John Philpot Curran once said, “The condition upon which God hath given liberty to man is eternal vigilance. . . .” Philpot’s statement has morphed into “The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.” We citizens are those whose eternal vigilance is required.
It's worth thinking about Donald Trump’s oft repeated feelings about the Constitution which defines our freedoms and establishes the rule of law to protect them. It’s also worth thinking about our duty constantly to monitor our elected officials and those who stand for election to be sure they are upholding the Constitution.
Here are just two instances in which Mr. Trump expresses his antipathy toward the Constitution. “A Massive Fraud of this type and magnitude allows for the termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution,” he wrote. “Our great ‘Founders’ did not want, and would not condone, False & Fraudulent Elections!”’. (PBS News, 12/4/24)
In an interview with Sean Hannity the AP reports this exchange with Mr. Trump: “You’re not going to be a dictator, are you?” “No, no, no, other than day one. We’re closing the border, and we’re drilling, drilling, drilling. After that, I’m not a dictator.”
As numerous courts, several presided over by Trump-appointed judges, have found the claim the 2020 election was fraudulent is baseless. Hence, Mr. Trump’s assertion the election should have been overturned is predicated on a lie. Even if it were true, the remedy would be judicial which he tried unsuccessfully. Then we had January 6. Mr. Trump’s disdain for the Constitution and rule of law is laid bare by his refusal to accept the legally adjudicated 2020 election results and claiming his conviction on 34 felony counts was rigged.
I have scoured the Constitution for any evidence even hinting at Presidents’ dictatorial powers on any day or exemption from any law. Quite the opposite, in fact. Neither does it grant presidents power to “build the wall and drill, drill, drill.” The authority to set immigration policy, make regulations and determine use of Federal lands is vested in Congress alone, not in the President. Readers may recall the sacrosanct (not so sacrosanct lately apparently) separation of powers. That’s in the Constitution too.
Elementary economics puts the lie to the drill more plan. The U.S. is a slight net oil exporter, so we are energy independent, at least for oil-based energy. If we “drill, drill, drill,” thereby increasing the world supply of oil, the price of oil will fall. Other oil exporting countries won’t like that, especially Saudi Arabi and Iraq, an exporter of about 3.5 million bl/day. Iraq already has a long list of grievances against us. It won’t help to add another log to that fire. And, of course, lower priced oil will reduce the profitability of those doing the drilling. They will, therefore, be less inclined to drill, maybe even shutting some existing production capacity.
If you agree with Mr. Trump the Constitution is no longer valid, you probably also discount this from the Declaration of Independence: “A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.” Rejecting both the Constitution and Declaration of Independence can only mean one favors authoritarian rule sacrificing personal freedom for “every act which may define,” the will of Donald Trump.
Citizens’ eternal vigilance is required to ensure freedom endures by demanding our elected officials act in ways that support our fundamental beliefs about democracy, freedom and a just society as codified in the Constitution. We do that by being lovers of freedom and the rule of law, persuaded by truth and voting.
People of good will disagree about political policy agendas. Until recently, we have resolved those civilly in Congress, in the courts and at the voting booth. I thank God we are free to do that. That freedom is fragile and demands our eternal vigilance.
You may not like any, or all, of the Democrats’ agenda; I don’t either. But they are the party standing in the breech to defend democracy. It is self-evident Mr. Trump’s goal is authoritarian rule, therefore, he poses an existential threat to democracy. Vigilance in defense of freedom defined by the Constitution demands we not allow him to succeed.
Patrick Taylor lives in Ridgeland.
