Judith Truesdell, a resident of Greenfield, argues in a published essay that the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States should prompt a philosophical return to the foundational limits of government rather than celebrations featuring statues and sports events.
Foundational Ideals of the Declaration
The essay highlights that the Declaration of Independence establishes the ideal of individual freedom as an inherent right. Truesdell writes that the document asserts fundamental rights belong to all people regardless of their governing system, and that governments are meant to protect the weak from unprincipled forces. She notes that the American colonies accused the British king of usurpations specifically to prevent any single individual from holding absolute power over the populace.
Truesdell Argues the 10th Amendment Limits Executive Orders
Truesdell points out that the executive branch and the presidency are deliberately restricted to executing laws and spending money authorized by Congress. She cites the 10th Amendment as explicit protection that reserves all ungranted powers to individual states and citizens, adding that the framers included nothing about unilateral executive orders carrying the force of law.
Critique of Political Parties
The writing strongly criticizes the modern two-party system, noting that the Founders explicitly rejected the parliamentary model where a prime minister controls both executive and legislative functions. Truesdell recalls that George Washington discouraged political parties entirely. To fix current legislative dynamics, she reiterates previous proposals to eliminate party affiliations on voter rolls, abolish party primaries, and implement ranked-choice voting so the speaker of the House is elected by all representatives.
Where Was the Anniversary Essay Published and Who Wrote It?
- Where was the opinion piece published?
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Who wrote the essay regarding the 250th anniversary?
Greenfield resident Judith Truesdell authored the piece. -
What specific constitutional amendment does the column highlight for limiting federal power?
The column highlights the 10th Amendment, noting it reserves powers not granted by the Constitution to the states and the people.
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