Our Imperial President and His Congressional Court « NewsReal Blog

Our Imperial President and His Congressional Court « NewsReal Blog

Generally speaking, Americans – as citizens of a representative democracy – are rather like children. At some point in our growth as a nation, we lost all perspective on the matter of what is necessary for our survival, and even for a respectable degree of comfort – as individuals, families and citizens –and how we should go about acquiring these things.

Children have many genuine needs and even more wants, as they’re still in the process of learning about and developing their system of values and work ethic. They’re completely dependent upon their caregiver for the provisions necessary to meet both their needs and wants. They are powerless to provide for themselves, and their reaction to such powerlessness is typically limited to tantrums.

CNN’s Lou Dobbs program recently hosted a “Face Off” on the specific issue of a public option in health care reform, pitting Michael Tuffin of America’s Health Insurance Plans against Bruce Raynor of the Service Employees International Union. Raynor makes his case for a public option (aka – government-run option) by suggesting that as the wealthiest nation in the world, we should be able to provide adequate health coverage for all Americans, but this task cannot be entrusted to the private sector. Raynor seems unable to grasp the fact that it was the private sector that made the U.S. the wealthiest nation in the world.

Back to my comparison of Americans, as a citizenry, to children. We have become increasingly dependent on our government to provide for those who cannot provide for themselves. Through broad legislation and increased taxation, basic goods and services that would otherwise be provided through the private sector are now being demanded from our government. We have come to view the institution more as our caretaker than the limited institution described in our Constitution – hence the moniker “Nanny State.”

And we continue to make these demands of our government with no regard for the consequences – much as a child fails to consider a quid pro quo when pleading for the latest toy. Make no mistake – when you demand anything from the government, there is inherent reciprocity; whether it be universal health care or expanded oversight of corporate America, we are fundamentally and gradually increasing our government’s scope and permissible exercise of power. And continued over time, we bring upon ourselves a tyranny by degrees.

In his book The Cult of the Presidency: America’s Dangerous Devotion to Executive Power, Gene Healy of the Cato Institute made the following astute observation of such increasing public demands, as it pertains specifically to the office of the U.S. President –

“The Imperial Presidency is the price of making the office the focus of our national hopes and dreams.”

Perhaps this quote would be more timely if restated, “The Imperial Presidency is the price of making the office the focus of our national hopes and desire for change.”

Hope and change – two words inextricably linked to the Kumbaya-style campaign of President Barack Obama.