hummingwolf (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
hummingwolf) wrote2009-01-20 08:59 am
hummingwolf) wrote2009-01-20 08:59 am
Entry tags:
Writer's Block: Regime Change
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I would love to have a government that takes the laws of the land seriously, not just when they apply to citizens or suspected terrorists, but most especially when those laws apply to the government itself. An administration that takes the Bill of Rights seriously and does not try to silence its opponents by redefining the meaning of "right" would be a novelty, though perhaps in light of recent history it may be too much to ask. The executive branch will always be tempted to believe itself above the law; the legislative branch will be tempted to ignore the Constitution in favor of new laws that appeal to the most vociferous voters; the judicial branch will be tempted to twist the Constitution's meaning to make it fit better with some political ideology. It would be a glorious and refreshing change if members of all branches of government at least tried to give lip service to upholding the law of the land, at least showed some evidence of remorse when caught in the act of defying the standards Americans have historically set for ourselves.
Here's hoping the new administration brings change in the direction of honesty and openness, rather than a mere shift in which team gets to act like it's above the law.
I would love to have a government that takes the laws of the land seriously, not just when they apply to citizens or suspected terrorists, but most especially when those laws apply to the government itself. An administration that takes the Bill of Rights seriously and does not try to silence its opponents by redefining the meaning of "right" would be a novelty, though perhaps in light of recent history it may be too much to ask. The executive branch will always be tempted to believe itself above the law; the legislative branch will be tempted to ignore the Constitution in favor of new laws that appeal to the most vociferous voters; the judicial branch will be tempted to twist the Constitution's meaning to make it fit better with some political ideology. It would be a glorious and refreshing change if members of all branches of government at least tried to give lip service to upholding the law of the land, at least showed some evidence of remorse when caught in the act of defying the standards Americans have historically set for ourselves.
Here's hoping the new administration brings change in the direction of honesty and openness, rather than a mere shift in which team gets to act like it's above the law.
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i really do believe we are going to see this happen.
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