President abuses emergency powers to sidestep compliant Congress

Editor:

President Trump has usurped the Constitutional authority of Congress by declaring emergencies where none exist. These actions align with Nazi theorist Carl Schmitt who argued that the power in a democracy can be exploited by using emergencies to create exceptions to the rule-based Constitutional order.

Republicans, including Congresswoman Claudia Tenney and Congressman Nick Langworthy, have not only acquiesced, but have enthusiastically encouraged this behavior.

Mr. Trump has declared emergencies, where none exist, to deploy troops to American cities. Declaring an emergency, again where none exist, to levy tariffs. Tariffs are taxes, we the people pay, bypassing our representation.

Mr. Trump has declared that there was an imminent threat from Iran to justify military action, despite U.S. intelligence assessments that indicated Iran had not started a nuclear weapons program, contradicting any imminent threat claims.

Mr. Schmitt also wrote that self-determination should be erased. That the individuals should be one with the state. This explains why any criticisms of Mr. Trump or his administration is seen as criticism of the state; as Mr. Trump says, “the free press is the enemy of the people.”

It is interesting that Vice President J.D. Vance cited Carl Schmitt in an interview with Ross Douthat. This explains the recent court documents where government lawyers told the judge that this administration has withheld millions of Congressional approved funds from states for purely political reasons. States that didn’t vote for Mr. Trump need to be punished by withholding moneys for disaster relief, healthcare and education.

Our Constitution gives the power of the purse, and right to declare war to the people through their Congressional representatives. As a result of Ms. Tenney’s and Mr. Langworthy’s actions their constituents have higher gas prices, higher grocery prices, increased unemployment, weakening GDP, inflation and above all pervasive corruption throughout the government.

Ms. Tenney and Mr. Langworthy are surrendering their responsibility and our Constitutional democracy to give Mr. Trump the authorities of a king.

William Fine

Brockport