Letter: Document twisted to fit agenda

Thomas R. Higdon’s June 4 letter, “Columnist insults nation’s founders,” is typical of the contradictory, illogical thinking evinced by some members of his political persuasion.

One day, they want the Constitution treated as though it’s a first draft, and on another, they want the document treated as though it’s engraved on stone tablets.

They’re all for violating the 14th Amendment by creating an amendment denying a segment of the population the right to marry. On the other hand, they cry out against first lady Michelle Obama’s healthy-foods program for schools as government overreach even though the government has a compelling interest in controlling behavior that results in childhood diabetes.

Thomas Jefferson wrote that “some men look at constitutions with sanctimonious reverence, and deem them like the arc [sic] of the covenant, too sacred to be touched … laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind.”

Higdon calls for 18th century-style limited government even though the trend since then has been toward more government involvement. He contradicts Jefferson, who understood that a constitution written in the 18th century would not fit in future centuries when he wrote, “institutions must advance and keep pace with the times.”

Joel Littauer

Vancouver