We face the end of separation of powers within the United States. Originally proposed by Montesque and co-opted by the Constitutional convention, the concept had a rather straight-forward goal: slow down government. Like checks and balances and federalism, separation of powers institutionally put speed bumps in the process of government action and personal ambitions. Unsurprisingly, this idea has been on the decline over the 20th Century. Obama means to kill it completely.
In the healthcare debacle, Obama has shown that he has no regard for this. Between his speech to congress, his outline of what the bill should look like, and particularly his rhetoric, Obama has shown no regard for the fact that the president carries out the law, rather than making it. For example, he told CBS about the bill, “You know, I intend to be president for a while and once this [healthcare] bill passes, I own it.” Clearly, has no intent of respecting the constitutionally defined role of his branch. He is consolidating power for the sake of efficiency and political expediency.
Our country is now taking so steady a course as to show by what road it will pass to destruction, to wit: by consolidation of power first, and then corruption, its necessary consequence.
-Thomas Jefferson
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