A Terrible Year for the Country
It’s been a little over a year since Trump was sworn back into office to "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States." Instead he's diminished the office and America's standing with allies and foes alike. His second term has been marked by cruelty, ineptitude, and dangerous provocations. To mark the passing of this exhausting year, I wanted to share my post from June of 2024, about the hard work our ancestors put into shaking off an unaccountable government, and building one "of, by, and for the people."
June 27, 2024 Post
This is the headstone of my great, great, great, great, great grandpa Benjamin S Hamilton. Sometime around his 15th year, the colonies declared their independence from the King and Britain. As you can see, young Pvt. Benjamin played his part in the choice by our ancestors to reject the notion of a “unitary executive” ruling over them, and instead embraced a belief that the governed should have a say and take part in how they are governed.
What was established here, by those who loved freedom more than they feared danger, was a rare masterpiece of human history. Perfect? No, but with an aim to improve, and an eye to behold and encourage the expanding expressions of human ingenuity, love, compassion, art, science, and business. The world was enriched by the decisions of our nation’s founders.
Because they were determined to create a system of self-rule, the framers understood that they must account for the darkest parts of human nature. For this purpose, they designed three separate and equal branches of government. Each with distinct roles, and the ability to restrain the others. This separation of powers has provided our nation with the stability to grow and thrive in a dangerous world. People poisoned by power have been routinely brought to justice in our country, thus restoring that balance. But this system takes effort and requires tending to maintain it. In my lifetime, the rise of the “Imperial Presidency” has threatened the balance of power and needs mending.
Now, once again, in a troubling time with mounting global challenges, our generation is being asked to determine our future. What will our answer be? Do we pile our hopes and dreams onto a pyre, hand the matches to a “unitary executive” and trust that the promises go deeper than his desire to rule? Once he rules without constraint, will he even pretend to hear the cries of those he professed to champion?
“Unitary executive theory” …is a term bandied about by those providing the blueprint to a second Trump term. In plainer words - dictator, king, dear leader. We’ve seen this story so many times. “Oh, I know times are scary, and things are difficult. Give all the power to me, just for a little bit, and I’ll fix it. Then I’ll give it back. I swear!” Somehow that power is never returned. Democracy, in its many forms, like our Republic, are hard-won and paid with precious lives. Once lost, history shows it is rare to get it back.
Maybe things aren’t going the way you planned right now, and you don’t have the energy to think about the future; but in the America we HAVE, you can still hope that one day you’ll be a writer, or a singer, or start your own business, or get a job you really like with good pay and start your own family. Are you willing to give away that self-determination for someone who promises he’ll be sure to keep your options and opinions in mind when there’s no restraint to his power, nothing further he needs from you? Wouldn’t you rather have a tall ship and a star to sail her by? Wouldn’t you rather take the wheel firmly in your OWN hands, and set sail in the direction you choose?
We can disagree on taxes, gay rights, the economy, religion, abortion, or anything else, but shouldn’t it be US having those conversations, not a decree handed down TO us, with zero input? With stakes like that, the candidates don’t even matter. What matters is choosing self-governance over autocracy and having people around the President we can trust.
As we approach the Fourth of July, I will forever be grateful to our ancestors for taking that giant leap into self-governance, and I will not throw it away for an idiot carnival barker or his craven enablers. I can say with clarion certainty that we will not freely and fairly vote again if Trump is re-elected. So, this July 4th, let’s celebrate freedom, thank God for it, and pray that we have the courage and vision to keep it.