Will This Be The End Of USA’s Checks & Balances?

If you feel like nearly every day you perceive the US is going in the opposite direction from our previously considered and believed to be our Constitutional rights and freedoms, and even those rights generally considered as being inalienable seem to be at-risk, you are not alone! Up until about 10 or so years ago, most Americans believed whoever was elected President would predominantly put the best interests and greater good, first, well-ahead of any personal/political agenda, and/or self-interests! Most believed the checks and balances would create a meaningful Balance of Powers, so no one individual or small group, would have too much power and authority, and that the USA’s so-called Constitutional division of powers was ensured by specific powers and abilities each of the three branches of government, were supposedly granted! It seems our Founders never considered the scenario we witness today, where not only are all three branches significantly controlled by the same political party, but that those individuals seemed to be ready and willing to put their loyalty and allegiance to an individual holding the office of President, above their spelled-out duties and responsibilities!

It’s complicated to attempt to specify when, exactly, this downward-spiral began, but it appears, when the US Supreme Court ruled that a President possessed nearly-unlimited Presidential immunity, Donald Trump seemed to believe he was enabled, and felt entitled to do as he wished, seemingly believing he was above the law, and had some degree of supreme power! With that in mind, and with the risk created when our checks and balances seem nearly lost, perhaps forever, this article will attempt to briefly consider, examine, review and discuss what this means and the potential risks to our Constitutional democracy, moving-forward.

How often have we witnessed this US Supreme Court and its current Justices make rulings (or limitations and interpretations) which seem to be further enabling Trump, and harming our previously-considered rule-of-law? Most of us believed that previously, although a President clearly influences the direction of his DOJ and AG, the day-to-day and investigative aspects seemed focused on attempting to maintain an arms-length relationship, and/or at least, the appearance of one! Clearly, the current DOJ, both under the former AG Pam Bondi, and the current Acting AG Todd Blanche, both formerly Trump personal attorneys, have seemed to consistently behave more like they were still his personal attorneys, rather than the so-called People’s Lawyer, which they are theoretically supposed to be! SCOTUS’ apparently-convoluted interpretations of the Voting Rights Act, gerrymandering, and nearly-everything involving Trump. are at a minimum, extremely-concerning! When we cannot count on SCOTUS to protect us and our rule-of-law, in a fair, impartial and independent non-partisan nor political manner, can our democracy and our Constitutional rights and freedoms be protected and preserved?

Perhaps nowhere has this seemed to be more obvious and concerning than this week’s actions by Acting AG Todd Blanche. Previously, Trump had filed a lawsuit (as a personal citizen, supposedly) demanding and asking for $10 Billion because his tax returns were part of a vendor leak (he was one of about 400,000 people) in 2020. Remember, in 2020, who the President was at that time, and the conflict and concerning aspects seem even-greater! When it appeared the prevailing Judge was leaning-towards throwing this case out, the DOJ withdrew the suit, while claiming it came to a settlement with Trump. That meant Trump’s former lawyer versus his current personal lawyers, and what could possibly be wrong with that?! They came up with a supposedly fair settlement, and did so extra-judicially, meaning the Court did not need to rule or accept it. The settlement — a $1.776 Billion equivalent of a slush fund, where Blanche created the settlement, would oversee it, would be the sole individual to appoint a 5-member panel to determine who received a payment, and would not be answerable to anyone! The stipulations, which still seem to be slowly coming-out, includes that supposedly neither Trump nor his family could receive financial benefit (payments), but that the IRS would be restricted from pursuing any previous tax reviews up to the date of the stipulation. What happened to No one above the law?

Since it seems the former GOP has morphed totally into the POT (Party of Trump), and we have seen Trump extensively attempt to eliminate any Republican who didn’t kiss-the-ring (think Cassidy, Masse, etc.). That has translated to Congress, nearly completely, doing only what Trump wants and demands, rather than fulfilling their Constitutional duties and responsibilities to serve and represent their constituents! When quality, meaningful, caring leadership takes-a back seat to extreme partisanship, we lose the essential meeting-of-the-minds for the greater good, even on true priority measures.

By law, a President must get approval/consent of Congress, often referred to as the War Powers Act, before we get involved in war, and especially if any war continues for 60 or more days. As we have seen, not only has Trump ignored and trampled-over that balance, but has demanded constantly increasing funding, also.

By law, only Congress can approve and create a new Department of government, yet we all witnessed an out-of-control DOGE, using a group of young computer hackers, not only operate without authority, but didn’t either find cost savings and/or efficiencies, but instead, ended-up, at best, breaking-even on the project (while creating unnecessary disruptions and inefficiencies), and most believe, when and if we ever receive a full accounting, DOGE will have lost money and made us less efficient!

While ICE existed before now, we have seen them grow exponentially, and now have a budget larger than even our military! In addition, unlike nearly every other policing agency, it has constantly seemed ICE operates with little oversight, and little training, and apparently, has repeated violated core democratic principles, such as due process and Habeas Corpus!

We have constantly witnessed corruption (or at least a real appearance of such), graft, insider trading and grift, in plain sight, at a level never-before observed! When Trump’s stock account made numerous trades with corporations and companies the USA does business with, or whose policies have significant potential implications, what could possibly go wrong?

We clearly are at a point where the Executive Branch seems out of control, and attempting to consolidate more and more powers, constantly! If, and when this sad chapter in US history comes to an end, will new restrictions and limits and laws finally be enacted, so we don’t make these same mistakes again into the future? Or, will Congress do nothing? Who will follow Trump and will American citizens realize the potential perils and risks facing our Constitutional democracy?

How will we actually change things for the better, and when, or will we again, procrastinate, and discover some day soon, it’s too late then? Or, will the USA’s 250-year old experiment in Constitutional democracy disappear, forever? Wake up America, and don’t be fooled again! It’s up to each of us! What we do, or don’t in the very-near future will determine rights, freedoms, equal justice, health policies, priorities, and what type of nation we become, going-forward!