OUR GOVERNMENT, A PRIMER

Our government is represented by three divisions. You remember this from basis civics class in high school. The three are Executive, Legislative, and Judicial. The Executive is of course, the President and the Vice President. The Legislative is the Congress. The Judicial then is the Supreme Court and the judicial system. Each division of government has their own duties. The executive, the President, cannot make law. He can issue executive orders that are only good for his term in office and even at that can be overturned by the Supreme Court. Laws are made by the legislative branch and signed by the President. If he doesn't like a law, he can veto it. The Legislature can then override his veto with a two-thirds vote. The Judicial also cannot make laws. They, acting as referees, decide on the constitutionality of a law to decide if it truly becomes the law of the land. So, there are the three branches of government. 

 

I point out this little lesson to inform you that the Supreme Court has just invalidated a very questionable law enacted fifty years ago. That, of course, Roe V. Wade. That law basically allowed abortions on demand up to the actual birth of the baby. That law is now overturned. It doesn't mean that you can't get an abortion, it just means that the individual states must make their own laws regarding abortion. Several states have already responded with their plans. Several will continue to offer abortion on demand and many will outlaw the practice. 

 

Biden has expressed his unhappiness with the ruling and has challenged the Congress to pass clear laws governing abortion. If he likes the law, he will sign it. Now, even if he signs it and somebody challenges the new law, the Supreme Court may well have to revisit the issue. It's important to understand that the actual issue of abortion is not necessarily what they will be ruling on but rather the constitutionality of the law before them. Abortion is now a state issue and not a federal.

 

The Roe decision was six to three with what many consider the more conservative judges voting to overturn while the liberal judges voted against it. You have to make your own decision. I personally believe that the conservative members are actually more attuned to the Constitution and rule accordingly. Not so for the liberals. To me and other naive individuals, Supreme Court Justices should rule only on the constitutional basis of a law with no politics involved. Silly me. 

 

Biden has said he wants the Congress to pass new laws codifying legalized abortion. I doubt that he can pull that off. Too many Members have to run for re-election and they don't want that hanging on their heads. Speaking of Biden, I have seen recent news reports of people demanding the resignation of Joe Biden. That, dear readers, ain't gonna happen. He will hang on until we kick him out. After the November election a Republican Congress will neuter him until we do get rid of him. Even big named Democrats are getting on board. They absolutely do not want him on the ballot in 2024. Their problem is simple. They don't have any alternative. Can you come up with a candidate for them? Me neither.

 

Inflation is going to be with us for a while yet. It will be painful, but we will deal with it. It will truly end when politicians come to understand what inflation does to their futures as politicians. To quote a former Democrat official, "It's the economy, stupid." Yes it is.

 

Ron Scarbro June 29, 2022