A failed presidency and an impotent Congress

All presidents test the limits of their power. Trump, however, has assumed more powers for himself than any other president. And this overreach has not helped America. Rather it has hurt the poor and middle class as well as undermining our standing in the world community.

Our forefathers anticipated the rise of a demagog so they put in checks and balances in the constitution. If the executive branch abuses its power, Congress can revoke money that has already been allotted. A clever and decisive way to checkmate presidential overreach. The Power of the Purse.

What the architects of the constitution did not anticipate was the Power of Party Politics. Sadly, our Republican Congress is cheering the president instead of chastising him.

In his farewell address, President Washington cautioned that political parties serve as “potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government.” Our founding father aptly described Trump and his Republican followers today. We are faced with an unprincipled man who is wrecking out government and reputation because spineless and/or selfish Republicans failed to rein in his destructive actions.

Thankfully, there is a fourth branch of American democracy. It is the voice of the people. We can and, indeed, must vote out the miscreants who have allowed Trump to take away the safety nets for the poor and middle class while enriching his upper-class friends. The destruction of governmental buildings in Washington is a visual testament of his failed presidency as is his elimination of millions of acres of federally protected land. So, it is up to Democrats, Independents and even concerned, caring Republicans to vote out those politicians who allowed Trump to trash our country and core principles.