What is wrong with the folks in Washington DC that we have trusted to run this country? Are we as a people all really stupid enough to have sent 537 complete idiots to represent and lead us? Yes, 537. I include the President and Vice President in this. We have sent 535 men and women to the most perfectly conceived and designed organization ever seen in the history of man, and over the last few years they have made a complete mess of everything they are supposed to do. So have the last few Presidents, as proven by the wide open borders, the 2 hopelessly entrenched wars we are attempting to fight as well as all the other involvement we are tangled up in, not to mention the mess that the federal budget is in. In this edition, we’ll take a look at the roll of Congress, the President and Vice President as a guy like me understands it.
Before this gets started, let me say right up front that I am no expert on Constitutional law, or law of any kind for that matter. The Constitution was written more than two centuries ago, and we have issues today that our founding fathers would never have even dreamed of, let alone been able to anticipate. In spite of all that, it is the document that has the last word, and spells out some pretty specific duties for those we elect to these most serious of offices. Even a guy like me, with only a high school education and 51 years of life experience can understand these basic duties, and see where these people are failing. Let’s start at the top, with the President of the United States. Everybody knows his role as “commander-in-chief” but I’m not sure everyone understands what that means. The President is the highest ranking officer in the military. He cannot declare war on his own, but has it within his Constitutional authority both to command military action as needed to protect the United States and it’s interests at home and abroad, anywhere in the world, and if necessary to ask Congress for a formal declaration of war in order to continue those actions. This power is necessary to respond quickly to any threats to the sovereignty of our nation, and he is in fact required by his oath as President to do these things. It is no accident that the Constitution was written this way. It was the intent of the Founders to have a civilian as the head of the military. “We the People” does not mean “we the military dictators”. Abraham Lincoln spoke of “government of, by and for the people” in the Gettysburg Address, and this institution, our method of governing ourselves is that of which he speaks.
In addition to being commander-in-chief of the military, our President is also the chief law enforcement officer in our nation. He cannot make laws, though it is his right and privilege to suggest legislation that the Congress may act on as it sees fit under its constitutional authority (more on that later). That’s not to say that you’ll ever see the President writing speeding tickets or busting bad guys on TV, nor should you. His power resides in the federal level, and is best administered by the various agencies under his direction and does not include enforcement of local, county, or state laws. Article 2, Section 3 of the Constitution makes this clear with the words “he shall take care that the Laws be faithfully executed”, referring to laws passed by Congress. This of course is a very simplistic description of just two of the President’s responsibilities, but now you know enough to continue with the discussion.
The Vice President has a rather unique job. He is there to advise and assist the President, but his main function from a constitutional point of view is to preside over the Senate. He does not have a vote except in rare instances when the Senate is equally divided, and then may cast the tie breaking vote. His other duty is to assume the Office of President should it be necessary due to the President being incapacitated.
The Constitution is very specific on how the House of Representatives and the Senate is to be structured, with specific duties, powers and responsibilities granted to each. None are more explicitly laid out as those that have to do with impeachment of public officials. Contrary to popular belief, impeachment does not mean that the person is removed from office. An impeachment is the act of bringing formal charges, followed by a trial. This can be done against any public official, but in the case of Congressmen, Senators, or the President or Vice President, the House of Representatives is responsible for formulating the accusations, and the Senate then tries the accused. The accused individual is only convicted if two thirds of those Senators present agree. Punishment is very specific as well, and is limited by the Constitution to removal from office only, and possible disqualification to hold any other office. Once this is done, the person can then find himself subject to civil and or criminal proceedings according applicable laws.
Laws in this country are not solely up to the will of Congress and the President. We have one more avenue for checks and balances, that being in the Supreme Court. This body has no authority to make or suggest legislation, but is charged with the examination of various laws if challenged by the people, and to determine the constitutionality of the laws in question. The Supreme Court may strike down a law as unconstitutional if it so finds, and to issue an explanation of the meaning of the Constitution as it applies to each case.
Knowing how all this works or rather, how it should work, we as a nation find ourselves in a difficult situation. There is no provision in the Constitution to remove a Congressman, Senator or President for doing a bad job, only if the actions of the person are criminal. The exception to that is at election time, by which we can replace the person if enough people vote to do so. So let’s say for a moment that someone digs through all the legislation in the past year and comes up with a list of expenditures that can only be termed as wasteful spending. Is it illegal for Congress to waste money? If so, who do you charge? The person that introduced the bill? The Congressmen and Senators that voted for it? The President for signing it? Or do we hold them all responsible? If there is something in the budget that was so wasteful that it could be called “theft” and we as a people call for impeachment of those responsible, how would it ever make it to trial? All 535 would stand accused, so how could they judge their fellows for the same crime? President Clinton’s impeachment lasted two full months, so 535 of them would take 1070 months or more than 89 years!
Our only recourse is to go to the poles and vote them out. If you read the recent GAO report, or Senator Coburn’s Wastebook 2010, it won’t take long for you to see that not a single one of them deserves another term in office. The GAO report outlines more cuts in spending just by eliminating waste and duplication than the proposed budget now being considered by Congress. Just the 100 items in Wastebook 2010 add up to 11.5 billion dollars. Before we allow them to start cutting Social Security and Medicare, before we raise retirement age to the point that no one will live long enough to get to it, lets cut out the obvious waste. Take the GAO report and fix the stuff on it. Eliminate fraud in the so-called entitlement programs before you reduce or eliminate people who really need the help. We hear news stories all the time about someone receiving 2 or 3 or more payments each month, having signed up under every name they could think of. Use those marvelous super computers to analyze the names, addresses, social security numbers and other identifying characteristics and find the duplicates. Don’t cut Veterans benefits, increase them. They deserve it and we owe it to them. Streamline the nightmare that is our income tax system, make it fair to all, thereby reducing costs and saving money.
The shift of power in the House after the recent election should be a sign to you, Congress. The people don’t like the job you’ve done, and continuing on this course will not be tolerated. Mr. President, most of America is not happy with the job you’ve done in protecting us. Take definitive action on the southern border. You give the appearance of being more concerned with making Mexico mad than you are with protecting the people who put you in office. You’ve made America mad, Mr. President. Seal the border; make it safe for Americans to walk on American soil. Farmers should be safe in their own fields; tourists should be safe in our National Parks. This belongs to us, Mr. President, not them. So what if it offends Mexico, this is the United States, not a Mexican territory. The drug cartels and other criminal elements directly threaten the sovereignty of this great nation, and you don’t appear to be doing anything about it. That is offensive to America, Mr. President! If Mexico get offended because we protect ourselves from their criminals, just how good a friend are they anyway?
Our economy is failing, our people can’t find work, the housing market is in a meltdown, yet we continue to send staggering amounts of money in the form of foreign aid to countries that are not our friends. How about keeping some of that here? It’s time to look to our own house Mr. President and members of Congress. I’m all for a healthy 2 or 3 or 4 party system, but at some point you’ve got to lay “loyal opposition” aside and do what’s best for the nation. Just because a proposal is from the Republicans or Democrats or Tea Party does not automatically mean its bad, any more than being from your own party means its good.
No one says it will be easy. The problems are enormous. The decisions will hurt. If you can’t handle it, step down and let someone in that will. You asked for the job, now do it. Look at the legislation for what it is, not which party started it. Secure our nation; bolster our freedoms instead of taking them away. Prop up our economy instead of everyone else’s. Remember, you are there to do the will of the people who elected you.
