A Veto of the People's Will
Guy T. Sturino
May 02, 2007
It's hard to think about President Bush's veto of the military spending bill without thinking about all we have recently read here in Virginia about the Magna Carta. Briefly, it was England, and by January 1215 the anger toward King John had reached the boiling point. The king had stretched his army too thin in France, spent more of England’s wealth than his barons would tolerate, and his administration of justice was seen as arbitrary and inconsistent. The barons demanded that King John adhere to a list of liberties which they called the Articles of the Barons.
King John stood his ground, and the barons, having made no progress by May, took up arms and captured London. On June 10, 1215 in a clearing by the Thames called Runnymeade, the barons met with King John and extracted his concession to their demands. The list of liberties was later called the Magna Carta, and led to parliamentary rule in England.
Again, in America by early 1776, the anger toward King George had reached the boiling point. The king had conducted a fruitless war and raised exorbitant taxes, he passed laws without input from the people, and his administration of justice was arbitrary and inconsistent. By June a group of wealthy landowners and statesmen met to draft articles of independence. On July 4 the Declaration of Independence was officially signed, and led to the ratification of the Constitution of the United States.
Now it is early 2007, and the anger toward President Bush is growing. The president has engaged the country in a fruitless foreign war, is capriciously spending the wealth of future generations, and has flagrantly disregarded the constitution and the rule of law. This time the champions of the people are still insufficient in number and strength to curtail the president’s obstinate irresponsibility. And, this time the result has been new proclamations, not expanding, but limiting individual rights and liberties.
As this president continues to escalate war in direct opposition to the will of a clear majority of the people, we wait impatiently for January 2009, and the instillation of more champions and a new president. Unless before then a sufficient number of Senators and Representatives change their positions from that of unwavering obedience to the president to one of thoughtful legislation for the people, we have no choice but to wait.
Sadly, because of the presidents refusal to change course, a date between now and then will mark the end of a lifetime for too many American troops who might otherwise have come home.
King John stood his ground, and the barons, having made no progress by May, took up arms and captured London. On June 10, 1215 in a clearing by the Thames called Runnymeade, the barons met with King John and extracted his concession to their demands. The list of liberties was later called the Magna Carta, and led to parliamentary rule in England.
Again, in America by early 1776, the anger toward King George had reached the boiling point. The king had conducted a fruitless war and raised exorbitant taxes, he passed laws without input from the people, and his administration of justice was arbitrary and inconsistent. By June a group of wealthy landowners and statesmen met to draft articles of independence. On July 4 the Declaration of Independence was officially signed, and led to the ratification of the Constitution of the United States.
Now it is early 2007, and the anger toward President Bush is growing. The president has engaged the country in a fruitless foreign war, is capriciously spending the wealth of future generations, and has flagrantly disregarded the constitution and the rule of law. This time the champions of the people are still insufficient in number and strength to curtail the president’s obstinate irresponsibility. And, this time the result has been new proclamations, not expanding, but limiting individual rights and liberties.
As this president continues to escalate war in direct opposition to the will of a clear majority of the people, we wait impatiently for January 2009, and the instillation of more champions and a new president. Unless before then a sufficient number of Senators and Representatives change their positions from that of unwavering obedience to the president to one of thoughtful legislation for the people, we have no choice but to wait.
Sadly, because of the presidents refusal to change course, a date between now and then will mark the end of a lifetime for too many American troops who might otherwise have come home.
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