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Engines of Liberty
Engines of Liberty: The Power of Citizen Activists to Make Constitutional Law | David Cole
5 posts | 3 read | 5 to read
From an award-winning legal scholar, a stirring argument about the central role of citizen activists in shaping our nation’s constitutional law Who determines whether gay Americans can marry? Who says whether citizens can own guns? And who decides on the fate of prisoners taken in the War on Terror? Most Americans would answer: the Supreme Court. While the rest of us stand by waiting for their decisions, the nine justices decide the fate of our freedoms. Overturning this conventional wisdom, David Cole argues that citizen activists are the true drivers of constitutional change. He shows that time and time again, associations of ordinary Americans have persuaded a majority of the justices to adopt their point of view and transform constitutional law. Revealing the tactics successful causes adopt, Cole offers a guidebook for anyone seeking social change, as well as a deeper understanding of how our Constitution actually works. An unexpected account of the power of small groups of committed people, The Spirit of Liberty is essential reading for anyone who has lost faith in political activism in our era of gridlock.
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BC_Dittemore
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A solid read. Cole takes three issues—marriage equality, gun rights, & civil/human rights (particularly after 9/11)—and explores how they were addressed through activism and lobbying. I learned a lot from this; the NRA‘s role in changing the 2nd Amendment‘s interpretation, for example.

Cole maintains a nonpartisan perspective throughout, presenting the facts clearly and giving us a glimpse at what it takes to make change happen.

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BC_Dittemore
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Floresj
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If you like reading about the building of cases to ensure constitutional rights, this is a very informative book. The sections on the war on terror and the NRA were really interesting. Good nonfiction to mix into my reading diet!

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Floresj
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😤😤😤😤😤 The section on the NRA is raising my blood pressure considerably.

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Floresj
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Interesting explanation of how change is made to our liberties. This book looks at marriage equality, gun control, and the war on terror. Drier than the podcast, "More Perfect", but I find it fascinating the grinding, decades long strategy advocates endure for rights they believe in.