ACS v. FedSoc

Yesterday, the Federalist Society's left-leaning counterpart, the American Constitutional Society, announced on its blog the beginning of some collaborative debate and discussion between FedSoc and ACS members. Realizing the problems of collective participation (not to mention Borking), ACS members acquiesced and admitted that competition might be a better engine of intellectual growth than the previous system of coercion, dubbed "voluntary participation."

Rob, of ACS, writes:

While we often find ourselves on the receiving end of one another’s diatribes, ACS and FedSoc are really engaged in a common enterprise. The intellectual and professional tension fueled by deeply differing philosophical emphases holds the entire legal community upright as wires on a suspension bridge.

With that amiable stance in mind, the Federalist Society and American Constitution Society Columbia Law School chapters embark upon a semester of high spirited and high minded debate. Through cross-links on our organizations’ blogs, an ongoing discussion will unfold among students at CLS and any interested in contributing. The media representatives from both groups will attempt to kindle debate, though we intend the conversation to be organically driven by the ideas shared online. Our chosen profession is defined by argument: civil, reasoned, and inspired. We expect nothing less.

Let me simply close, by pointing out that my ideas do NOT stand for all of the Federalist Society's members. I say so in order to emphasize that this enterprise is intended to promote a free market of ideas where individual ideas are emphasized over any imagined duty to remain consistent with one's party affiliation. Of course, this indirectly coincides with one of the core beliefs associated with the Federalist Society: the idea that competition brings out the best results in the participants. Hopefully this friendly competition will inspire some good, civil discussion, as a reason to think critically and practice your advocacy in an open environment. So, members of FedSoc and ACS, you now have your chance to share the pearls of your keen Ivy-league intellects, and earn your side some fleeting internet glory (and if you're actually worried about the paper trail, that's fixable).