The Shortfalls of the Executive Branch: A Violation of Democratic Values
Why does the incoming administration ignore it's own party values?
In recent days the current administration has touted its ability to get things done through “executive action.” But is this “action” reflective of the “democratic” principles of the incoming administration’s party?
The answer of course is no.
Executive orders are not substitutes for legislation. Legislation -- in most cases -- is passed when there’s consensus and something approximating a good faith agreement or compromise.
This agreement and compromise is reflective of the democratic values of our republic.
To legislate in the dark, or to attempt to do so through executive order, is a betrayal of these democratic values. It shows a stubborn unwillingness and enfeebled incapacity to advance legislation through the traditional means of negotiation, tact, and persuasion.
Instead rule by executive order replaces those traditional means of deal making with secrecy, browbeating, and the subordination of Congress to a tyrannical will to power.
This rule by edict is made worse by the current endeavor -- of this administration and others past -- to hide the tyranny of abusing executive orders by calling them something different.
Instead of calling an executive order an executive order the Biden administration has made a special effort to refer to these orders as “executive action”in a further betrayal of democratic values.
By hiding the intent of executive orders behind a euphemism the incoming administration is misleading the nation about the anti-democratic nature of the executive branch.
But perhaps that’s the direction we’re inevitably headed towards. Maybe that’s why famous newspaper once made the observation that “democracy dies in darkness.” What the paper didn’t say was how it helped kill democracy by apologizing for, and on occasion praising, the darkness of these executive order edicts.
Zigmund Reichenbach holds a M.A. in Philosophy from West Chester University. You can occasionally find him covering news stories of national interest at Real News or you can follow him on Twitter @zreichenbach1. To support the creation of articles like these visit the RootsRSNG’s Patreon.
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