To the Editor:
The recent immigration action enacted by President Obama in allowing certain undocumented immigrants to become de facto legal, while perhaps having merit in its substance, is still alarming and dangerous in the way it was done. Can any one man, even the president, simply dismiss with laws duly enacted by Congress, for political gain, without doing long-term harm to the rule of law?
If any president – based on a self-declared superior wisdom – can choose which laws to enforce and which laws to ignore, then we are in serious trouble. The oath of office required of all presidents to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States that is taken when assuming office must be respected.
But I’m not too surprised about what is happening in our country. A steady downhill regression in respect for the rule of law has been going on for a long time. Maybe we already have passed the point of no return. We are not being faithful guardians of our Constitution when we are unconcerned about constitutional abuse, allowing emotion to prevail over the rule of law, and ignoring our responsibility to future generations.
Are we really ready to accept a disregard for the rule of law by going with whatever popular sentiment is the flavor of the day, undermining the right of Congress to create, debate and carefully enact our laws? Are we really ready to allow the opinion of any president to simply overrule the duly enacted laws of our country?
Such an accommodation could have serious consequences. Consider the current actions of the Justice Department in suing a number of states that are trying to clean up their voter registration rules to ensure only legal voters can vote.
Why are so many states being sued? Does anyone want their vote diluted by voter fraud? Is it not possible that illegal votes might help this current president? In a close election, fraud could change the true will of those who have the right to vote.
We need to pay attention, be alert and stay vigilant, or else we may be courting disaster. We will either be a nation of law, or a nation ruled by a cult of personality. We can’t be both.
Gerard McLain
Sycamore
