Bounced Checks and Imbalanced Government

"The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, selfappointed, or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny." - James Madison, Federalist Papers #47

One of the many ways the US Constitution sets us apart from the rest of the world is the concept of separation of powers. I am very far removed from civics classes, but it was always taught that the Legislative Branch writes the laws, the Executive Branch enforces the laws, and the Judicial Branch interprets the laws. I know that is an overly simplistic explanation of the roles of the branches, but for this tirade it is sufficient. For a couple hundred years, it more or less worked. Now, unfortunately, all three branches are engaged in a vicious power play and we the people are caught in the middle.

It's hard to pin down exactly when the checks and balances were tossed in the bin in the name of partisan gamesmanship, but in the past decade what few tatters that remained disappeared in a puff of jealousy. Congress is unhappy with just writing the laws. They desire to be the ones who enforce them and decide if it is legal. Presidents bypass the legislative process by creating law with the abuse of executive orders and attempt to strongarm any opposition. Judges at all levels make rulings not based on the rule of law, but on partisan personal beliefs.

From a psychological standpoint, I do understand the motivation. It takes a strong person, when placed in a position of power, to not try to acquire as much power as possible. The proper response should be for the other branches to keep the power grab in check, not to try to one-up them.

So Congress makes their plays, the president responds with even greater abuses, Congress raises the ante, and so on in an infinite loop of, "Oh yea?! Well watch this!"...all the time, we ordinary citizens are left with a feeling of helplessness. I know that the phrase, "The founding fathers would have been shooting by now" makes me sound like some far right wing radical, but I do see some truth in that sentiment. We have gone so far beyond what the framers had in mind for government I'm not sure that we can get back to what they envisioned. The big rallying cry the past four years was, "drain the swamp". Is that even possible?

Here we sit, on the cusp of a new ideological balance of the Supreme Court, but it makes little difference. The cases that need to be heard to check the Legislative and Executive Branches sit in the hands of appellate court judges who have more of a political agenda than many in Congress because the Supreme Court can play their own political games. No checks. No balance. One chief executive, nine justices, 535 members of Congress...every one trying to outdo the others. A government of the people, by the people and for the people...sounds nice.

Just wish we had it again.