The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government. (Thomas Jefferson)
The presidential election next November looks more and more skewed in favor of the incumbent, Mr. Obama. The present front runner for the Republican party, Mitt Romney, is sliding (backwards) in the polls as the economic situation is improving.
There is no on-the-job training for future presidents, although candidates who have been governors tout their “executive” experience. Alas, as we have seen with Gov. Perry of Texas (including his predecessor G. Bush II), being the head of a state doesn’t guarantee that they are capable of running a country, especially one that is the only superpower. An incumbent President will generally be better during his second term and that is the case with President Obama, judging from the latest economic numbers.
It would take a major financial meltdown or a botched international conflict to make Mitt Romney a serious contender. We all know that American citizens vote with their wallet; if they are upset about the price of goods or about the lack of jobs, they tend to elect the newcomer. Party affiliation has very little to do with their choice; they have to be convinced that the candidate has the goods: He must look Presidential, act Presidential, and speak Presidential. Both Obama and Romney fit the bill.
There is however one more small detail (you and I know that’s not true, it’s a real biggie). The executive can do a lot of things without Congress’ approval; he can even start a war as we have seen in the past. He cannot, however, pass a budget by himself. Whenever the President and the majority in Congress belong to opposite political parties, serious problems arise, as happened with the debt ceiling.
Congress in action
Which Congress will take over next January? Will Obama get a friendly Democratic House or will Republicans take over both Houses? The outcome is extremely important for us, ordinary citizens. We have witnessed several times what a gridlock in Congress means for our welfare. Needed bills are blocked simply because of partisanship.
Will the voters oust the Republican majority and its emotional and ineffective Speaker? Or will they punish the Democratic majority in the Senate and give the opposition control of both Houses? A profoundly divided Federal Government would certainly delay the passage of important legislation in healthcare, budget cuts, border protection, American jobs Act, and many other proposals that might gather dust in the bowels of Capitol Hill. Yet the Founding Fathers wanted, yes, wanted an inefficient and slow moving government for fear too much power in the hands of the executive might create a tyrant.
With Congress’ present approval rate, around an abysmal 10%, we can only hope that the voters will boot incumbents with the hope that their replacements will be less ineffectual and more focused on what this magnificent country really needs.
jcsprenger
