Is our government balanced or imbalanced?
Even during the original ratifications, implementation of procedures and policies in our government faced changes to the Constitution (or Articles of Confederation, March 1, 1781). Changes came from George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison,Thomas Jefferson.
James Madison supported a stronger federal government. He was convinced that independence of States utterly was irreconcilable with their aggregate sovereignty: "One simple Republic would be as inexpedient as it is unattainable?" (Letter to George Washington). Debates begin in Convention over the Articles of Confederation. The debate ended with 3 bodies of authority in government one not to over step the other two, all three working together for the good of the "We the People".
What is the major weakness in our government today? It is the unwillingness to have the same vision for "we the People" as does the Constitution, (its framers) and by many of our elected officials.
"We the People" are at the point where we must accept or reject our Constitution. Many support upholding our rule of law, but their concerns are met with objection from both parties. The lines of authority have become blurred.
Benjamin Franklin, after the Constitutional Convention was asked, "What have you wrought? He answered, "A republic, if you can keep it."
The Executive Office claims that the Constitution "gets in the way", and through Executive Orders the Constitution is being unconstitutionally bypassed. Barack Obama is following on the heels of previous presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton. They're whose disdain for Constitutional checks an balance were often evident in the flurry of Executive Orders and Presidential Directives signed, to get around Congress.
By comparison, George Washington only issued 8 EOs and Thomas Jefferson 4 EOs and Presidential Directives were ways to establish work schedules for executive office employees or help agencies under the White House carry out their duties.
The Senate had changed the rules so that "we the People" cannot be heard with the "Nuclear Option". Now the Senate is talking about changes to our 2nd Amendment rights.
We need the same bipartisan effort made today as was made in the beginning of our nation. We need candidates, concerned less with party affiliation and more as to what is Constitutional. When they enter public service, politicians must plan on returning to civilian life and live under the same laws that they helped pass.
W.T. Stevenson, Vacaville