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Here's a civics class flashback: The people elect members of Congress to pass bills and decide how our hard-earned money can best be spent.
Congress determines the needs of the country, then debates how much to spend and where. In public hearings, the budget and related issues inform constituents, allowing them to weigh in with their opinions. All of this takes collaboration and compromise before a final decision is made.
What has changed?
Now the Supreme Court allows the executive branch to override -- at will -- congressional decisions about pre-allocated money.
Legislative wheeling and dealings are not new. But currently more of it happens behind closed doors, late at night, and under more presidential pressure.
Why does Congress not object to the weakening of their authority? Do they need reminding that it is we, the constituents, who lend them our power to represent us?
Their loss of power means that our people power is being left out of the equation. They have defaulted on their loan and our recourse is at the ballot box.
Three co-equal branches of government were built into our constitution to ensure that no branch carries more power.
How we conduct elections, and our system of checks and balances have not worked perfectly over the last 250 years, but it has prevailed.
Perhaps a serious overhaul of this democracy is overdue, not just the usual "tweaking" of laws. Now there is even more imbalance, and the people are at the losing end.
Are we ready to stand up for change?
Denice Rodaniche
Altoona