In My Opinion

Now that we see the undesirable and damaging effects resulting from the inability of our Congress to reach a compromise to avoid the downgrading of our national debt, it is not only appropriate but desirable to ask ourselves a question.  Could this unwelcomed outcome have been avoided just by the President simply invoking Section 4, of the XIV Amendment to the Constitution, and unilaterally deciding that, this issue, was one within his power to decide?  He could have declared this political distraction unconstitutional for a country in time of war and deep economic/financial crisis, and raised the debt limit to the extent that it is necessary to provide for  the country’s national security and provide for the general welfare, according to the Constitution.  After all,  it is not right [American or patriotic] for Congress to say that we will not pay our bills, after it has approved those expenditures in the first place.

Two important considerations may help us understand why such a decision may have not been very wise, even if there are legal grounds to believe that it could have been possible.  The first consideration has to do with the practicality of such a decision, as far as the legal discussion and time that it would require to get to a final resolution.  The second has to do with the question whether it would help this Presidency and the country  in the longer term.

As to the first point, let us just consider that the first thing to occur after such an executive act would be to attack the President as a despot who is not abiding by the constitution and who is ready to deprive us of our liberty and constitutional rights and freedoms in order to get what he wants.  Following this, and pushing their argument to extremes, there would be a demand from the noisy minority of sectarians that now control the House of Representatives to impeach the President.  This action could pass the House and start a legal process which could be as distracting and unproductive as everything else this Congress has engaged in.  Not a pleasant or productive thought.

The second point is easier to understand, considering that it is now the third year of this administration and economically or financially the country has a long way to go, and people have already began to show their displeasure with how the President is handling this crisis, mainly with the problem of unemployment.  So it would be better for him to concentrate on doing what he can with this “do nothing Congress”, and ensure that he is reelected so that in his second terms, he can achieve what he really wanted to do in the first place, without having to worry about being reelected for a second term.  In spite of all direct attacks from the opposition and some of its leaders, who admittedly affirm that their objective is to make him fail, he has persevered in his willingness to reach agreements for the good of the country, even when these decisions have incurred the disapproval of his most fervent supporters on the left.  After all, he is the leader of the “United States” of America, not just of progressive Democrats.

But, then, again, we just like to imagine, what if he had stopped the discussion, claimed his Constitutional authority to do so, raised the debt ceiling, avoided the downgrading of our national debt, and got to work on jobs, jobs, and jobs? 

What do you think?

Luis C. Isaza

Precinct 4270