Traffic laws cease to apply on the approach to Sullivan Square a traffic circle on the northern edge of Boston thats neither square nor circle. From the southeast, the single lane in becomes two (sometimes three) at rush hour. Cars entering from the west dont yield but instead roll into the circle passive aggressively until traffic is forced to stop to avoid collision. The ramp from the highway is a showcase for the typical Bostonian disregard for turn-only lanes and red lights. Mondays Morning Edition exit interview with President Obama showcased similar sentiments. While the topics of the day (such as reports Russia tampered with the election and the future of the Democratic Party) were covered, the conversation focused a great deal on executive power.
These executive orders are high theater for hypocrisy in American politics. Those who use them claim there was no other way, while the opposition argue they were circumvented in a travesty of democracy. When the tables turn, the roles reverse. Those who can now use executive orders forget their moral objections or cite a they started it precedent, while the other side cries foul conveniently forgetting their own culpability.
The President used immigration as an example. After failing to pass a bipartisan immigration reform proposal, Obama used executive orders to protect illegal immigrants who entered the country before age 16 or were parents of legal residents. Republicans called those orders unconstitutional. In June, the Supreme Court issued a split-decision on a challenge to these actions, upholding a previous injunction against them.
Executive orders allow the President to do something without input from Congress. When its an action we support, we give little thought to how the Founding Fathers must feel as their hard work to avert tyranny is skirted. When its an action we disagree with, we peel the bells for the end of the Republic. The problem with executive orders is that they can be for good things (like Emancipation Proclamation) or bad things (like Japanese internment) its up to the President.
Obamas comments on NPR presaged the future. In the first two years, when he had the benefit of a Democratic House and Senate, Obama noted he didnt have to use executive orders. He was able to get through most of what he wanted easily - as will Trump at the start of his term.
Like the GOP with Obama, its reasonable to assume the Democrats will want to not give Trump any easy victories and block as many of his initiatives as possible. But, its also reasonable to assume that Trump will rely heavily on executive orders to get around them, just as Obama did. Without the moderating influence of the legislature, what can stop Trumps more extreme ideas on immigration and other issues?
Whether in traffic or politics, hypocrisy is an essential part of humanity. Its how we can stomach breaking the rules when we think we have no choice, but assume others who do the same
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choose to be scofflaws. We had no choice but to block that nominee, issue that executive order, or turn right in the left-turn only lane. But you, you should be ashamed of yourself.
Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/obama-trump-and-the-hypocrisy-of-executiveorders_us_5859a359e4b04d7df167cb74
The Hypocrisy Of Executive Orders
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