You might say the United States has beat the odds.  The Library of Congress credits Scottish philosopher Alexander Tyler with documenting the average life of a great civilization at 200 years, consisting of eight stages–bondage, spiritual growth, courage, liberty, abundance, complacency, apathy, dependence and eventually a return to bondage.  As we approach the 243rd anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the 230th year of constitutional government, it is no wonder the Founding Fathers are given such credit as  both visionaries and practitioners when it comes to the affairs of state.

However, as a contrarian, I also have to ask whether we are living on borrowed time.  When less than 60 percent of eligible voters cast ballots in 2016, it appears we are somewhere between complacency and apathy.  And when a candidate who claims “only I can fix it” garners enough support to carry the electoral college, one can argue voters are ushering in an era of increased dependency.  Instead of MAGA caps, supporters of the current occupant of the White House might as well be wearing apparel which says, “Just Let Donald Do It!”

Is this what a majority of Americans really want?  If you can believe the polls, Trump has never had the support of 50 percent of the U.S. population.  An ABC/Washington Post survey in April, 2019 found 55 percent of respondents would definitely not vote to re-elect Trump in 2020, although half were waiting to see who the Democratic challenger would be before deciding whether to cast a ballot at all.

Where does that leave us today?  After all the lies, embracing adversaries over allies, being named an un-indicted co-conspirator in the Stormy Daniels cover-up, shredding Article I of the Constitution and NOT being exonerated for criminal obstruction of justice and abuse of power by Robert Mueller, we are arguing over whether to impeach Trump or take him out at the ballot box in 2020.

Which leads me to the title of today’s post.  Despite the fact the authors of the Constitution feared tyranny, did they make a mistake by creating such a convoluted process for removal of an out of control president and other civil officials under Article II, Section 4, it is virtually toothless?  Unless the chief executive voluntarily steps down, as in the case of Richard Nixon, the procedural and political threshold to oust a president is so high, the process has no value.  Does anyone really believe, over the last two and a half centuries, no commander-in-chief has done anything that would justify forced removal from office?

Nineteen states and the District of Columbia have given their voters another path to remedy an electoral “mistake” by way of recall.  And the ability to prosecute and convict state and local elected officials with crimes punishable by imprisonment leaves them no choice but to step down.  Outside the United States, parliamentary governments provide for votes of “no confidence.”  Only among dictators and when it comes to federal officials in the United States, are citizens at the mercy of a leader who chooses to do the right thing.

Yes, the Founding Fathers got a lot right.  But they were not perfect.  Especially when you realize they floundered when it came to designing a process to handle the thing they feared most, the ascension of a wannabe monarch who believes in unlimited authority.  And the intentionally difficult options for amending the Constitution pretty much guarantee nothing will change in the foreseeable future.  The drafters of our controlling documents could have made it clear no official, including the president, was immune from prosecution for crimes instead of leaving that decision up to the Office of the Legal Counsel in the Department of Justice.  Sadly, they did not.

Bottom line?  By its very nature, impeachment is a “bridge to nowhere.”  Which to some extent, helps justify Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s hesitancy to move forward with impeachment proceedings. She has to take into account the fact a narcissist like Trump would never do the honorable thing and spare the country from a protracted and divisive impeachment by resigning, as did Richard Nixon, regardless of the evidence compiled by the House Judiciary Committee.   I can even imagine her and Trump on a debate stage arguing the issue.  She looks at Trump and pulls a Lloyd Bentsen, “Donald, I served with Richard Nixon.  I knew Richard Nixon.  Richard Nixon and I both came from California and he was a friend of mine.  Donald, you’re no Richard Nixon.  And just in case you think I’m complimenting you, I don’t mean that in a good way.”

For what it’s worth.
Dr. ESP