we the people and digression

There are times when I struggle to understand how the country has arrived at its current state of affairs. But all I have to do is turn on the television, watch any talk show, and the answer becomes quite clear. There is a massive intellectual deficit permeating the airwaves, and the all too willing viewer buys right into the mantra being sold, thus increasing the deficit nationwide. Example: I watched a right leaning talk show last week. One of the commentators mentioned that when Trump gets into office he can institute “term limits.”

Which begs the question: Does anyone understand the Constitution? Seriously! When the Framers designed it, the very issue of “term limits” was addressed; House of Representatives: two years; Senate: six years; President: four years; Judges: during good behavior. Their reasoning: If a bad legislator is elected, vote them out. If a bad judge sits on the bench, impeach them out. On the judge side, constitutional grounding over party dictates requisite, thus defining “good behavior.” Same legislators: constitutionally grounded. Well, the House, having a two-year term (the shortest), was partly a spending preventative measure. Then the Senate, originally appointed by State legislatures, has no power to spend, but is more a check on the President, who, must have the advice and consent of the Senate to actually do things. The Senators as well being a backstop to their State, making sure the Fed stayed within its bounds. But understand, the Congress (House/Senate combined) holds all legislative power. And yes, the President can veto a bill. And Congress can simply veto his veto, thus law becoming law. And the Judges, no power. Their sole responsibility is to ascertain whether the other two are within the confines of the Constitution, or any law written by Congress being constitutional. Although, both of those chambers can essentially give the Supreme Court (SC) the proverbial bird, especially if Congress and the President are in lockstep party power wise. Their (SC) power comes through the President understanding and willing to follow constitutional perspectives, thus getting Congress to follow suit. Example: Marbury versus Madison. A perfect study of a flaw in the Constitution and one party’s desire to manipulate such to keep an opposing party from achieving its goals. Think: The Constitution does not have a moral compass, thus requiring character, integrity, and morals of those holding office. But that moral compass! 

Additionally, the Framers also set age and citizen requirements, to which we need first to understand, in their day and time, they grew up earlier than today. To which an amendment might be in order, as the House; twenty-five and seven years a citizen: Senate; thirty and nine years a citizen: Executive; thirty-five and natural born citizen. Oddly though, judges have no set age nor citizen time requirement, nor power. But … “natural born” has become a conundrum because of the 14^th Amendment, which was strictly meant to solidify slaves as full-fledged citizens. So, its wording, including the desire of party politics today to thwart the Constitution has placed the country in a situation that one day may prove problematic. Which also brings up the ability (hint, hint) to amend the Constitution, which should always conjure Buyer Beware. Just consider the aforementioned 14^th and then look at the 18^th and 21^st Amendments. The 21^st repeals the 18^th which removed citizens’ rights to imbibe: Something Congress has no power to control in the first place. And one can see how that turned out: The repeal of an amend. Also, knowing each chamber has different responsibilities, the balance of power lays with Congress, which means: WE THE PEOPLE. And in the vein of the “people,” only Congress controls citizenship, but it’s supposed to be uniform, and has no power over immigration: a State’s Right.

Which brings us full circle back to WE THE PEOPLE and what role we are to be part thereof. When the Framers laid the nation’s foundation, it was based on the premise of self-determination. The government’s role; provide the safety and security for citizens to live such. A limited government. So, when a recent poll found fifty-three percent of the population prefers more government intervention in their lives, it defies the logic the Framers brought forth. Because once it starts, where does massive government intervention end after it’s fully entrenched? Who then says too much, if it isn’t too much already. This is far reaching, as one can’t pick and choose interventability. Because once the lines between do and don’t become too obfuscated, too late. And as the power continues shifting from WE THE PEOPLE to the government, a point of no return will be reached. Then once the power weight swings too far in the wrong direction, the fulcrum point of balance will require another revolution to get back. Only, this time, as President Biden already pontificated: They have the F-15, including a host of other weaponry making the design of what the Framers accomplished (American Revolution) a complete impossibility today. The 2^nd Amendment be damned. And if one thinks party (Democrat/Republican) will make any difference, think again. Over the years, party power has cycled between the two, yet nothing ever changes. All of this being a vicious cycle.

So, to close. When my son was in elementary school, math became common core. A Holy-how-can-simple-math-become-such-a-complex-feat-to-solve-a-simple-math-problem Batman! The Constitution being quite the same. A simple, easy to understand document, only made convoluted by those striving to increase their power hold. And the President? The position has no power to institute “term limits,” much less anything else. Only Congress can do such. And a one-party control of all three branches should have everyone eyebrow raising to make certain the Constitution, not party, is the controlling factor. Which remarkably should conjure another thought: Does anyone really believe legislators will surrender their ability to enrich themselves for the sake of saving the country? Because if they did, lobbying would have been axed long ago. But as usual: I digress.