The Constitution’s dark side

The original intent of the Founding Fathers who drafted United States Constitution was to minimize the impact of government tyranny on the people. There was a clear bias toward small government and local governance. Thomas Jefferson was clear that governments that govern the best govern the least. As a result, the Constitution imposed significant constraints on ability of the federal government to govern.

It is difficult to have a strong, principled leader in the U.S because there are so many checks and balances among the three branches of government (legislature, judiciary and executive) and federalist system. In order to pass legislation it takes much compromise, even among members of the same party. It's much easier to govern in a European-style parliamentarian system where these checks and balances do not exist. The parliamentary party in control doesn't have to pass muster with an independent executive who has veto power. Nor a Supreme Court that can over rule the constitutionality of any law. Nor a Constitution that says that all power not explicitly delegated to the federal government belongs to local government or the people.

Because so many levels of government are required for approval of legislation, it's sort of like the old aphorism about decisions made by committee. You try to design a horse and you end up with a camel. It is an unfortunate byproduct of the U.S. system that legislation is complex and often includes provisions that do not pertain to the central core of the legislation (e.g., earmarks) but are required for passage.

People who are decisive leaders find the inability of the government to make decisive decisions frustrating. As a result, people who are decisive leaders tend to go into the private sector and the military, where decisive actions are valued and people are responsible for their decisions. People who go into politics and government tend to respond to the results of polls and power, not principle, analysis and foresight. As a result, they easily abdicate responsibility for the collective decisions made in government. Furthermore, these politicians are willing to compromise their principles and soul if necessary in order to gain and retain power.

This is the dark side of a Constitution that has the intent of minimizing government tyranny on the people.


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