blessings of liberty for ourselves and our posterity.