There may be a rocky road ahead for our nation’s system of democracy.

Some years ago, I taught a course at Chaminade titled “Constitutional Law and Politics.” It primarily investigated the ways that Supreme Court justices, especially chief justices, interpreted various words or clauses in the Constitution to coincide with their political persuasions. This has always been true and can be expected to continue.

Currently, important elements of our democracy may be in jeopardy — even “all men are created equal” and the rule of law. Specific advances our democracy has made over centuries could be slipping away, including regulation of industrial monopolies, civilian control of the military, Social Security, health care, the right of labor to organize, and even schools that are “separate but equal are inherently unequal.”

An indication of intelligence is recognition of the dangers ahead.

Chuck Prentiss

Kailua

Click here to read more Letters to the Editor.