6 Restrictions Needed On Future American Presidents
Audio Assist Version
If we don’t want, future Presidents, to ignore, much of the normal behavior, we expect, and deserve, from the individual, we elect, to serve and represent us, it will be necessary, to ensure, enforceable rules, regulations, and ethical requirements, to be, firmly, in – place! Whether, one opposes, or supports Donald Trump, he should be able to admit, his behavior, actions, rhetoric, amount of lying, adversarial actions, and refusal to accept, the ethical requirements, have been, potentially dangerous, too many of the basic necessities, including equal enforcement of laws/ justice, normalized foreign policies, greater transparency, clear – cut, ethics, etc, which, potentially, endangers the present, and future, health, and well – being of our nation! To ensure, we don’t see, this repeated, in the future, we need restrictions, which are enforced, and have, teeth or claws, which ensures, they can’t be, ignored, if/ when someone finds them inconvenient. With that in mind, this article will attempt to, briefly, consider, examine, review, and discuss 6 restrictions, we need, and must demand, accountability, for.
1. Limiting solo (non – consultative) powers of President:
President Trump, on several occasions, when he couldn’t get his way, in terms of legislature, and/ or, approvals, simply, proceeded, to do so, anyway! Who can forget, when, despite the Legislature, refusing to provide additional funding for his Southern Wall, proceeded, to transfer monies, allocated for other purposes (predominantly, from the Department of Defense, budget)? He has often ignored the Balance of Powers, seemingly, proceeding, more as a monarch, than as a President. We must ensure, this won’t continue to occur, and, no one is above the law!
2. Refusing to facilitate/ address/ cooperate, in a smooth transition:
It seems, Trump, does not want to leave his office, and, either, truly, believes, or it serves his self-interest, to use whatever means, possible, to make any attempt at a smooth transition, possible! While, previous people, serving in his office, nearly, always, either cooperated, or, at least, made essential, relevant information, available to the President-Elect, he refuses to do so, and, by procrastinating/ delaying, doing, what many believe, should be a requirement, especially, during this horrific pandemic, and with so many international, and domestic challenges.
3. Greater financial (potential conflicts) disclosure/ transparency:
Every President, since Nixon, has released his personal financial statements, including several years, of tax returns. While Trump submitted. limited information, on these statements, he has not been willing and has sued, to avoid releasing his tax returns. At the very least, this creates a perception, of, what might he be hiding, and why?
4. Respecting Congress has the power of the budget:
On several occasions, he has attempted to, either, ignore, and/ or, bypass, Congress (House of Representatives), regarding the power of our budget! This is an essential component of our Balance of Powers, and, must be adhered to!
5. Pattern of Court Appointments:
There is one issue, when Court/ Judicial appointments, are made, on partisan issues, but, when the Bar Association, declares, a nominee isn’t qualified, to serve, it endangers, the fairness of our system! Shouldn’t there be, some minimum qualifications/ requirements, to be appointed to a Federal Judge, position, which is a lifetime appointment?
6. War Powers:
Shouldn’t we ensure, a President’s war powers, aren’t absolute, but, must be performed, in conjunction with the legislature? After all, a potentially, unbalanced leader, may do, a significant degree of harm!
We need to ensure, we protect, this nation, and our citizens, if anyone elected, to the highest office in the land, refuses to abide, by the norms, of that position! We can’t afford, to permit, a repeat, of this pattern, of, actual, and/ or, potential abuse of power, and influence! Policy, people, and the best interests of our nation must take priority over anyone’s personal/ political agenda, and/ or, self – interest!