The Post-Constitutional America

We’ve been so busy guarding the eggs that we haven’t noticed that the farm has been taken over. We cluck about the TARP and Chrysler bondholders and the Porkulus and the Fed printing money, as well we should. But we’re missing the big picture.

The Executive Branch is effectively seizing control of the United States economy without firing a shot or imprisoning any dissidents. You think that’s an exaggeration? Well, let’s look at the facts.

Start with the TARP. It was approved by Congress for the express and exclusive purpose of rescuing the banking industry. The use of these funds for bailing out the UAW, oops, I mean the auto industry, is a clear violation of the statute. And in fairness it must be pointed out that it was Bush who took the first step down this road. Where were Congress and the media?

Now consider the Obama Administration’s czarification of the US economy. This is not the first time President’s have appointed so-called czars in times of distress. We’ve had drug czars and energy czars, for examples, in the past.

After less than five months in office, Obama has appointed at least twenty-one czars, exercising broad powers over the United States economy, businesses and individuals. Never has so much power been concentrated in hands of so few people unelected and unconfirmed by Congress. And, most disturbing, these aptly named czars answer to only one person, President Obama. This completely transcends issues like judicial activism and Congressional overreach. This is a blatant, unprecedented Executive power grab that tosses the Constitiution in the trash can.

Last week when Congress held major hearings on the future of the Detroit-based auto industry, the top executives of the nationalized GM and Chrysler dared not ignore the call. But Obama’s Car Czar, Steve Rattner, thumbed his nose at Congress and skipped the hearings, so he could attend his son’s high school graduation. Rattner knew he would pay no price for this insolence because he knows he has only one boss, Obama. Again, where are Congress and the media?

Liberty is not lost overnight. Power is seized gradually, step by step. The charismatic leader is elected during a time of crisis. Power grabs are tolerated in hopes of realizing promised government benefits until the point of turning back is irretrievably passed. And the rest, as they say, is history.