President doesn’t have power to make laws
My high school civics and history teachers spent much time on the “balance of power” established by the Constitution of the United States of America. They taught that Congress enacts laws, the president executes them and the judicial branch interprets them and can stop unconstitutional actions by the legislative and executive branches. Unfortunately, some classmates couldn’t bother to learn such stuff. Now Elon Musk and JD Vance are saying things like, “Judges aren’t allowed to control the executive’s legitimate power.” (“Vance and Musk now questioning judicial authority,” AJC, Feb. 10). Legitimate power? Donald Trump’s authoritarian power grab since Jan. 20 is illegitimate and unconstitutional.
Nowhere does our Constitution give the president power to make laws or dismantle agencies and freeze funding established by Congress. Judges are constitutionally obliged to control illegitimate power by the president. Trump and fellow conspirators shamefully dishonor those who fought and died for democracy in the American Revolution and throughout history back to ancient times. And it’s strategy, not schoolboy ignorance.
WADE MARBAUGH, ATLANTA
Drastic measures needed to tackle nation’s debt
I do not understand how any American citizen could possibly be opposed to exposing and eliminating corruption, fraud and waste in the federal government.
Our country is drowning in debt, and drastic measures are needed to turn things around. All successful companies analyze, monitor and control their expenses. Why should the United States government be different? Donald Trump is the first president in recent history to address this difficult and complex issue seriously. It will take brains, brawn, dedication and perseverance.
We should all be supportive of this effort and grateful for a president who is a problem solver and doesn’t accept the status quo.
AL RAKEL, TUCKER
Much to lose as democracy is trampled
Just so you know, here’s some of what we have to lose by allowing Trump and Musk to trample our democracy: disease control, reproductive choice, food safety, national defense, clean water and air, aviation security, public health research, NIH-sponsored research, people to build our houses, harvest our food and clean our homes; protection of our savings, protection of people here illegally but who pose no threat to us, protection for LGBTQ+ community members, gun safety laws, safety in our schools and churches, protection of sacred spaces, the arts, stable prices, competitive contracts, and, the most pernicious, the demise of “one person, one vote.”
The goal is a return to the time of white male domination with a tech-bro twist. We can check back in a month or so to see how it’s going.
LORRIE BACKER, DULUTH
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