When George W. Bush was president, many on the left decried the expansion of executive power that he assumed for himself as unconstitutional and the pathway to the country’s demise while those on the right were either silent on the issue or outwardly supportive of the expansion, because he was their president, the leader of their party and largely they agreed with him.
Likewise, when President Obama assumed expanded power as our chief executive, many on the left have supported him and the right screamed foul with predictions of the falling of our republic and the president becoming an all powerful dictator instead of a president with limited power.
The expansion of the executive’s powers are legitimate concerns, whomever he/she is or from what party. However, we need to understand that politics and perspective plays a part in whether someone is claiming the executive is doing what needs doing, is showing leadership, strength and guts or is simply engaging in a power grab. It depends on whether we like or dislike, agree or disagree with the executive.
The facts are that executives from both parties on national and state levels have expanded their power simply by exercising it. Two obvious examples from both parties are Abraham Lincoln, a Republican and Franklin D. Roosevelt, a Democrat, although there are many others.
One recent local example is our own current Governor LePage. He had plans to offer Keno, a type of hyper-fast paced gambling taking place every four minutes, and claims he has the authority to do so without legislative approval. As you might expect, legislators do not agree. However, what you might find surprising is that both Republicans and Democrats are fighting the governor on this issue (see front page in yesterday’s Journal Tribune for full story).
All executives have claimed they had the authority for one reason or another. Lincoln said it was necessary to save the union. Franklin said it was necessary to rebuild our devastated economy and LePage because: 1. he was elected a second time and claims that gives him a mandate (I’ll address mandates in another column) and 2. because our economy is bad, always has been, Democrats are to blame and he knows how to fix it.
Our government was intentionally designed by our founders in such a way that the executive is not all-powerful, he is not the equivalent of a dictator, emperor or king. Interestingly, some of the best leaders in history were in fact all powerful. Marcus Aurelius, a Roman emperor, is widely thought to have been one of the greatest leaders. He was strong, yes he led invasions of other countries, but he also was compassionate, not only to his own people but to those of the countries he conquered. He was also an academic, extremely well educated even by today’s standards. My point is when we have a great man leading us who is all-powerful, the most wonderful things can happen. Unfortunately, eventually and frankly usually, countries that allow that level of power to an individual end up being destroyed because the level of goodness and intelligence that Aurelius exhibited is extremely rare. As the old saying goes, “power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely” at least almost all the time.
And this is the reason why it is so important that we limit our executives’ power. Finding that sweet spot between having a powerful enough executive to allow him to do great things and yet not too much power so that he drags us down or that his successor who may not be so good and intelligent drags us down, is what we continue to fight about and work toward.
Thanks for reading, stay informed by reading every day, drive safe, be kind, hug your children and have a wicked great week!
Please feel free to comment on my musings with a Letter to the Editor by emailing jtcommunity@journaltribune.com or mail a note to Journal Tribune, Attn: Editor, 457 Alfred Street Biddeford. ME 04005.
— Bruce M. Hardina is the Publisher of the Journal Tribune, a singer song-writer, a philosopher, a student of life and the human experience, a columnist, a loving neighbor, friend, father, son and brother.
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