Friday, September 7, 2007

Civics Lesson


The United States Government is a marvelous construction. Our Constitution sets up three separate but equal branches of Government: the Legislative, the Executive and the Judicial.

The Legislative government is set the task of making laws and oversight. The Executive branch is to administer these laws. The Judicial branch is to interpret those laws and see that they are faithfully carried out according to the supreme law of the land - The Constitution.

The beauty of this system is that change and protection are both built into it. We change our legislative and executive branch and there is a process built in to change things judicially when necessary. No one branch becomes "imperial"

That is why I want to comment on the current trend of the Executive (particularly) remarking on "activist" judges. These judges are not "activist" - they are just doing their job. They are seeing to it that laws are interpreted fairly and impartially. They should not have an agenda and they should be above party. If a law is poorly written or does not afford equal protection under the law it needs to be changed. The legislature is charged with doing just that. If they aren't smart enough to make the necessary changes then they should be replaced or the changes should not be made. The three branches watch each other. That us why it is called a "checks and balances system."

Today in the paper it says that a judge has struck down a part of the Patriot (so-called) Act. I am sure that this will not make the executive and legislative branches very happy but it was his job to do so and I, for one, applaud the judges who do their job by keeping the other branches in check. That is the way the system is designed to work and that is the way it should work. Bravo, your honor!

The system does work when it is allowed to work. Unfortunately we have an out-of-control executive branch which seems to think that it does not have to administer the laws as passed by the legislature. They regularly issue "signing statements" which state, in essence, that they are not going to enforce some of the laws. They spy on their own people and hold others in prison without due process. This from the man who was going to bring dignity back to the White House. Perhaps he needs to look in the mirror.
The above picture makes me so proud!

Be Loved. Hugs. j

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