What would the Founding generation say about the time, energy, and money spent on the modern presidential elections? After all, if we followed the Constitution’s prescription for the separation of powers specifically the power of the executive branch, the presidential election would largely be a non-event.
Because the powers delegated by the states to the federal government were few and defined, the occupant of the White House, in theory, should matter less than who we elect to Congress or to our state legislatures. Unfortunately with the power wielded by D.C. growing virtually on a daily basis, we find ourselves absorbed in this circus that rolls into town every four years. The presidential race has come to resemble a cultural event much like the opening of the NFL season or the much-anticipated new seasons of the Walking Dead or House of Cards.
If we still lived by the true standard of the Constitution, the presidential candidates would not spend their time laying out a series of agenda items and commenting on every police shooting because their job description is limited largely to four things: foreign affairs, appointing judges and cabinet heads, vetoing unconstitutional legislation passed by Congress, and executing the constitutional laws passed by Congress.
Instead of cheering for Clinton or Trump or Gary Johnson, or Jill Stein or Darrell Castle, we should be constantly evaluating the constitutionality of the actions and/or proposals of our federal officials. We should be demanding that our state legislatures nullify all unconstitutional federal laws. We should be explaining to our sphere of influence why most federal actions are unconstitutional. We should put an end to the perversion of the Office of the President of the United States.
The Lost Art of Critical Thinking and Common Sense in Politics and Public Policy
