How is it possible to have such a strong Constitution as America...?

[kentuck]

...and still be unable to stop the destructive and unwise decisions of the Executive?

Donald Trump made deals with North Korea that no one else in our government knew about, There was no advise and consent. He unilaterally decided to stop military maneuvers with South Korea to appease the North Korean dictator, Kim Jong Un.

Now he is headed to Russia to talk with the dictator Putin. There are some in Washington wringing their hands and sweating about what kind of "deal" the dear Leader might make with Putin?

If our Constitution is so strong and powerful, how does one person have so much power with no oversight or control??

[marylandblue]

1. It's not the Constitution that keeps us

It's the democratic norms we have built over centuries. See the book "How Democracies Die."

[DemocratSinceBirth]

2. Checks and balances only work when one party doesn't control...

Checks and balances only work when one party doesn't control all the levers of government. The Constitution was designed to protect the liberty interests of the individual. It is flailing.

[qazplm135]

12. actually

it was designed to give the federal government more power while making sure the States had some protection.
It cared less than you think about individual rights. That's why the states could and did routinely crap on them until selective incorporation of the BOR happened.

[H2O Man]

3. It is simply

because the legislative branch refuses to do its constitutional duty of oversight. The current congress is controlled by republicans who have little or no respect for the Constitution.

Recommended.

[Pobeka]

7. I completely agree. n/t

[spanone]

13. exactly

[kacekwl]

22. BINGO n/t

[DonCoquixote]

4. what happened was

AS rich as the founding fathers were, they did not foresee the rise of corporate power. The only major corporation was the Hudson's Bay company, which was very much controlled by the British Crown. The idea that some people could be so rich that they become nation states unto themselves was folly, but it is the reality now.

There are many that would gladly rip out this amendment or that, but the main reason to update the constitution is because most governments have devolved into gangsters and pirates. If we do not limit corporate power (such as trashing Citizens United) any democracy will be a pretense, here or in Beijing.

[lpbk2713]

5. The framers never anticipated a narcissistic asshole like Trump.

They expected the people would nominate someone with honor and integrity to
run for the highest office in the land. They had good intentions but they never
expected what we are dealing with today.

[Dave Starsky]

10. Or a legislature composed of the worst of the worst.

Honor, honesty, and integrity were valued back in the day. Now those traits are considered the weaknesses of "cucks".

[lpbk2713]

14. So true.

If Al Gore had any idea what he was up against things might be a lot different today.

[Voltaire2]

18. Actually just the opposite.

Based on the history of the Roman Republic, the founders were totally against popular rule and instead expected that rich educated white men woukd choose wise rulers.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

19. Alexander Hamilton did

Link to tweet

[uponit7771]

24. Yes they did, just not a totally complicit congress. Ryan & McConnell have NOT gotten the scrutiny

... they deserve

[logosoco]

6. There are just too many people who only seem to appreciate the 2nd amendment

and they don't even try to understand the rest of it. Just like many folks do with the bible.

They don't understand how important it is to have that checks and balance government.

For the past year or so (how long has it been? Feels like a decade but I know that's not so!) it has been my "faith" in the Constitution that has kept me feeling somewhat positive, but that faith is getting very, very small. The dems in Congress really need to be making a HUGE stink right now (and they can do it "civilly" if they want). It feels very much like there is nothing left to lose now, so they really need to just go all in.

The media does need to do their part, too. We need headlines that scream about the lies and the story that explains the facts in an easy to understand way, because too many voters don't seem to understand things that they THINK don't affect them.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

8. If the politicians don't take the Constitution seriously it has no power.

It was written with the underlying hope that at least most people in the government would abide by both its terms and its spirit. Unfortunately we not have a president that couldn't care less about what the Constitution says and a majority party who are happy to let the president ignore the Constitution as long as supporting him keeps them in control.

[suston96]

9. Not "strong and powerful" at all........

It is or was only a framework expected to be fleshed out by descendants.

There were and are no remedies for the expected partisan controls that almost immediately overwhelmed the new republic.

Benjamin Franklin was asked by a lady as he exited the covention hall In 1787:

"What kind of a government have you given us, Doctor Franklin?"

"A republic, madam! If you can keep it."

[Spider Jerusalem]

11. The US Constitution is not that strong and is in fact probably fatally flawed

in ways that have only now become obvious (the electoral college allowing the election of a president who lost the popular vote, disproportionate representation in the Senate which means that states with 34% of the population control a majority of the votes, etc).

[Voltaire2]

15. I reject the premise.

The constitution is deeply flawed.

Among its many flaws: the executive is essentially a dictator with a time limit. The constraints on the executive are indirect: the judiciary can override executive orders, the legislature can impeach.

[NRaleighLiberal]

16. well, we now know it really isn't particularly strong...not strong enough, anyway

not in this particular climate

[DavidDvorkin]

17. The USSR had a great constitution

Words on paper mean nothing if they're ignored.

[suston96]

20. The republic created by the founders does not work.....

It can too easily be conflicted by forces determined to block or dilute the people's choices.

TIme to fix or replace this form of government which has suffered a serious corruption of its electoral process, it's basic and vital foundation of power.

[onecaliberal]

21. The constitution never took into consideration that the congress would NOT stop a criminal president

[kacekwl]

23. YEP . n/t