Hello and welcome to the inaugural post on my political blog. I plan to publish personal opinion pieces on issues, reports on things I read or watch, and random politically-related thoughts and questions.
Very quickly, I would like to define politics. Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. I have heard politics also defined as the process by which people gain power. Both are good, accurate definitions, but I find the first particularly appealing because it offers insight not only into politics, but into those who follow politics, the special subgroup of humans known as ‘political junkies.’ What type of person is a political junky? I have a theory and it involves a Venn diagram.
I admit, I am prone to people watching, and thought I try not to commit lashon hara, I am human.
There is an “About” page if you are interested in a little more background on me, but overall, I think the only thing worth telling here is I’m a college student; I’m majoring in writing with a minor in political science; I’m a Democrat; and I’m super excited about voting for the first time this November.
Okay, on to some fun!
First of all, happy Constitution Day! A few years back a bill was passed by the late Senator Byrd which says all institutions of higher education which receive federal funds must hold some sort of Constitution Day event. The institution of higher education I attend held a seminar which counts as chapel credit. I’m attending a Christian college which requires all students attend chapel, so the chance to attend a seminar on a document and subject I love instead was a treat. (I once joked I argue about law the way the preacher boys on campus argue about New Testament.)
The seminar gave me a plethora of things to talk about, but I’d like to mention one here. One of the professors talked a little about the three branches of government, and how Congress is the first amongst equals. It makes sense for Congress to get more power than the Executive and Judiciary branches though. For one, Congress has more people involved than the other branches, and for two, all of Congress is elected by the people. Technically, the President is elected by delegates, and the judiciary (Supreme Court) is appointed by the president and then confirmed by the Senate, so the people have less influence over those branches. The professor made a point of saying if we (the students) truly wished to change government we need to examine the House, not the presidency, because the president doesn’t hold all the power. Later in the conversation, the issue of God in the Constitution and the possibility of America becoming a theocracy came up. A different professor told the crowd he would not have voted for Mitt Romney because Romney is Mormon, and if you want to see theocracy, then put a Mormon to office. To be honest, I don’t understand why my Baptist college rails against Mormonism so much, (they’re even leading a mission trip to Salt Lake City to convert Mormons) but I also know very little about Mormonism. The implied meaning of this statement flabbergasted me, but the seminar ended right after, so I had no time to voice my question. (Plus, goodness knows if I have to take from that professor some day. No need to start a relationship by being argumentative.) The implied meaning I gathered from the statement was if you elect someone of a religion different than yours, they will drastically change the make-up of government. (This astounds me. Can you say George W. Bush??) This right after a different professor iterated the Executive branch only has so many specific powers, and it is not where the true power of the US Government lies. Does the president even have close to the power needed to make the government a theocracy instead of a democracy? I don’t think so, but maybe I’m wrong. It did kind of explain to me why there have not been any non-Christian (or loosely Christian) presidents. What do you think? Does the president have the power to create a theocracy? Should America be ruled by a theocratic government? Which theology should we embrace?
Comment question of the day: What’s your favorite and least favorite amendment? (Quick reference link)
At this time in my life, I'm thankful for the 19th and 26th amendments. I suppose the closest I come to disliking an amendment is the 18th, but it was repealed by the 21st amendment and my 21st amendment right is not a right I yet practice... soooooo.
Happy Constitution Day!
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