Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
To the op - You missed the point. It's about the rights of the individual and does the Federal government have the authority. Not because an entity said so.
Those of us that paid a little attention in school realize that we have 3 separate branches of government, with defined functions. That is a major part of our system of checks and balances.
They are (in general terms):
1) The Legislative branch (congress)-makes laws
2) The Judicail branch-interprets laws
3) The executive branch (president, etc)-enforces laws
So, the question is simple. The executive branch is tasked with enforcing our laws-the laws first enacted by the legislative branch. Should the executive branch simply enforce the laws they agree with and want to enforce? And ignore the ones they disagree with? Pick your topic.
All presidents have chosen which laws to enforce, or not enforce with the resource given to them by the Congress. Often times they enforce laws, but not to the extent which their opposition demands. For example Obama and immigration. It is dishonest to claim he did not enforce immigration laws, because he did. He even asked for money to build a wall, but since the money was denied, he didn't build one. As for DACA, it was his call, no matter how his opposition disagreed with it. So far Trump has chosen to not enforce some laws, like pot, while opting to openly sabotage ACA. The sabotage is new. I do not remember any other president openly do such thing.
All presidents have chosen which laws to enforce, or not enforce with the resource given to them by the Congress. Often times they enforce laws, but not to the extent which their opposition demands. For example Obama and immigration. It is dishonest to claim he did not enforce immigration laws, because he did. He even asked for money to build a wall, but since the money was denied, he didn't build one. As for DACA, it was his call, no matter how his opposition disagreed with it. So far Trump has chosen to not enforce some laws, like pot, while opting to openly sabotage ACA. The sabotage is new. I do not remember any other president openly do such thing.
Sabotage ACA. lol That's like saying he murdered someone who was already dead.
Those of us that paid a little attention in school realize that we have 3 separate branches of government, with defined functions. That is a major part of our system of checks and balances.
They are (in general terms):
1) The Legislative branch (congress)-makes laws
2) The Judicail branch-interprets laws
3) The executive branch (president, etc)-enforces laws
So, the question is simple. The executive branch is tasked with enforcing our laws-the laws first enacted by the legislative branch. Should the executive branch simply enforce the laws they agree with and want to enforce? And ignore the ones they disagree with? Pick your topic.
Marijuana laws are a hot topic these days. The law is clear-weed is illegal at the federal level. Yes, some states have ignored that fact-doesn't change the law. Our president has even stated that he feels that weed should be legalized (at one point anyway). So, should he just ignore the law passed by congress that criminalized it?
How about immigration laws? Congress has determined what our immigration laws are. Yet we have some 30 million or so people in this country that have broken that law. Should the president enforce those laws or not? If he doesn't like those laws, should he just ignore them (aka Obama)?
Gun laws. Federal law says you have to be 21 years old to buy a handgun from a dealer. If the people of an individual state thinks that is stupid and anyone 16 and over should be able to buy one-should they just ignore federal law and pass their own laws? Federal law says you need to have a federal background check to purchase a gun from a dealer. Should the executive branch enforce that law, or just let dealers sell to anyone?
How about civil rights laws? The federal government has passed laws that prohibit discrimination based on race, religion, etc. If the citizens of a state disagree with those laws, should they just pass their own laws that violate federal laws? Perhaps a poll tax to vote for example, or not allowing blacks or women to vote? If a state passes such laws that violate federal law, should the federal government step in and enforce them?
Yes or no? Does the president pick and choose what laws to enforce, or does he do the job defined for the executive branch? If he chooses to ignore laws he doesn't like, doesn't that violate the separation of powers as defined by the constitution? Doesn't such a president approach being a dictator rather than a president as defined by our laws?
No, Presidents have to enforce all the laws. In the case of marijuana laws, I think the President can cite the 10th amendment as a basis for not enforcing that law in the states that have legalized marijuana.
I do believe the OP asked if they should or shouldn't enforce the laws, not if they should or shouldn't attempt to change them.
Agreed. The so-called "sabotage" of Obamacare was NOT the result of a Presidential decision, but rather a result of the normal process of legislation. Laws are not, and never were meant to be permanent and unchangeable. They are changeable by the same legislative process by which they were originally enacted. The elimination of the mandate in Obamacare was enacted by Congress passing a bill and the President signing it into law. I get that many disagree with this action, but to call it sabotage or imply that it was somehow improper or illegal is ridiculous.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
