Power of We the People Usurped

June 15, 2020

 

Over the past 3.5 years, President Trump has worked constantly to take the power that was given to We the People (WtP) by the United States Constitution. In 2018, his road to absolute power was temporarily slowed when WtP turned the House of Representatives Blue. My imagination terrifies me with the thought of all three branches turning Red in November.

After witnessing the following actions of the President, what would we be able to expect of him if all the House, the Senate, and the White House were to have turned Red in November:

- He withholds information that is vital to the ability of WtP to make informed decisions

• Doesn’t allow Dr Fauci to tell us what we need to know about COVID-19
  
• People inside White House are not allowed to be subpoenaed
  
• Anyone who disagrees with him gets fired
  

- Minimized Congress, especially the Senate

• “I have the ultimate authority”
  
• Declare National emergency for the sole purpose of circumventing Congress to fund a border wall
  
• Use Attorney (AG) General Barr to override conviction by General Flynn’s guilty pleas
  
• Uses Acting Executive appointments to avoid Senate oversight
  

- Ignores the parts of the Constitution that don’t suit him

• "What provision in the Constitution gives the president the power to open or close state economies?" a reporter asked Trump April 13. "Numerous provisions," Trump replied. "We’ll give you a legal brief if you want.”
  
• “The Constitution provides a mechanism for the President to fill positions in such circumstances. The recess appointment, it’s called. The Senate’s practice of gaveling into so-called pro-forma sessions, where no one is even there, has prevented me from using the constitutional authority we’re given,” he said. “I have a very strong power. I’d rather not use that power, but we have way over a hundred people that we very badly need in this administration that should have been approved a long time ago.”
  
• He is at war with the concept of free speech, one of his biggest enemies (unlimited gag orders)
  
• Attempted to get AG Sessions to un-recuse himself from something in which he was legally required to recuse himself. Eventually fired him for his refusal to do so.
  

- Voter suppression

• Intense opposition to anything that allows maximum participation by We the People, like mail-in voting during COVID pandemic