This brings me back to a comment about Derbyshire up above. He mixes means and ends in the list of foolish politics: peace is a good end, and generosity is a virtue. Perhaps he should distinguish the end from the means. Immanentizing the eschaton is a bad means. Rejecting the eschaton is losing parts.
In American politics, the end is left to the people. Sadly, this is no guarantee that in making the foundation of law an popular ideal against bad means.
Sadly, this is no guarantee that in making the popular ideal the foundation of law that we are free of bad means.