By U.S. Sen. Olympia J. Snowe
(R-Maine)
On September 17, 1787, 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention signed the document which would “form a more perfect Union” and shape the laws that govern this great nation through to today. Now, 224 years later on Constitution Day, we commemorate the anniversary of this historic day and the one-of-a-kind document which has been instrumental in building the greatest nation in the world.
Indeed, students across Maine and the country have marked the occasion in the classroom with lessons exploring the profound impact of the Constitution. From learning about the Articles of the Constitution establishing the three branches of government to the Bill of Rights and subsequent amendments, Constitution Day is a chance for all of us to remember the work our Founding Fathers achieved in Philadelphia and the role this document plays in our daily lives. They established a brilliant blueprint that has withstood the test of time and become a beacon for others to follow.
What the Founders did not anticipate was that a nation built upon the premise of individual freedom would become shackled by a monumental government debt. However today, our nation has accumulated over $14 trillion of debt, two-thirds of which is owned by foreign countries. Yet ours was not intended to be a nation of debtors but one built upon the premise of individual freedom, which is precisely why I have joined with my colleagues in the U.S. Congress to call for a constitutional amendment to require balanced federal budgets. The constitutional amendment to balance the budget would help return us to a sustainable path, provide continuity of fiscal responsibility, and ensure we end the cycle of deficit spending. It’s time Congress passed the amendment and gave each state—and “We the People”—their say.
The fact is, we as a nation are able to freely debate the national debt and other critical issues of our time because throughout our history, noble Americans of all backgrounds have answered this nation’s most honorable call and to defend our freedoms and liberties written into the Constitution. As we celebrate Constitution Day, it is fitting we also express our enormous gratitude to the thousands of heroic servicemen and women deployed in Iraq, Afghanistan, and throughout the world. They are the greatest reason the Constitution remains just as strong today as it was when it was first adopted.
It is around this veneration we must unite in pursuit of the preservation of our freedoms. So much was sacrificed by previous generations to provide a brighter future for our country. We, as citizens must continue working together to solve the challenges facing this nation, solutions that will serve us now, and well into the future, so that our children and grandchildren enjoy a better quality of life.
If there is one thing I hope students learned in school on Constitution Day, it is that great achievements in our nation’s history begin with great debate and thorough consideration. In his appeal to convention members asking them to sign the Constitution, Ben Franklin said, “I think it will astonish our enemies, who are waiting with confidence to hear that our councils are confounded like those of the builders of Babel; and that our States are on the point of separation, only to meet hereafter for the purpose of cutting one another’s throats.” Indeed, our Founding Fathers signed the document and sent it to the states for ratification.
Men from all walks of life risked their life and liberty for what they believed was in the best interests of our nation. We are thankful they did.
