Trump ‘monarchy’ violates Declaration of Independence
The news alert came across on July 1: “Supreme Court sends Trump immunity case back to lower court, dimming chance of trial before election.” We received the announcement of the seeming return to a monarchy just three days before the 248th birthday of the Declaration of Independence. Total immunity of the sovereign is the very condition that the 13 colonies were rejecting in the Declaration: “We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal.” The Declaration goes on to cite example after example of the kind of unconstrained powers that the then ruling monarch had used to suppress the citizens of the colonies.
The president does have broad powers, including the power to adjourn Congress until a time of his choosing (Article 3, Section 3), but nowhere does the Constitution specify that the president has immunity from actions in office or after; and nowhere is there reference to, much less a definition of, “unofficial actions.” The actions of the majority of the Supreme Court in bouncing the definition of unofficial actions back to a lower court was a patently political and cowardly act. If efforts to encourage the overthrow of a presidential election and perpetuate himself in office doesn’t constitute an “unofficial act,” what possibly could? Moreover, official or not, how can such an act be any than but unconstitutional and a violation of oath? On this Independence Day, it’s sad day to say goodbye to what so many have worked and fought and died for.
Bill Thompson Apopka
Illegal fireworks should be prosecuted
Lawbreakers who most need to see your July 2 editorial (“Big-bang fireworks can be dangerous, but Florida refuses to ban the boom”) probably won’t see it and wouldn’t care even if they did. If they’re inconsiderate enough of neighbors to use the full gamut of fireworks, often before and after July Fourth plus that night, then laws are meaningless without enforcement “teeth.” My immediate neighbors in Southeast Orlando shoot off so many highly explosive fireworks that the next morning, I always find “dead” pieces on my driveway, yard and sidewalk. I always wonder if one or more dangerous bits will land on my house and start a fire… with no one held accountable. Fireworks in this neighborhood and surrounding ones always are heard until 1 or 2 a.m. Not only is the noise bothersome, but also vibrations felt inside homes, even with doors and windows closed. I moved here 19 years ago from a state that not only outlaws all but very simple fireworks, except in community shows, but also issues citations for violators — a novel idea!
Carol Richardson Orlando
Don’t treat Trump allegations as crimes
Over the past few years, my neck muscles have grown very strong from my near continual head-shaking at editorials, supposed news articles and letters to the editor which continue to accuse former President Donald Trump of many supposedly factual violations of the law. The only ones proven in a court of criminal law are the New York business bookkeeping felonies (which should have been misdemeanors) of which a jury of his “peers” convicted him. Folks, Trump has many, many allegations of violations of the law aimed at him, but an allegation is just that: an unproven statement about an issue or occurrence. Time and time again, I see statements contained within editorials, opinion pieces and “news” articles that, in my opinion, treat allegations against Trump as if they were facts.
This bias is wrong. I continue to harbor hope in my heart that citizens reading this newspaper will read this life lesson and take it to their hearts.
Carl Gruel Titusville
