Thanks Rey, for another excellent submission. Sorry it took so long to post.
In view of current political events affecting us all, from the federal to the local level, I am compelled to write to you in an effort to express my observations of your actions, inactions, apparent malfeasance and misfeasance, which impact us all, we the people. As Abraham Lincoln so eloquently put it in his Gettysburg Address, he did not refer so much to our Republic’s Constitution, but to our Declaration of Independence – that which includes life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Lincoln concluded his speech by reminding us all that our government is one “of the people, by the people, and for the people…,” words that have been extensively quoted and cited as the essence of the American system of government. The reason is simple — public servants are just that — servants of the people. Yet somehow, through the years and prevalent today, that very essence, its meaning, its resolve, seems to have been hijacked, erased and corrupted to being something noninfluential in our form of governing.
Pursuant to being elected or appointed, but before you get to represent the people, you are required to take an oath of office. You raise your right hand and solemnly swear to support and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that you will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, and that you will take such obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that you will faithfully discharge those duties of the office you’re about to enter. Nowhere in your oath does it stipulate that you are to be loyal to a government agency, swear an allegiance to the boss or supervisor, a political appointee, or even the President. As elected officials and appointees, you are accountable to the people. None of it should be difficult to comprehend. But here we are. And here, in the form of this letter, is a reminder.
Our Constitution provides three separate branches of governance, each with inherent powers to govern and maintain a checks and balance on the others. Congress was given the power of the purse, declare war, and legislate. It was never given the authority to allow created bureaucracies and their heads to legislate, create laws, rules and determine punishment. The Courts have no authority to create laws from the bench when such does not exist. The executive branch does not have exclusive power to legislate, order, or mandate, but only under specific circumstances and with the involvement and participation of the other two branches, in an effort to safeguard, support and/or improve our social wellbeing.
I understand we are a country of millions of people, different backgrounds, cultures, languages and ideals. But we are ALL Americans. Imagine for a moment, if you will, that our only options in which a box was to be checked in government forms was male/female, conservative/liberal. Not all will be satisfied or onboard with final decisions, but perhaps the best solutions to our problems are best resolved by the people, for the people, with representation of the people.
And to be redundantly clear to our elected and bureaucratic officials, from the federal, to state, and down to our local municipal governing boards, judiciary and law enforcers, none of it should be difficult to comprehend. But here we are. And here, in the form of this letter, is a reminder.
PS: There’s more to discuss and put down on paper, but for now, I will give it a rest. Perhaps a second part in the next week or so, where we get to express our positions on issues such as term limits, pay scale, benefits etc., for politicians, determined by the people, annual report cards to include the annual review of state of affairs/condition/completion/noncompliance of pledges/promises/goals/objectives made during the election process.
TTFN
