Hillsdale College Holds 15th Annual Constitution Day Celebration
Topics included the politicization of justice, the weaponization of the federal bureaucracy, and the history of the administrative state.
HILLSDALE, Mich. — Hillsdale College hosted its 15th annual Constitution Day Celebration Sept. 18-19 at the Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner, in McLean, Virginia. The two-day program included a luncheon; dinner; roundtable and panel discussions; and remarks by Hillsdale College President Larry P. Arnn, author and journalist Mark Steyn, and Mike Benz of the Foundation for Freedom Online.
“Unlike almost any other part of the world, American justice is ruinous,” Steyn said. “It consumes your life.”
Steyn spoke on “The Michael E. Mann Defamation Case and the Politicization of American Justice.” He said that in the American justice system, the process is the punishment, like a modern version of Medieval trial by ordeal.
“Unlike almost any other part of the world, American justice is ruinous,” Steyn said. “It’s not just a fine. It’s not just some small legal bills and then you get on with your life. It’s ruinous, it consumes your life. And when there’s no equality before the law, that means it’s just consuming one side’s life.”
In a roundtable on Hillsdale College history professor Mark Moyar’s new book “Masters of Corruption: How the Federal Bureaucracy Sabotaged the Trump Presidency,” Russell Vought of the Center for Renewing America said he is hopeful that a future administration will begin to undo the progressive policies of the administrative state.
“I think the administrative state is the most important issue that we’re facing right now. I think it is the most existential issue,” Vought said. “We have an election coming up that I think is on par with 1860 in terms of the stakes for our republic.”
For videos from the event, click here. For photos from the event, click here. For videos from other Hillsdale College events, click here.
For a high-resolution copy of the Hillsdale College clocktower logo, click here.