We Are in this Together: The Rule of Law, the Commerce Clause, and the Enhancement of Liberty Through Mutual Aid,

Anne Marie Lofaso Arthur B. Hodges Professor of Law, West Virginia University College of Law

February 6, 2013

ACS is pleased to distribute “We Are in this Together: The Rule of Law, the Commerce Clause, and the Enhancement of Liberty Through Mutual Aid,” an Issue Brief by Anne Marie Lofaso, Associate Dean for Faculty Research and Development and Professor of Law, West Virginia University College of Law.

In this Issue Brief, Lofaso asserts that “one of the themes of the 2012 Presidential election campaign was a choice put to American citizens: Are we all in this together, or whether we are on our own?” Arguing that the benefits of a more collaborative and less individualistic vision were reaffirmed in the recent election, Lofaso outlines numerous methods to “strengthen traditional labor laws to bring the American more in line with the New Deal way of thinking.” She concludes, “We together will continue to build this democracy; we together will make sacrifices when sacrifices must be made. And as we together build that community, each person’s individuality is enhanced, each person’s liberty is augmented, and each one of us is the better...”

Read the full Issue Brief here: We Are in this Together: The Rule of Law, the Commerce Clause, and the Enhancement of Liberty Through Mutual Aid

“Toward a More Perfect Union: A Progressive Blueprint for the Second Term” is a series of ACS Issue Briefs offering ideas and proposals that we hope the administration will consider in its second term to advance a vision consistent with the progressive themes President Obama raised in his second Inaugural Address. The series should also be useful for those in and outside the ACS network – to help inform and spark discussion and debate on an array of pressing public policy concerns. The series covers a wide range of issue areas, including immigration reform, campaign finance, climate change, criminal justice reform, and judicial nominations.