In Framed: America’s 51 Constitutions and the Crisis of Governance, the constitutional scholar, political theorist, and prolific public intellectual Sanford Levinson makes the case that this is no passing squall caused by momentary economic dislocations, but evidence of deeper flaws in how basic governance institutions are designed. Diverging from those who call for new leadership in the White House, a new political party, or even new policies, Levinson calls for reflection about some basic choices embedded in constitutions that most commentators take for granted.

Constitution Café is simply a space for ordinary citizens to engage in the extraordinary act of rewriting our Constitution. It’s a natural outgrowth of Phillips’ popular Socrates Café, a forum (or, rather, hundreds of forums, around the country) for ordinary folks to talk philosophy. But Constitution Café is more: Constitution Café is a call to arms, a real vehicle for real change in our constitutional system. Thus Phillips takes us on a journey around the country to meet with groups ranging from a sixth grade class to a Tea Party affiliate to engage with, discuss, and wrestle over the Constitution—and ultimately to change it for our times.

This compelling book traces the history of the assault on democracy and the rise of a police state that reached its zenith in the George W. Bush administration. From the war on communism, to the war on labor, to the war terrorism, our government has used surveillance, preventive detention, torture, and a climate of fear to consolidate its power and neutralize dissent. Under the guise of nurturing democracy at home and abroad, the U.S. government has actually undermined it.

America’s government may be the first one in the history of the world that started out with the expressly stated goal of making its citizens happy. Jefferson set out “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” in the Declaration of Independence. Madison added “to promote the general welfare” to the six purposes of government in the Constitution’s preamble. Both believed that democracy was the system most likely to deliver on the promise of helping people live happier lives.

We are fast approaching the time of the next great battle over evolution. The Neo-creationists will be corporations, and they will argue that they could not possibly be descended from human beings.