I’ve always had a romantic relationship with the US Constitution and the rule of law. But it was a healthy romantic relationship because I recognized the imperfections, the areas needing improvement, while still loving the beauty of it.
When I went to law school, I gained a healthy cynism. I discovered that the often quoted “Black Letter Law” was actually very gray. But it’s that grayness, that “nothing is set in stone,” that allowed for progress such as Brown vs. Board of Education.
The current Administration has shown me that the institutions and laws set in place to protect our Democracy and Freedoms are fragile… that the grayness of the Black Letter Law can be used for both progress and regress of our freedoms and Democracy.
The foundations of our Democracy and freedoms depend on WE THE PEOPLE being engaged, at whatever level WE are able, but engaged just the same.
Freedom and Democracy cannot protect itself. They are 100% dependent on WE THE PEOPLE holding our elected officials accountable, to knowing what is being done in OUR name.
The current Administration ran on, and continues to tout, the slogan “We are a country of laws.”
This Administration is pushing the limits, causing us to question, every law we thought was in place to protect us from authoritarianism, dictatorship, overt corruption, and conflicts of interest.
Their new slogan could be “Are you sure?”
WE THE PEOPLE said, “Every presidential candidate must disclose their taxes as well as their connections to special interests and foreign powers.”
The Administration replied, “Are you sure?”
WE THE PEOPLE Said, “Every elected president must divest themselves from private business that could cause a conflict within the office and future policies.”
The Administration responded, “Are you sure?”
WE THE PEOPLE said, “We have laws to prevent elected officials from giving away powerful positions as gifts and favors [nepotism].”
The Administration responded, “Are you sure?”
WE THE PEOPLE said, “Every appointment must pass a security clearance and disclose their connections with special interests and foreign powers.”
The Administration responds, “Are you sure?”
WE THE PEOPLE said, “We have laws to prevent elected officials from self-dealing, from personally profiting from their elected positions.”
The Administration responded, “Are you sure?”
WE THE PEOPLE said, “Freedom of Press is protected by the First Amendment.”
The Administration responded, “Are you sure?”
WE THE PEOPLE say, “We have a system of Checks and Balances so that no branch or person can be too powerful.”
The Administration responds, “Are you sure?”
WE THE PEOPLE say, “We have laws in place to prevent elected officials from using the power of their official positions to hurt their political ‘enemies.'”
The Administration responded, “Are you sure?”
WE THE PEOPLE say, “The Special Prosecutor has complete autonomy to investigate corruption at the highest levels.”
The Administration responds, “Are you sure?”
It’s time we got sure.
At a time when truth and facts have been reduced to “differences of opinion,” we must get VERY sure of what our Democracy and freedoms mean to us… and what WE THE PEOPLE are willing to do to protect them.
WE THE PEOPLE must become SURE that we want to protect our Democracy.
WE THE PEOPLE must become SURE that we want to protect our freedoms and everyone’s freedoms to BE whoever they want to be.
We can disagree with how and who we show up as, and we can even as a society or community reject points of view, but we must be SURE that laws don’t restrict our freedoms to be who we are.
If we’re not SURE, our family, friends, and neighbors will become subject to targeted attacks by a government authority as the definition of “others” [read: digenerates] expands.
We must be SURE that blatant corruption is not only against American principles but the protection from it is part of our legal system… part of our system of checks and balances.
And no one, regardless of economic status or political position, can be above the law.
On that, WE MUST BE SURE.