Atlantic Council Senior Adviser Harlan Ullman writes for United Press International on the drafting of the US Constitution:
Throughout history, of the many great political documents that were crafted, the Constitution of the United States must rank second to none. Composed by arguably the best minds of any era, the Constitution has been the basis and structure on which this country has survived, grown and prospered for more than two and a quarter centuries. Yet, has anyone in Washington read or re-read that document recently? One wonders.
It is interesting, for example, that nowhere in the Constitution is any mention made of political parties and even of Republicans or Democrats. Indeed, the Founding Fathers were deeply suspicious of factions that might emerge to subvert the Constitution. Yet, almost immediately after ratification in 1789, the exact opposite occurred. The consequences today have led to destructive politicization on the part of both parties.