So this is not about partisan political divides but about the direction our country has been going over at least the last 85 years. Recognizing the threat of a too powerful executive James Madison set the federal government up to be a three headed body with powers that balanced. He and the rest of the founding fathers had just escaped a too strong executive in George III. They made congress and the Supreme Court independent co equal branches. They gave the power of the purse and ability to declare war to congress specifically to limit the power of the president. Unfortunately congress has not stood up to its challenge since FDR tremendously expanded the power of the executive starting with the Great Depression and WWII. The aggregation of power by the president has NOT been a partisan trend but equally shared by republican and democrat alike. With the possible exception of DD Eisenhower every president no matter which party has grabbed and used more power from congress and the state’s. The court has been a slight bulwark but by its nature is reactive. This is most striking in the surrender of the power to declare war by congress. We have been in conflict with little respite since 1964. The last time congress declared war was 1950. Abdication of power is leading to the same end that befell Rome, dictatorship. This isn’t about Trump, hell he could become dictator as he’s no capable of anything other than fucking up (I guess he’s related to Jimmy Carter in that). Howeverlike every president since Clinton we’ve seen a quickening pace of executive orders, presidential war (yes Duck Rex and Red Obama had his in Libya and Yemen and also continued W’s in Iraq and Afghanistan. What did congress do? It went along. We’re reaching a crisis and not one Trump brought on but on of abdication by congress and we the voters. We’ve been blinded by food and games just like the Romans and are trading our rights and responsibilities for supposed security. This article says it better than I can. http://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/avoiding-the-cicero-trap/
I mean. I don’t think launching missiles in response to gas attacks in coordination with our closest allys is an act of war. It was basically a spanking on a global scale.
Re: Supreme Court decision,..No matter your stance on the Immigration subject, the law was poorly written and vague,.. it was heartening to see Gorsuch rise above the fray and make a decision based on law and logic. The Supreme Court is America's best friend, protecting us from emotionalism,.. by the President and by the masses, I'd add Congress, but they are impotent, paralyzed by politics. The President cannot much change our country without the help of Congress and a nod from the Supreme court,.. I agree Winston, illegal executive actions have hurt America horribly, a weak Congress has let that problem grow,.. and I also agree that in a sense Trump isn't a huge threat, he can fuck things up some,.. but most recognize him for what he is,.. just not dictator material. What this country needs more than anything is a strong legislative Congress,.. but how to uproot the entrenched partisanship? I do not see how with either the democrats or republicans in power. "Help us Mr. Wizard!"
Don’t take my comments as pointed at Trump. They’re not! This is a trend that has been growing over the terms of the last 9 presidents. What we’re developing is a permanent executive branch bureaucracy that has sucked power from congress since 1932 or so. War powers are part and no firing a few missles isn’t war, putting soldiers in African and Syrian battle zones without authorization (Obama) is. As I said Congress hasn’t declared war since 1950 and by any definition we’ve been in 5 wars since. There’s more as the Executative branch has taken congress’ legislative power by using regulations as law. Obama got his hand slapped several time by the Supreme Court for doing that. As the article pointed out part of the problem is congress either abandoning its responsibility or being too ineffective to carry it out. In the past congress was a strong break in presidential actions. Note the repudiation of Wilson’s foreign policy in 1919/20. At times it was the engine that pulled the president in the direction it wanted. The article make the point much better than I. I guess that’s why he’s paid and I’m not . This is a historical trend not a screed against one person.
Congress represents the lobbyists and not the citizens. They need to be held accountable for that....easier recalls. The congress is neither a check nor balance due to extreme partisanship and self interest.
This is a bihger problem than the the extreme positions. And it won't change until we get term limits.
We are headed down the path of Rome. Debautury and sin. The problem is no one has any morals left. Their life is void of God. Real or not, God has a purpose in life. When you live your life based on Instagram and Twitter likes, well, you have a Porn Star as your most trusted source of news. I fear either WWIII is going to happen in my life time or some sort of succession of states.
