The United States of America is a Constitutional Federal Republic, sometimes called a Constitutional Democracy, although the latter blurs the meaning by highlighting “democracy” while leaving off “constitutional.” Here is a wonderful definition of our government:
“While often categorized as a democracy, the United States is more accurately defined as a constitutional federal republic. What does this mean? “Constitutional” refers to the fact that government in the United States is based on a Constitution which is the supreme law of the United States. The Constitution not only provides the framework for how the federal and state governments are structured, but also places significant limits on their powers. “Federal” means that there is both a national government and government of the 50 states. A “republic” is the form of government in which the people hold power, but elect representatives to exercise that power.”
This is how the United States was formed, and it is still what is practiced today. For anybody to say that our Democracy is at stake during any election cycle is planting their ideas on faulty American history. America is and always will be a Constitutional Federal Republic. There are three branches of government—the Legislative, the Judicial, and the Executive. The US structure is based on a division yet unity of powers so that not one area or entity is in complete control at any one time. In a word, it is called accountability. Be it the President, a leading group, the Senate, the House of Representatives, or the Supreme Court, not one of them has complete and total control over the populace. That concept was and is ingenious.
This article looks at how some differences in interpretation have made this unity out of balance. In fact, it seems to be quite out of balance compared to its original intent. Some ask how a lone Federal Judge nobody has ever heard of before can be given so much power. His or her power is still limited, no matter what it may seem. Keep in mind the swinging of a pendulum. It swings to both extremes, but while it does, there is a center point where balance is perfect. It may swing to the left for a period of time and then to the right for a period of time, but there is always a place in the middle of the swing where all is well as it should be. I speak here of the three branches of government.
Another area of this article looks at the United States from a view high above the ground, as seen at some distance. I do not try to answer the big questions that people have in mind, like “Where are we heading?” or “Where do we go from here?” From the viewpoint is a synopsis of the country in the here and now and add some thoughts on how that looks different from our perception of the United States as a Constitutional Federal Republic. You be the judge on those issues.
I then ask if something is neglected in the Trifecta (Legislative, Judicial, Executive), is it lost forever? My answer: It is not lost but misplaced. Something akin to lost keys that are found. You could say they were lost, but now they were found. In the end, one might say, “I misplaced my keys this morning and found them where I left them.” My ultimate goal is to write about the country that now is, then make some comments on what it should look like but allow you to judge whether it makes sense and can be believed.
Power is a powerful word. Duh! Power controls things. Power moves things. Power used in the right way is wonderful. I appreciate and enjoy the power of electricity in my home. When it goes out, that’s when I notice it the most. “Power” has a negative side that turns ugly when it grips the heart and mind and rules the thoughts and intents of motives where it takes control. More about that later.
Power can be contagious. Some people are powerful public speakers and are something sought after. They can receive a great amount of money for a 45-minute speech. Other people have powerful physical strength, which is also admired. America prizes powerful businesspeople. Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) or Chief Operating Officers (COOs) are levels of achievement desired by the populace, but a few attain them. Men and women are considered very successful when reaching that status.
Power in politics, however, is dangerous. It leads to positions of prestige and influence that could easily overtake weak-minded people. Power is intoxicating in its own hidden way and can be shielded by the person being fed by it. It elevates pride in the hearts of those who pursue it. The person under its control loves the accolades, the praise, the attention, the self-admiration, and, worst of all, fake compliments that are a constant source of fuel to propel that person to its widening grip. Once the sickness of power is caught, it can never be satisfied. Think of that. It is like an unseen enemy with a ferocious appetite.
What happens when power is married in a person’s heart who loves wealth or money? The combination is deadly. The duel is so consuming that it overpowers self-control, self-awareness, self-restraint, self-examination, and humility. It devours a person to such an extent that he or she would be unrecognizable from a few years earlier. Can it happen? Yes, and when it does, any love or forgiveness is squashed, and a person becomes ruthless to keep it.
The absolute worst evil caught by those who pursue power and money in politics is that any and all decisions are made not with a moral compass in mind but with “the ends always guide the means.” A devout Catholic can abandon the church’s teaching on abortion by separating their long-held belief that abortion is ethically and morally wrong and soon agree with it when hard decisions are made for a political career. The argument presented to them is that your city needs hundreds of thousands of dollars to build new roads, erect schools, hire police and firefighters, and fund local charities. The list goes on.
Within the web of deceit is another part of the bill that funds abortion clinics. A politician can say, “We need new roads, new schools, more police, more firefighters,” and convince himself that the ends justify the means. Why not? He justifies, “my city or county needs all those things, and dealing with the abortion issue is an unending problem that cannot be solved.” The list goes on in lying, cheating, and stealing, even by devout Jewish people or dedicated Christians.
Finally, the United States has a deep, devastating problem. The power struggle has shifted from the people, for the people, and by the people to the Government bureaucracy in Washington D.C. The Federal Constitutional Republic has released much of its inherent duties from the people to an inanimate object and now, decades later, awoke to a large and almost uncontrollable group of men and women who cannot let go of power and money. It has come to the place that if you do not agree with their interpretation of how America needs to be governed, no dialogue can ensue. In some cases, a shouting match happens, and arguments split families, friendships, and relationships into two completely different pieces. When money owns a person, nothing can pry it away unless a true awakening happens.
Americans see and understand that something is wrong in this power struggle and there is an imbalance on issues. How did one lone city/area receive so much power from a population that seems to be so divided about who wields authority, with no information flow taking place? Now open, a once-silent majority is speaking loudly that they are courageous once again to support and vote their hearts. This is the beauty of the United States of America. It is her Government system. Two out of the three Branches of Government may seem out of balance today. The Legislative and Executive branches appear to run on their own steam, and their powers appear unshakable. Maybe that is too easy of an explanation. Two of three branches might be characterized as being ruled by money and power. Once that gets into the hearts of men and women in high possessions, the possessors of power and wealth will never lightly give it up. Therefore, the brilliance of America’s founding generation put the power into the hands of the people. Remember, the pendulum has reached its apex and is swinging back to its proper place. A look at our Preamble:
Preamble to the Constitution of the United States of America
We the people of the United States in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote for the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and to our Posterity do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
“We the people” have much more say about who governs our nation than many realize. It is not up to a ruling class, an elite group of strangers making swelling promises to American citizens, but a group of ordinary people who keep saying, “That does not make sense.” They do not listen to the loud, boisterous so-called experts but rather say that it is high time that “we the people” speak again. They know who has the authority in politics—the American people do!
The angst and anger some have toward the common person is deep and hurtful. They think that a steel worker, a house painter, a bricklayer, or a farmer does not understand the complexities of government. Common sense has withdrawn itself from a prideful mind, and in its place, an evil presence comes in and wishes only to rule and reign. But “we the people” can speak loud and clear. “We the people” have authority given to us by a document called the Constitution and can exercise something so wonderful and so simple and so effective that no evil force can stop them. They know deep down that THEY CAN VOTE THEM OUT OF THE OFFICES THEY HOLD! From the least to the greatest, a lone vote has great authority. Yes, it is one vote at a time, replacing one evil politician at a time; perseverance in local, state, and federal elections produces a positive outcome whether it be one, two, four, or eight cycles of elections; it is always one at a time, and it can happen. VOTE! From the high vantage point, America seems out of balance where up is down and down is up, right is wrong and wrong is right, good is evil, and evil is good. It is a country on the edge. But this is not the end of America. There is hope as long as “we the people” can vote. I will say it one more time—VOTE!