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To operate, a king must have control over all the other potential elements of power in his country. Out-of-the-box kings in olden days were in fact the only centers of power.
Would-be-kings, who attempt to overthrow previously existing forms of government have more to contend with. There’s already an established legislature perhaps, and perhaps a court system, already in existence. Perhaps as well there’s an established military. To become a king-in-fact, the would-be-king would have to seize or subvert the powers already held by these others.
Our president has done just that. In some ways, he didn’t have to work too hard to seize power. The legislature wasn’t hard. Our party system essentially handed him that. The courts weren’t too hard; he had already stacked many of them in his favor. By virtue of our Constitution, he was already the commander-in-chief, so he could manipulate the military with pretty much a free hand. He has largely done that, getting rid of officers who might push back on any illegal uses of the military.
If he were to take over powers not legally or constitutionally belonging to him, who would stop him? He’s already doing that. He’s stopping funding that was appropriated by Congress. It’s their job, not his. He’s flouting court-ordered halts to firings and funding cuts.
He’s talking about using military force on a so-called invasion of immigrants. Invasion, like with tanks and guns? Such as the military usually confronts? Nope. Just unarmed, poor, mostly dark-skinned people.
If no one stops the bully, he becomes the boss, the dictator, the king.
If the courts can’t stop him, if the legislature won’t stop him, who will?
Bruce MacDonald
Boothbay
