The Constitution starts “We the people…”, not “I the president…”.
Part of the wisdom of the founders was their understanding that the best wisdom comes from the cumulative voice of the many; and that no single person (whether king, philosopher or saint) can have by himself enough knowledge, enough experience, enough wisdom to always make the best choice.
This understanding lead the founders to institute citizen voting, and a secular government structured to have equal executive, legislative and judicial branches, each weak by themselves and answerable to the two other branches. This elegant system requires each branch to remain independent.
Recently our four congressmen abdicated their responsibilities to that Constitution, to the underlying principle of balance of power, and to the voters they are supposed to represent. They voted against limiting the president’s power to wage war.
Rather than voting to retain this constitutional power in the “people’s house,” they chose to act more like court minions there to praise a king, rather than as representatives of the people there to ensure that the executive (hired temporarily to preside over the functions of the nation) remains answerable to the people.
William E. Cosgrove, Cottonwood Heights
