Bitter political disagreements seem to have driven Americans apart more than ever before in our lifetimes. Difficult as it may seem to bridge the gap between Left and Right, the founders left us a guide for recovering the common good: the U.S. Constitution. A shared conception of citizenship rooted in that document, and its ideas about equality, liberty, and self-government, can inspire real unity in the midst of serious disagreement.
Sponsored by my organization, the Jack Miller Center, a recent survey by RealClear Opinion Research in partnership with the Trafalgar Group shows just how many people still believe in the importance of these values and civic education. For example, 89% of parents say it is “very important” that their child has “a basic understanding of the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the responsibilities of citizenship before they graduate from high school.”
