Executive Orders

Before I begin tonight’s blog entry, I would like to relate an ancient parable which seems relevant given the nature of my topic.  This parable can be traced back to ancient times, and though the characters may change dependent upon the story teller, the moral of the story is consistent and quite profound.

Once upon a time a fox was trying to cross a river. The river was deep, and the current was strong, but the fox desperately needed to get to the other side. As he pondered his plight, a scorpion approached him. The fox was fearful and backed away in apprehension, but the scorpion spoke to him in reassuring words.

“There is no need to be frightened of me, for we both face the same predicament. I too want to cross the river; but if I try, I will drown.  I have come to make a deal with you. If I take you to a place that is shallow enough for you to cross, will you carry me on your back, so that I too may cross?”

The fox was still suspicious of the scorpion, but he really wanted to cross the river. “What guarantee can you give me that you won’t sting me if I carry you across?”, the fox asked.

“On my life I promise that I won’t sting you”, the scorpion replied. “Besides, if I sting you, we both will drown”.

The fox mulled the proposal over and over, and despite being one of the smartest creatures in the land, could find no flaw in the scorpion’s reasoning.  “Alright, you have a deal”, the fox said. “Take me to the shallow spot, and I will carry you across.” So off the two traveled, side by side until they reached a bend in the river where the water slowed and shallowed considerably. “Climb on my back, and I’ll carry you across”, the fox spoke cheerfully.

The scorpion hopped on the fox’s back, and they ventured out into the river. The scorpion had been right. The water was shallow enough to cross, and the fox happily hummed to himself as he easily swam the distance. But right as he reached the deepest point of the river, he felt a sharp pang in the back of his neck.. The scorpion had stung him. He struggled against the poison and the current, but it was too late. He knew he was going to drown. With his last breaths, he cried”.  “Why did you sting me? now we will both drown”!  “Because I am a scorpion”, his rider replied, “It is my nature”.

            The nation is still reeling from the school shooting in Connecticut that happened recently, and in an effort to capitalize on the tragedy, Vice President Biden announced today that President Obama is considering drafting an Executive Order to facilitate some yet undisclosed sweeping gun ban upon the country.  Opinions vary as to the extent of the ban, but it is generally thought that it will include, so called “assault rifles” and high capacity magazines. President Obama has publicly stated that firearm regulation is currently his top priority, and there is no doubt in my mind that he will attempt to extend the powers of the Executive Branch once again. 

I call to your attention the definition of Executive Order- A presidential policy directive that implements or interprets a federal statute, a constitutional provision, or a treaty by Executive Fiat. 

The use of the Executive Order was never designed to make changes to the constitution, which would, in essence, occur if the President follows through on his inclination.  The most disturbing portion of this definition is the term Executive Fiat- A command or act of will that creates something without or as if without further effort; An authoritative determination or dictate; An authoritative or arbitrary order or decree.

See what I mean..

 

 

            President Obama has used Executive Fiat to extend the powers of the Executive Branch and expand the size of government more than any president in history.  Here are some numbers for you:

Number of Executive Orders signed by recent Presidents during their tenure

Jimmy Carter 3 (four year term)

Ronald Reagan 5 (eight year term)

Herbert Walker Bush 3 (four year term)

Bill Clinton 18 (eight year term)

George W. Bush 111(eight year term)

Barrack Obama 145 (first four year term)

Many of these Executive orders were used in order to facilitate the creation of new groups within the government, here are several:

·         Establishing the President's Economic Recovery Advisory Board

·         Establishment of the White House Office of Urban Affairs

·         Establishing a White House Council on Women and Girls

·         Establishment of the White House Office of Health Reform

·         Establishing a White House Council on Automotive Communities and Workers

·         Establishment of the Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force

·         Establishing the Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues

·         Establishment of the Council of Governors

·         President's Advisory Council on Financial Capability

·         National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform

·         Interagency Group on Insular Areas

·         Establishing the President's Management Advisory Board

·         Establishing the National Prevention, Health Promotion, and Public Health Council

·         President's Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition

·         Establishing the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force

·         White House Council for Community Solutions

·         Establishment of The President's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness

·         Establishment of the Intellectual Property Enforcement Advisory Committees

·         Establishment of the White House Rural Council

·         Establishing the President's Global Development Council

·         Establishment of the Interagency Trade Enforcement Center

·         on Strong CEstablishing a White House Council ities, Strong Communities

·         Establishing the White House Homeland Security Partnership Council

·         Establishment of an Interagency Task Force on Commercial Advocacy

·         Reestablishment of Advisory Group

·         Establishing the Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force

·         Reestablishment of Advisory Commission

These groups, Commissions, and Task Forces were created without Congressional Consent and are funded by our tax dollars. No other President has taken such bold steps to increase the size of the Government, yet somehow, the American people have let it happen.  If President Obama has done this much in his first four years, what will he do in his second term?  President Obama believes that big government is the future of this country.  By his own writings we can see that he subscribes to a socialistic ideology that places the citizens under the thumb of the government “for their own good”.  It is time for the country to wake up and realize how our rights are being stolen from us.  If our country continues to allow President Obama to expand his power we will all eventually drown in a river of oppression.  President Obama cannot help himself; it is his nature…..

 

Posterity! you will never know how much it cost the present generation to preserve your freedom! I hope you will make a good use of it. If you do not, I shall repent in Heaven that I ever took half the pains to preserve it. -John Adams

 

The people have always some champion whom they set over them and nurse into greatness...  This and no other is the root from which a tyrant springs; when he first appears he is a protector. -Plato