To the Editor:

I agree with much that was written by Gene McIntyre in his Sept. 19 letter to the editor. The evidence should be overwhelming clear to any patriotic American that our liberties and rights are under attack and the siege continues. 

Currently, freedom of speech, freedom of the press and the right to vote are the targets of Mr. Trump and his authoritarian handlers. The president is ruling by executive order – not by the rule of law. It is shocking to see how little resistance is put up by Republicans in Congress. Of course, they don’t want to be “primaried out” so to keep their jobs they skirt the issues or say nothing. 

We elect people to lead for the benefit of all Americans and to protect our Constitutional rights. Currently, many elected officials are bench-warmers or no-shows at a time when it really counts.

Since our leaders are failing to do the job, my question has been – what can we, the people, do about it? Obviously, we need to stay informed and vote when the time comes, but I believe it’s time to amend our Constitution, return power to the people (voters) and the states, and limit what a president can do without Congressional approval. 

The last Constitutional Amendment of consequence was the 26th Amendment in 1971 which lowered the voting age to 18. There was an amendment in 1991, but it only delayed pay raises for senators and representatives until the next Congress was seated. 

So, what has changed in the 54 years since we had an amendment benefiting American citizens or strengthening our democracy? Technology including social media, Nixon’s resignation, the Sept. 11th attack, Bush v. Gore, Clinton impeachment, Covid, January 6, 2021, Trump impeachments, Joe Biden’s age, a Supreme Court that can’t or won’t police itself, and Artificial Intelligence to name a few. 

You probably have your own list of concerns, but the point is our Constitution is badly in need of updating. The low approval rating of all three branches of government should give any American who loves this country great concern. It is time for new amendments to reform our democracy and bring us into the 21st century. It is time “we the people” demand that our representatives and senators spend their time legislating not just posturing.

There are many possible amendments that I would support, but one of my greatest concerns is how presidents, especially our current one, use executive orders rather than the rule of law to further their agenda. To that end, I have crafted my proposed Amendment 28. In it I also would give power to the states to counteract an executive order through a vote by state governors. 

My amendment would read as follows: A president may issue no more than four executive orders per month. Each executive order must be confined to one subject or it is considered invalid and will not be implemented. If the governors in 30 states disagree with an issued executive order, they may file a stop and desist order on any specific presidential executive order and such order will be immediately cancelled and not enforced by any member of the government or military. A “month” is defined as within the calendar days of that month.

The only exception to this amendment is to allow a president to issue an additional five orders in a month if the Congress has declared a war on a recognized foreign country and the order addresses a specified need related to the declared war. A stop and desist order is considered “filed” when provided by personal service, courier, certified mail, or registered mail to the Office of the President of the United States, the Office of the Speaker of the House, and the Office of the Senate Majority Leader. I’m sure many of our citizens have idea for amendments. I would like to see leaders in both parties take up the mantel of updating our Constitution. If not, perhaps someday AI will do it for (or to) us.
– Dave Guile, Keizer

Note: Readers can send letters to the editor to [email protected].