Your Vote Will Have Impact Here And Abroad

While the experts are saying the youth vote - 18 to 35-year-olds - will be more important than ever in this election, recent history still indicates that the decision will rest with the 55 and older crowd.
But no matter your age, when you vote your choice for the president of the United States today, you can thank an "older American" that our Constitution provides for a separate and strong executive branch.
It was John Adams, as he expressed in his "Thoughts on Government" and further in the Constitution of Massachusetts, who insisted on checks and balances provided by a two-section legislative body, a separate executive and an independent judicial branch for the government of the new nation at the Constitutional Convention of 1787. He was 52 years old at a time when the average life expectancy in this country was 40.
Those ideas had been endorsed by a couple of other important "mature adults" - Dr. Benjamin Rush, 42, and Thomas Jefferson, 44 - in the months before the meeting. There they had the backing of a really old geezer - Ben Franklin, who was 81 at the time - as well as younger members such as James Madison, a mere 38 by then.
As David McCullough described in his biography of Adams, the Massachusetts farmer had come to the conclusion that a nation of equals - however desirable - is an impossibility because among individuals there always will be differences in "natural and acquired qualities, in virtues, talents and riches."
Because of "the natural aristocracy among mankind" made up of those with the ability to acquire wealth, make use of political power and contribute to society, those individuals should be limited to positions in the Senate, Adams held, where they are expressly separated from any executive power.
McCullough noted that Adams' experience in town meetings led him to conclude that "the whole people were incapable of deciding much of anything." But he and Jefferson agreed that "the many should have full, fair and perfect representation [in the House]," he out of fear of the aristocracy and Jefferson out of fear of a monarchy growing out of a strong presidency.
Adams was disappointed that the executive branch was not stronger in the final draft of the Constitution and he lamented, with Jefferson, the lack of a Bill of Rights which, of course, was added later. But, even as adopted, the Constitution gave broad powers - even legislative and judicial powers - to the office of the president, which have been expanded by such occupants of the office as Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln and both Theodore Roosevelt and Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The area of powers include:
Economics - As head of the executive department, he or she is, in effect, the largest single employer in the country.
Military - He is commander in chief.
Foreign policy - he directs its political, diplomatic, financial and commercial aspects.
Judicial - Subject to confirmation by the Senate, he names federal judges and there are boards in various executive departments that adjudicate various issues.
Administrative - With approval of the Senate, he appoints and supervises members of the cabinet and heads of independent federal agencies.
Legislative - He not only proposes many laws but he issues executive orders that have the force of law and authorizes administrative agencies to "promulgate rules in conformity with law."
Over the years there have been a few changes in how presidents are nominated and elected, when they take office, how long they can hold office and who succeeds the president should he be unable to serve. Candidates for president and vice president now are nominated as a team by political parties and then selected by the Electoral College whose members are elected by the voters. The president serves four years but can be re-elected for one more term. Should he be unable to serve, he is succeeded by the vice president, then, in order, the Speaker of the House, the president pro tempore of the Senate, secretary of state and then the other members of the cabinet.
So your vote, no matter your age, will have a broad impact here and abroad. Do it.

Adon Taft may be reached by letter addressed to Life to the Fullest at Hernando Today, 15299 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville, Fla. 34613, or by e-mailing adontaft@yahoo.com. Please include your name and address.