Winston Churchill Questions The Value Of Democracy
More Than T-Shirt Philosophy
“Democracy is, unquestionably, the worst form of government” (ever conceived in the mind of man), “except for every other kind that has ever been tried,” Unknown (re-quoted by Churchill in House of Commons, 1947).)
Absolute Power
Critics of democracy and its often accompanying capitalism, have a sad tendency to overlook what has happened historically when other forms replace it. Fascist Italy and Spain are but two glaring examples. Both of which reverted back to flawed but greatly preferable democratic systems at the first opportunity. While single party, and even single ruler, states might have some attraction, particularly in terms of efficiency; for any form of governance to work, given human nature if nothing else, there needs to be enforceable controls on power. “Absolute power corrupts absolutely” is far more than a catchy tee-shirt slogan.
Democracy Needs A Population Of The Faithful
Democracy is an ideal. Liberty of thought and action, one person, one vote. We have representative democracy in the United States. The “ideal” is always a goal. As always, real democracy is obstructed by the partisan and the powerful, but even they give the ideal endless lip service. Democracy is more about faith. Faith, and attitude of mind that personal liberty is sacrosanct and that although the majority rules, there is a respect for the minority and their rights established by law.
Political Parties In A Democracy
One of the great advantages to democracy is the, at least ostensible, ability to limit the power of leaders particularly in terms of civil crackdowns and war, as well as the ability to get rid of leaders that prove too dangerous or criminally corrupt to keep in office. At every stage of an American presidential election from the primaries to inauguration, there are particular safeguards, mostly left to the political party brass, to keep the unfit and potentially dangerous from even seeking election.
Nixon Is The Only U.S. President To Ever Resign From Office
Is Impeachment A Possibility?
When a lunatic or warmonger does happen to slip through (*cough* Nixon *cough*), there is always the possibility of impeachment. Except, really there isn’t. I do not want to rain on anybody’s protest movement but the chance of Trump being removed from office by impeachment is inthe negative numbers.
Laws Are Fallible
You are probably thinking, something like, “but that is what impeachments are for!” You are correct; that is what the impeachment process was created to do. Unfortunately, rules and processes only work when applied correctly and as written. Sadly, rules are as fallible as the mortals who create and enforce them. As such, no sitting American president has ever been successfully removed from office as the direct result of impeachment.
The House Impeached Bill Clinton In 1998
Bill Clinton And The Congress
Impeachment is the legal process by which a public office holder is charged with misconduct. In the United States, the House of Representatives has the sole ability to impeach federal officials, and the Senate has exclusive domain over trial and conviction. Once a defendant has been charged by the House of Representatives the Senate holds a trial and a two-thirds vote by all senators is required for conviction of a defendant and their consequent removal from office.
The House Of Representatives impeached President Clinton in December 1998. Despite having been found unfit to govern by the House, Clinton was able to stay in office because the Senate was unable to muster the required 66 votes for conviction and removal.
President Johnson Comes To Mind
It was a similar situation to Johnson. Not Lyndon B. Johnson, but Andrew Johnson back in 1868 which just goes to show how rare presidential impeachment proceedings really are. Officially, Nixon is the only American president to ever resign from the presidency and he wouldn’t have quit if his own party had not abandoned him.
The 2018 Mid-Term Election Will Be One Of The Most Important In Our Life Times
Getting Rid Of Presidents
Realistically, there are two ways of getting a sitting president out of office; death (Harrison, Taylor, Harding, and Roosevelt of natural causes; Lincoln, Garfield, McKinley and Kennedy by assassination), AND a second term election upset. The last time a sitting president lost his bid for a second term happened when Bill Clinton out-charmed George H.W. Bush, (a feat about as difficult as the Macarena) in 1992.
We Can Make It Happen
It is possible to limit Trump to one term. It’s been twenty-five years since we limited a president to a single term. Time to do it again. It starts with a vigorous Democratic showing in the 2018 mid-terms. If Latinos, women, POC, Millennials, and seniors, vote for the party that will do the most for them they will vote If any significant numbers of these groups flip to Republican, or stay home, I believe Trump will move forward without fear, because the Republican Congress is complicit with the president. We need to put a check on Donald Trump and it must be soon. If not, I fear the negative repercussions of another term with Trump will put the final nail in the coffin of U.S. democracy.
