With respect to last week’s article, ‘Tea Party Movement on the forefront’, I feel that it is strongly misguided. I wish to correct some misconceptions that the author seems to have adopted in last week’s article.
The author argues that we as a country need to return to the Constitution and Declaration of Independence and suggests that we should not interpret the Constitution. He addresses this to the judiciary specifically. However, the Constitution dedicates Article 3 to the powers of the judiciary, and the interpretation of the Constitution is in there. The Constitution as it is written does not always address the growing, and evolving political issues of our times and interpretation becomes not only necessary but also vital to the success of our country.
Secondly, I find it difficult to accept that Sarah Palin has more presidential experience than Barack Obama. Palin served as governor of Alaska for around 2 years. As such, she has some sort of executive experience on a state level, but not presidential experience.
The author also argues that he is sick of Congress (legislative branch) and the judiciary (the Supreme Court) controlling the country. I ask you then, who should be? Should it be the executive branch (the President)? Our federal system is based on separate but equal powers. The legislative branch makes laws, the executive enforces laws, and the judiciary interprets laws. The Constitution sets up a balance between the three parts.
The biggest issue I had with the article is the hypocrisy in regards to partisan politics. The author states that he is upset and fed up with the partisan politics, yet he identifies himself with the Tea Party Movement. This movement is not a political party; they are a splinter group within the Republican Party, one that tends to be more conservative then the Republican platform and base. He states, “I’m afraid of another liberal in office”. How can the author argue that the problem we face as a country is that we get stuck in partisan politics, yet a few paragraphs after he engages in the same partisan politics that he claims to hate.
Furthermore, without partisan politics, how can we be sure that the minority opinion is being heard?
Shane Hinson
Vice President Pi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honorary Society