OVERLOAD

 Time for Justice

      I say new form of government though the concepts of democracy and republics had been done before. Nevertheless, what we have was new, untried...an experiment. So what was new?

      The Constitution. We do hear people these days mention the Constitution with misquotes or even say the Constitution is a bad idea and irrelevant. Personally, I find such things tiresome and painful. The ideas and principles apply to everyone. Non-citizens in this country have the same rights and protections as any citizen. Those that say immigrants do not have Constitutional rights are wrong, very wrong. I seem to be saying that a lot lately. Ever seen that episode of the original Star Trek where William Shatner’s Captain Kirk read’s a copy with dramatic emotion? Remember how that ends? He says these words apply to all people, both side of that planet’s conflict. This is what the founding father’s meant. I am a historian, in fact my degree is in history. Read the other things those that founded this country wrote for deeper understanding.

     The Constitution laid out our form of government, a democracy, a republic, or more clearly, a representative democracy. I am aware there are those that like to split hairs and say it is not a democracy, but we vote. It is a right, it is a privilege and it is a responsibility. And if you do not do it you are letting us all, and yourself down. I believe this and always have. But this is another column.

    Today is about the three co-equal branches of government and what they are supposed to do. The three equal branches, have nothing to do with political parties. That is another can of worms, and maybe column. So what are they? We are all taught in school, but lots of people still did not understand, pay attention, care to know, whatever the reason, it is sad. Whenever someone says I do not pay attention to politics, again, they let everyone down.

     Quick refresher, Article One, establishes congress and the two houses, Senate which has two elected from each state, and the House of Representatives which is based on population of each state. Congress, composes the laws, determines the budget, sets taxes, approves appointments to office...and much more. Regardless of what you hear these days, they are responsible for most of the governing of the country. This is brief but I need to get to the main event.

     Article two creates the executive branch or the presidency. This branch executes the laws. It is the branch that is to carry out the instructions of Congress and indirectly, the people. Contrary to what the orange sex offender currently infesting the White House said once, it does not say the president can do whatever he wants. It lists responsibilities, not unlimited control. We rebelled and got rid of a king, not set up another. George Washington created the term Mr. President to avoid terms like excellency or majesty. He also stepped down and did not run for re-election to ensure the government would operate as intended.

     Before getting to the third branch, I would like to point out the system of checks and balances between the branches was instilled within the document so that no one part could hold control over the others and the people. The responsibilities and authority of each branch is clearly laid out. Is it a perfect system? No, but it was as close to being right as anything ever has been until parties, corporate influence, career politicians, billionaires and much more interfered. It is as if the drafters of the government did see the possibility of greed, lust for power and other influences may corrupt it someday and designed precautions to avoid this. Unfortunately, we have problems here, but there is still hope.

     Branch three, and where much of the problem lies. The judicial branch, the establishment of the Supreme Court of the United States. Today there are nine judges on the bench of the court. Their primary job is to interpret the laws of the U.S. When a law is brought into question, the final word as to whether or not it follows the rules of the Constitution is their job. Our two-party system was not designed by the Constitution, and the judges of the supreme court are supposed to interpret the spirit of the law. The party system and membership in political organizations, is not, was not intended, nor should it be a part or influence within the court. Supreme court justices are to make decisions on the laws alone and disregard other beliefs and influences. But this is not what has happened. When we speak of the court, we say conservative or liberal judges. Once one becomes a judge, politics should no longer be part of it. What the Constitution says is what matters.

     This is not what has happened and the political and personal views are the problem. Because of this, we have seen decisions like Dobbs vs Jackson, Citizens United and providing immunity to the president for crimes in office. For more than two centuries, it was known that no one, not even the president, is above the law. They made the immunity decision on party lines to save the orange hobgoblin from facing consequences of his actions. Consequences that anyone else would have fallen before. And now, we have an administration that does as they please and are not being reigned in. The soul of this country is at stake, and dark forces are at work. We are even losing allies that I once thought impossible to push away. It is time for those in positions, to do something to stop this and return us to sanity. We need a supreme court that once again upholds the law and not what one man, and the heritage foundation, dictates.

    Some of the supreme court justices have severely violated ethics and even laws. My final suggestion for this Overload is, start there.

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