King George vs President Trump
This is an exploration of Declaration of Indepence in terms of charges levied against King George and how Trump fares against such charges. Partly undertaken because of a handful of kossacks making repeated references and blithe assertion that majority of those would apply to Trump. This is not meant as an exoneration of Trump. It is merely an excercise in exploration and just my own curiosity.
Here is the list of charges in the indictment of King George in the same sequence as otiginal and my commentary about their validity. Many might disagree with my interpretation. Fill in the commentary if so.
If some charges against George seem weird just remember that George is the head of state and any power excercised or claimed by any other agency (like parliament) still count as charge against Georges.
First group is mostly related to legislative functions.
1. He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
President has not refused assent to any laws passed by the legislature. US parliamentary mechanism of passing laws and their adoption remains unchanged. Veto over-ride mechanisms are still in place.
2. He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
Here, the president does not appoint governors to any states (colonies). The mechanism for election of governors of states and each states independent legislative and governance process has not been intruded, usurped or anything. No state has to submit laws for assent by president. Last I checked states have been and are busy passing laws.
3. He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only
Legislative process has not changed. President has no control over legislation. Senate Majority Leader and Speaker of the House are still in firm controll of their respective institutions. Political pressure and bargaining is not same as refusal.
4. He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
Legislatures have been carrying on regrdless. President has not demanded/insisted/enforced his own personal views on where they should meet let alone anything else.
5. He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness of his invasions on the rights of the people.
Legislatures (House and Senate both) are still firmly in place. They have not been dissolved.
6. He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the meantime exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
See charge 5 above. No dissolution has take place.
7. He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
Legislature has not passed any new laws that Trump has obstructed or prevented regarding this. Legislature can still pass laws to encourage migration. That they have not passed a law is a matter of legislative debate.
Existing laws have been vigerously implemented by Administration. There have been abuses of the law by some agency responsible for enforcement. However corrective mechanisms are in place. Those thinking of ICE need to remember that any criminal activity by ICE agents can still be reported to other law enforcement agencies (local law enforcement, sherrifs office, police department, FBI)
A few scattering of judiciary funtions.
8. He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.
Judiciary body still exists. Judiciary powers are still firmlty vested in Judiciary. Judiciary is functioning. Come to think of it many Judiciary vacancies have been rapidly filled. Senate is currently responsible for filling them (confirmation) and that has been sailing fast.
9. He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
Judges are still getting paid, they are still operating, and some are even deciding cases against Trump. Judges are still being appointed/elected as per the process for whichever vacancy. See previous comment.
10. He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.
Trump has not created any new offices. Creation depends on legislature for creation and funding.
A few titbits about standing army and functions and opression.
11. He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
All standing armies are still fully provisioned by legislature. There are no new armies not created by legislature.
12. He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.
Military is still firmly in control of Civil Power even though the Civil Power in this case is Trump. Various oversight functions are still operated by legislature. War and deplyment powers are still within control of Legislature. Existing changes within deplyments are already covered by legislature aproved mechanisms in place. Abandonment of Kurds is still covered within existing legislative framework under which the Administration operates.
13. He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
No other nation as assumed legislative power over USA. Trump has not declared any laws passed/declared by other external body as being applicable to USA. All laws are still those decided by US legislature.
Persuading USA to adopt a policy stance that is favourable to some other nation or giving preferential treatments to objectives of some external body does not constitute subjecting USA to laws passed by other nations or body.
All laws are still those passed by the legislature or those expressly delegated to other bodies within pre defined parameters or existing laws. This includes treaty obligations. Treaty obligations are still US laws passed by legislature when a treaty is ratified.
14. For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
There has not been instances of quartering large bodies of armed troops yet that were not covered by legilation establishing the army.
15. For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
This applies to the quartered armed troops from charge 14. So not really applicable. Even the troops in barracks are still subject to trials if they commit crimes in society.
Trade and Taxes thrown into mix.
16. For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
Despite the damage top trade and trade relationships, Trump is still excercising authority and operational functions granted to to the President by the legislatures. So all tarrifs, sanctions and embargoes against other countries, entities, individuals are covered by legislation.
17. For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
Taxes are still levied by legislature. Thus by extention consent.
Juctice and Redress
18. For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:
Jury trials are still going on including appeals.
19.For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:
Exradition is covered by legislation related to applicable extradition treaty process. It is still firmly in control of legislature.
20. For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
Laws have not been abolished. Provinces (however you interpret them) have not been changed.
21. For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
Laws have not been abolished. Charters have not been revoked. Sanctury cities being deprived of funding is covered within the operational parameters granted to administration for disbursement of funds by the legislature.
Legislative sovereignty.
22. For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
Legislatures are still functioning fully. Trump has not claimed legislative powers.
Next set is mostly related to Geroges troops plundering and waging war.that was going on at that time.
23. He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
George sent army. Trump has not done so yet.
24. He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
Again not the case no matter how tyou stretch the imagination.
25. He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
I doubt that foreign or domestic mercenary forces are being sent by Trump for the purpose of invading or waging war. They have not been let loose anyway. Do the twitter and facebook marauders count?
26. He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
Dont think that is happenning yet.
27. He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
He has hinted at civil war, but no direct incitement or encouragement for his supporters to forceably takeover local government has taken place yet. Elections are going on and Trump suppprters are still queueing up to vote. He is still going around asking people to vote for or against people.
28. In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people."
methods of redress (legislative elections, judiciary) are still operating.
My conclusion (yours might be different. fill the comments):
In conclusion, I cannot find even one charge that could possibly be levied against Trump. Of course it all changes the moment he declares and claims judiciary and legislative power. Some charges could be stretched for the sake of arguments but given that Trump Administratiin is operating within the framework that is centred around contitution and legislation adopted by the Congress. Political manuovring and inability of legislature to implement legislative solution to nations big current and future problems are a legislative deadlock and failure. Population and electorate at large is still able to rectify the situation by electing a new legislature which they do every two years.
Charges of corruption were not levied against George. Neither was he charged with abuse of power for personal benefit.
Corruption and abuse of power is the actual thing Trump is guilty of.