Joseph Story, Commentaries on the Constitution, 1833
So it is the fault of the feeble executive for a bad government, right? That makes sense. But, before one can go and pile on all the blame onto our executives, one must first look closely at the problem. If it is the feeble executive who implies a feeble execution of the government, how did the feeble executive get there in the first place? In the United States of America, the answer is simple. One does not go “poof” and suddenly one’s in office. One does not hold a coup d’etat and suddenly one’s in office. Instead, elections are held annually and the *People* elect their executives, their governing officials. For we are a government that is by the *People*, for the *People*. So, if feeble executives are elected, whose fault is that? The Peoples. And thus, whose fault is it for a bad government? The Peoples.
How is it then, that we can complain voraciously about the lack of good government, yet we do nothing about it. How now? Why is it that when it is our fault that our government is ill executed we seek to place the blame on someone else?
And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.
Genesis 3:11-12
Ever since the beginning of the world, Man has sought to place the blame on someone else. Well, Adam and Eve still had to pay a price for their sin. And we today cannot escape the consequences of electing feeble officials. It is *our* fault if we have an ill executed government. And there is one way to cure that. We must take on the responsibility of voting for, and ensuring that, responsible, honourable, God-fearing, and Founding Father respecting people are running for office. The United States are a glorious nation with a proud and noble history. It is up to us to keep it that way, and a bad government only sheds bad light on her country and her history.
But how are we to do that, to prevent feeble executives from being elected? How are we to ensure that responsible, honourable, and God-fearing people are running for office. And what is the importance in electing someone who respects the Founding Fathers?
If this is a government by the People, then we must treat it as such. We must realize the responsibility that is laid on our shoulders. The People are the ones who run for office, and we are the People. If there are no strong candidates running for office, it is our fault, for it is we who can run. If we can run, but we choose not too, we are enabling feeble executives to be elected. When that happens, it is hypocritical of us to try and complain about how things are not going well. Rather than be hypocrites, we should do it ourselves instead of waiting for someone else to do it for us.
That is what we must do to ensure that responsible people are running for office. But why does it matter if they respect the Founding Fathers or not? It was the Founding Fathers who created our nation. If we cannot respect them, than what purpose is it for us to be in positions of authority? We have since deviated from the rules they laid down. The Judiciary has seized power, the Legislators have seized power, and the Executive branch has seized power. Gone are the checks and balances, and we do nothing but complain. However, if we elect officials who are responsible and who respect the Founding Fathers, then we can work to prevent this power grab. We need officials who understand the limits placed on the branches, and officials who are willing to abide by those limits. We cannot survive with officials who place personal gain above the good of the nation. But through electing people who respect and understand the Founding Fathers, we can continue to thrive as a more perfect Union.
Let us no longer elect feeble executives. We do not want a government badly executed, it will only prove to be our downfall. It is up to us to prevent our nation from being ill executed. Can we take on our yoke of responsibility and rise to the challenge?
But what if the political parties don’t give us a decent candidate? For instance, I did not vote for president in the recent election, because I did not feel either candidate represented true conservative values. The only alternative in such situations (which unfortunately crops up all too often) is to vote for the lesser of two evils, which I, for one, am not willing to do. Regardless of how one feels he should handle that dilemma, voting for a “lesser evil” is hardly the way to put the nation back on the right course. I agree that the people do deserve a large portion of the blame… after all, people usually get the kind of government they deserve. But the political parties all too often leave us with no good choice.
Excellent points, Allesandra.
Another thing worthy of note is the fact that problems don’t cease with the election of a new executive, they must still be dealt with…defintely something people these days need reminded of…
That is true, S.R., that political parties may not present us with much of a choice, but if that is the case we must work all the harder to get candidates nominated who are what our nation needs. It’s our fault, as a whole, for not doing that. We cannot deny that.
Mr. Ketter, you are quite correct. Rome wasn’t built in a day, our nation can’t fix it’s problems in one either. It takes time for problems to be fixed, and they don’t disappear with a flick of the wrist when a new executive is elected.
My apologies, that should be “S.A.” not “S.R.”
There’s doubtless some truth in what you say, Alessandra, but it is more difficult now to get a good candidate on the ballot when the super rich and/or big corporations can pour so much money into a certain candidate or party.
I also agree that an executive can’t always get things done “right off the bat,” but, on the other hand, I think this is too often used as an excuse for supposed conservatives who do not live up to their expectations. For instance, very little has been done about abortion under any Republican presidents since Roe vs. Wade, despite the rhetoric. Indeed, things often seem to get worse, instead of better. Which is why I fear that democrats and republicans are really on the same team, in the long run.
“Which is why I fear that democrats and republicans are really on the same team, in the long run.”
Correction – would be. Enter Generation Joshua….. :D
Excellent article! In response to S.R., I have a friend who voted for Peroutka in the last election. Peroutka didn’t stand a chance, but he was easily the strongest Christian conservative out there. This of course brings up the whole “Third Parties: Good or Bad?” debate, but its important to remember that there are other options besides the Reps and the Dems…
That’s S.A. ;) Anyway, I agree third parties are a choice, but like you say, they don’t have a chance, because they cannot acquire the same funds that the two entrenched parties have. I don’t really get involved in Third Parties, Good or Bad Ideas debate… I will vote for anyone who I think upholds a Christian conservative viewpoint, regardless of the party. I wish I could’ve voted for Peroutka, but I wasn’t about to cast a vote for Bush or Kerry, whose views I have no respect for. Maybe by next election we will get third parties on the ballot here in Oklahoma…
Excellent point in the article you have there! Indeed we do need more active people in our government system. You don’t just need to elect people, and then think our political duty is done and we can move on with our lives. All mankind desires more power. This will never stop. This is why we, as the people, have to keep the government in check. This is imperitive to making our or any government work properly. About parties, I think they are, for a lack of better terms, an evil. Political parties are an excuse for laziness on both ends of the chain. The electees just choose a party and then just build on that, not giving all of their policies and ideals, which is the most important thing. Then the voters happen to pick a party and stick with it, voting for that party because that’s their party, or their friend’s party. I will not accosiate myself with any party, Democratic or Republican. I think they are a great danger and evil. When I vote (haven’t yet), I will not even look at a person’s party, but their policies and ideals. And another thing, I frankly think that the grand (caugh, caugh) national government we have today is just totally too powerful. And contrary to popular belief, this did start with Lincoln and the War between the States, but with the Constitutional Convention of 1787. I believe that about all the federal government should be in charge of is the military, because this will work much better as one, big unit than many smaller units, and the coining of REAL money, not this junk we have today that we call money. I mean gold and silver (or gold and silver certificates that you can actually get, at any time, real gold and silver from) that actually has intrinsic value. A little history. The dollar came from a variety of words, but it really means one ounce of pure silver. I think that’s what we need to turn to. This would get rid of our many economical problems we have in this country. You can thank FDR for that. Back to the subject. The states are much more able to run the other things. But most importantly, I am a strong adovate for self-government. Let the people rule themselves. The government does need to have it’s limits. Some examples. I believe that the government (especially the federal government) should not be running public. And I believe that government welfare should not even exist. The federal government does not have the power to control these things, because it’s not in the Constitution. And the people are more capable and just better at running such things as these. Anyways, rant over. Great article. I believe your point is good that people need to become more active in their government.
On third parties—I have heard it suggested that they might do better if they began on the local level with smaller elections, rather than throwing all their resources into impossible presidential elections.
Indeed, KM. If there is no representation of the third party, even in Congress, it seems pointless to try and get a third party candidate elected president.
S.A. – Until a case comes up to the S Ct. regarding abortion, they cannot reverse their decision they made in Roe v. Wade, I believe.
Congress could make a law barring abortion, based on sound Constitutional principles, namely, the guarantee to the right to life… and add a provision forbidding the Supreme Court from hearing cases on said law, which is also within their constitutional powers.
Congress could also attempt a constitutional amendment on that (among other things, as well) and settle it once for all…
WHich again shows it is the fault of the people – we elect our Congress. And if no one is running who we want, maybe we should start work on the process of running ourselves.
That sounds great, but unfortunately, it costs a lot of money to run a congressional campaign.
That sounds great, but the problem is that it costs a lot of money to run a successful congressional campaign.
“That sounds great, but the problem is that it costs a lot of money to run a successful congressional campaign.”
Money isn’t everything. Tom Parker, an attourney for Judge Roy Moore, ran in the Alabama Supreme Court Republican primary and defeated one of the judges who voted against Moore. And his opponent out-spent him about 4-1. :)
I agree with the first comment. Althought I have not yet voted, it seems that many times the candidates do not represent what I believe. Maybe a new generation of Christian young people should rise up to be involved in politics. Then we would have some great candidates!
I agree with the first comment. Althought I have not yet voted, it seems that many times the candidates do not represent what I believe. Maybe a new generation of Christian young people should rise up to be involved in politics. Then we would have some great candidates!
“Maybe a new generation of Christian young people should rise up and be involved in politics”...
It’s true that it takes more than one vote to change the system, but that movement has to start somewhere. Perhaps instead of waiting for someone else to start it, we should each start it with ourselves. “Enter, Generation Joshua….”
On another comment, I strongly hold the belief that if you are eligible to vote and fail to do so, you have given up the right to voice complaints. No one holds my EXACT conservative Christian beliefs on how the government is run, but until the perfect candidate “appears”, it’s better run CLOSER to my beliefs than on the opposite end of the spectrum. Perhaps if the only person worthy of your vote is you, you should run.
You can’t fairly blame third parties for not standing a chance considering that the only reason that they don’t is because we don’t vote for them.
People make excuses, but, when it comes down to it they are voting for someone that they don’t want out of fear that otherwise they’re insignificant. It reminds me of the devil’s work; drawing our lives increasingly after perceptions of pleasures that are ever diminishing.
So the alternative to “the devil’s work drawing our lives increasingly after perceptions of pleasures that are ever diminishing” being Christian Conservatives not voting at all leaves Non-Christian Liberals to decide how I live in my own country (if I want to be a law-abiding citizen). Doesn’t seem like much of an option to me. I’d rather start working on a new voice in my government. Meanwhile, I will uphold my responsibility as a free citizen of a great country founded on Christian principals by voting my say on the candidates available to vote on.
I did not mean to suggest that Christians not vote.
The point was that we settle. Its easier and strokes are ego a bit to jump on the bandwagon and vote for one of the two big parties even if we do not agree with their views.
Christian conservatives need not vote for a Christian. However, nor should they sell their morals short and place support behind someone who does not espouse their virtues.
It is noone’s responsability as a citizen to vote FOR someone who they do not genuinely support. Every vote is an endorsement of a person and of his or her party’s platform as carried out by that person. That is not to say that we must sync up completely with a particular person or group, but it is to say we should share common ideals and feel satisfied that we represented God on that day like every other day.
God did not call us to bear the best values we could get others to agree to. We are to bear the values of Jesus, and if that means persecution in one stripe or another then so be it.
I fully support a third party, and the point of my previous comment was that they require more support then they are given. They are not inherently flawed; we as a society are inherently flawed in our treatment of them. If you can’t find a third party with virtue, then write somebody in. There’s no excuse for settling for “kind of sort of” virtue and morality.