When I was growing up in the '60s and '70s, my politically conservative teachers argued that the U.S. should abolish the electoral college. Why? My teachers were still upset that if fewer than 60,000 folks had voted for Nixon rather than JFK in 1960, Nixon would have won the popular vote but lost to JFK in the electoral college. These days, it's the Republicans who have the advantage in the Senate, the Electoral College, and the Supreme Court, but in the same way that my fourth grade teacher could not have imagined this situation back in the '70s, neither party can know what the future will bring. What both parties need is a constitution amended to deal with modern lifespans, population geographies, and social and political complexities. The amendments could end up helping the Republicans just as much as the Democrats -- not to mention helping our country.
Of the three proposals Biden put forward, it seems an enforceable Code of Ethics would be the place to start. It's an awfully heavy lift in these divided times to imagine reforming the terms of the court or the number of justices.
But something's got to give. I refuse to get on board with the ruling that presidents are above the law. And if you think you can support it, just wait until a president you didn't vote for tests that principle.
Democracy is and has always been an experiment in this country. From where I sit it appears that the checks in the system have become enfeebled and the balances which should add stability are off. In my opinion the adjustments necessary to strengthen the checks and realign the balances will need to be made sooner rather than later. It may already be too little and too late, however, the various strategies to reform the Supreme Court should be vigorously debated and tried in some form. Whatever reforms are eventually placed in effect will likely need tweaks at the least. It is an experiment, doing nothing simply leads us down the path we are already headed.
When I was growing up in the '60s and '70s, my politically conservative teachers argued that the U.S. should abolish the electoral college. Why? My teachers were still upset that if fewer than 60,000 folks had voted for Nixon rather than JFK in 1960, Nixon would have won the popular vote but lost to JFK in the electoral college. These days, it's the Republicans who have the advantage in the Senate, the Electoral College, and the Supreme Court, but in the same way that my fourth grade teacher could not have imagined this situation back in the '70s, neither party can know what the future will bring. What both parties need is a constitution amended to deal with modern lifespans, population geographies, and social and political complexities. The amendments could end up helping the Republicans just as much as the Democrats -- not to mention helping our country.
I'm in your camp on this and am grateful you continue to weigh in on the topic. Especially in light of the recently disclosed new "reporting lapses" by Justice Thomas (https://www.courthousenews.com/senate-democrat-reveals-another-disclosure-lapse-by-justice-thomas/).
I don't think any of us like living under a system where a super majority with no checks on its power has the final say over matters of governance. It's a recipe for malfeasance (see Ohio: https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2024/05/30/for-those-just-now-tuning-in-to-ohios-mess-of-dysfunction-heres-how-we-got-here/).
Of the three proposals Biden put forward, it seems an enforceable Code of Ethics would be the place to start. It's an awfully heavy lift in these divided times to imagine reforming the terms of the court or the number of justices.
But something's got to give. I refuse to get on board with the ruling that presidents are above the law. And if you think you can support it, just wait until a president you didn't vote for tests that principle.
Democracy is and has always been an experiment in this country. From where I sit it appears that the checks in the system have become enfeebled and the balances which should add stability are off. In my opinion the adjustments necessary to strengthen the checks and realign the balances will need to be made sooner rather than later. It may already be too little and too late, however, the various strategies to reform the Supreme Court should be vigorously debated and tried in some form. Whatever reforms are eventually placed in effect will likely need tweaks at the least. It is an experiment, doing nothing simply leads us down the path we are already headed.