Passing Responsibility to the SCOTUS

The intent of the founders to include a Supreme Court Of The United States in the US Constitution was not to become a tyranny by committee, but to simply be a referee if the congress attempted to pass an unconstitutional law - or there was a question regarding the balance of power between the 3 branches of government. They are co-equal in power with each branch having specific responsibilities.

The SCOTUS was actually intended to be the “weakest” branch when you read the discussions around the constitution between the founders. They believed they needed the judicial branch just like a sporting event needs a referee (they didn’t use this argument but it is the easiest way for me to explain). The rules are defined and provide the guidelines for the game. When there are disputes or the players on the team break the rules the referee reviews the action based on the rules of the game. The constitution is the rules of the government and the SCOTUS is the referee.

The SCOTUS has too often become a tool for those that can’t get legislation passed in their favor through the legislative process. The most famous case is Row V Wade. The SCOTUS created a right in the constitution that had never existed before. Instead of allowing the debate about legal abortion to play out in the states, they ruled and created a “law” that has been a divisive issue since. Creating law is not the responsibility of the SCOTUS. Ruling on whether a law is constitutional is.

If a law is not constitutional it is struck down and the legislature can amend and change the law to be constitutional. If it is constitutional the law stands.

The way the SCOTUS is being utilized in modern times is to give 9 unelected, lifetime-tenured judges, the same power as a dictator. It is tyranny by committee. Worshiping the decisions of the SCOTUS is unhealthy and it was never the intent of the founders for the SCOTUS to be so powerful. The reason the founders placed the power to make and change laws in the House because it is closest to the people, and held accountable to elections every two years.

Lawyers love to put faith in the judicial branch because it increases their power and relevance but that is to the detriment of the people…

I Love to Think

One of the most enjoyable activities of my day is taking time to think. I love to think about the ramifications of actions or ideas often promoted in articles. It can be in business or politics, but I find myself never, ever taking the information on face value. I know I’m not alone but I often wonder how many people actually look at the ramifications of policy.

For example: I look at the intentions of government welfare programs and I think to myself, do the results of the program match the original intent? Having grown up in NYC I have had a lot of exposure to the results of these programs. Section 8 housing was intended to provide housing for low income families. The result was the destruction of neighborhoods, gang violence, and too many people becoming prisoners within their own apartments. Welfare for poor families has led to the destruction of the family. You see, in order for woman to get welfare they can’t have a male in the house. They also receive additional benefits for having more children. The result is more single parent households with lots of latchkey kids running around without supervision in dilapidated apartment complexes.

The results of welfare have been the destruction of the inner city and especially the minority communities. There is no incentive to get off the program because the benefits package adds up to more than most people with the same education level can expect from full employment. So as I think about and observe the results I can’t help but wonder is there a better way?

Human behavior is easy to predict. It has not changed throughout the ages. You give people stuff and they become entitled. Teach and man to fish and you know what happens? People in America have been blessed with a system of government and an economic system that has produced wealth beyond any past historical comparisons. It has given us the luxury to be compassionate. We want to feel that we are doing something to help the less fortunate so we support any program that intends to help people. But the government is not the best distributor of this generosity. It is the local church or non-profit.

The intent of the new healthcare law was to insure everyone and make healthcare affordable. Who could argue with that? But the results are already being seen and if we look at the track record of other well intended government programs we can predict failure and the destruction of the best healthcare system in the world. All we have to do is think about it. The evidence that the government is not the answer is everywhere.

I love to think. I hope you do too…

This is Who I Am

I shut down my blog when I started to realize I may need to start searching for a new career. That is a different story for another day. I was advised that if people disagreed with my political arguments it could limit my opportunities to be hired. Makes sense I guess. I rarely talk politics at work but have opinions on politics that I believe are in line with why we are exceptional as a country. I want to help people understand why politics is important. I don’t want to demonize people but I have to call stupid, stupid, when it is stupid. For example, thinking that borrowing and printing money out of thin air is sound economic policy.

Most people are not “stupid” but they don’t think their political thoughts through. I am here to help make politics understandable for the casual observer of politics. Or maybe I just have to write my thoughts because that is who I am. I am a student of human behavior which is at the foundation of our constitution and success as a country. I must teach and write my opinions. If I lose a career opportunity because of my passion so be it.

So if you are interested in hiring me know this: I am a strategic thinker that believes politics is at the core of keeping our future secure. Politics impacts everything including business. I will not talk politics at work unless it is an environment that encourages it. But I will never remain silent when information is incorrect. I will be who I am and that means being a productive customer focused executive and political blogger.

I have felt something was missing in my life the past few months, and as I feverishly write this blog I now know what it is. I was holding back a piece of me that is what makes me tick in many ways. I have written hundreds of blog posts and articles, six books, three musical CD’s, and I now know that if I am not writing songs or blogs about politics, I am not being me. I must be honest with myself, and although I appreciate the advice to stay away from politics, it is not who I am.

So today I am beginning my blog after months of hiatus. It is part of who I am and I will not apologize for it. If the people that hire people don’t want to consider people that have a political opinion that is their choice. We live in a free country for now. But a note to those individuals: just because people don’t have a political blog or discuss politics doesn’t mean they aren’t political. They are just afraid to be labeled in a negative way.

Being political does not define a person into a certain category. It simply means they are engaged, and have a true passion to keep this exceptional country exceptional.