I have been repeatedly told by those who support Mr. Trump, that his actions are what those who voted for him had wanted, and had expected. I believe this to be true. I do believe that a large fraction of any society longs for a strong leader, a father figure, someone who will disrupt the tangled nonsense of legislative deadlock and congressional overreach. I do not believe that the Framers imagined that the American Experiment would be easy. Democracy is difficult; compromise is painful; discussion often disintegrates into diatribe. The Founders’ idea that gentlemen can work together to solve problems with the public good as the goal is far more complicated than having one powerful individual make those decisions themselves.
The Founders knew this, but having seen the results of monarchic control chose to limit the power of the Executive. They particularly chose the term “President”, a term meaning “one who presides over”, to label that Executive, a term seldom used at the time but notably used in the “President of the Continental Congress”, a term referring to the ceremonial post of chairing the sessions. And they chose “Mr. President” as the term of address, not “Your Excellency, Your Highness, etc.”
Today we are faced with a choice. Do we continue to strive towards Democracy, or do we choose to cede control to a powerful, centralized, individual.
This, I believe is the core of the protests this past Saturday.
Mr. Trump claims that “I am not a king”. True?
Mr. Trump gave away the game last week on October 14. In his comments about the NYC mayoral race, he said:
“I was always very generous with New York, even when you had opposition there. But I was always very generous.”
NO, Mr. President!
You do not deign to give money to municipalities and states with leaders who agree with your policies and get to withhold money from those with leaders with whom you disagree.
The Constitution is clear; the President is head of the Executive Branch. He is tasked with EXECUTING the laws and acts passed by Congress. It is his responsibility to make sure that the funds allocated by Congress are dispensed according to those laws and acts, efficiently and appropriately. It is not within his power to choose which of those laws to follow.
To claim that the monies allocated by Congress are HIS to distribute based on his own generosity is a royal privilege alien to the American Experiment. Kings are not limited by legislatures, due process, notice, or comment procedures.
When, on Jan. 20, Mr. Trump issued his executive order 14151 “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferences,” he declared those programs discriminatory. But he said that his Order would not only apply to Federal programs, but to states and counties.
NO! Mr. Trump.
The 10th Amendment is clear; the President exerts controls over the Federal government, not the States. A King’s rule extends to all his realm.
I am reminded of the Trump Foundation, in which he made no contributions after 2008, but solicited contributions from those who courted his favor. Then he would distribute the funds that those solicited had put into the Foundation and declare that HE was providing those charitable donations.
A President does not maintain a plain-clothed, masked police force. (see ICE). A King Does.
A President does not have the personal ability to tax consumers. (see Tariffs). A King Does.
A President does not have the power to unilaterally declare war. (see the “war” on drug cartels, and the police/judge/executioner role in blowing up boats in the Caribbean). A King Does.
It may be more difficult for us, but we should not want a King.