Posting Ten Commandments violates Constitution Re: “Rural Virginia battle for Ten Commandments,” Local Opinion Zone, March 9
“Some wonder why anyone would object to ten principles that instruct on how to lead an honorable life,” blogger Lynn Mitchell asks. The objection is simple: the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.
With sectarian violence in many parts of the world and ugly demonstrations against religious minorities in America today, it is wise to remember that Americans were severely punished, even executed, in Colonial times for their dissenting views. As late as 1838, Abner Kneeland was imprisoned for blasphemy for 60 days in Massachusetts.
The greatest bulwark protecting religious liberty is the Establishment Clause keeping government out of religion. As James Madison said in support of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, establishment of religion is corrosive of religion itself and of those who lead and practice it. It leads to “pride and indolence in the Clergy, ignorance and servility in the laity, in both, superstition, bigotry and persecution.”
David A. Drachsler
Alexandria
Refusing to enforce DOMA is impeachable act
Re: “Obama’s duty is to enforce the law,” Feb. 28
The Obama administration decided to cease defending against court challenges to the Defense of Marriage Act because the president feels some members of Congress may have based their vote on negative views of homosexuals, even though the law defends the status quo in most states. This is an impeachable act, as Article II of the Constitution states that the president “shall take care that the Laws be faithfully executed.”
The 14th Amendment explicitly vests power in the Congress to define something as a civil right. Until Congress recognizes sexual orientation in the same way it recognizes race and religion, the administration cannot refuse to defend this law.
Furthermore, prejudging the outcome of a court challenge unconstitutionally usurps the “due process” of the judiciary in determining the constitutionality of laws enacted by Congress.
Congress also has the same “prosecutorial discretion” to decide whether to impeach the president and attorney general for their willful abuse of power.
Dino Drudi
Alexandria
Big Labor corrupts the political process
Government workers unions in Wisconsin whine and whimper that they aren’t getting enough, yet public employees receive a staggering 45 percent more in wages and benefits than comparable workers in the productive, taxpaying private sector.
That’s because politicians only have to bilk the taxpayers; the money doesn’t come out of their own pockets. Consequently, politicians eagerly cave in to unions’ demands in exchange for their support. Except for Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, one man with real guts and integrity.
Although 80 percent of Americans oppose forced unionism, Big Labor confiscates $8 billion annually from American workers just to keep their jobs. Big Labor then uses this forced-dues fortune to corrupt our political system with over a billion dollars every election, 98 percent of it going to Democrats whose irresponsible spending and draconian regulations increases our national debt, drives good jobs overseas, and jacks up prices for everyone.
Chuck Miller
Camas, Wash.
