Wed Feb 26 14:39:47 UTC 2025: ## US Constitution’s Failure to Protect Against Authoritarianism: A Deep-Rooted Crisis
**Washington D.C.** – A recent analysis argues that the belief in the US Constitution as a bulwark against despotism is a long-held illusion, highlighting the deep-seated flaws within the system that have allowed for unchecked executive power and the erosion of democratic norms. The article points to the Trump administration as a stark example of this failure, citing the president’s acts of retribution against opponents, hostility towards dissent, and disregard for democratic principles.
The piece contends that the US Constitution, far from being a charter of universal rights, was originally designed to preserve the power of a white, male, property-owning elite. This inherent bias, the author argues, is reflected in the absence of constitutional guarantees for economic and social rights, leaving citizens vulnerable to governmental overreach.
The analysis further underscores the excessive power vested in the US presidency, contrasting it with the limitations placed on executives in other democracies. The president’s unilateral control over areas such as federal prosecutions, immigration, and military deployments, along with the virtually unchecked nature of emergency powers, is highlighted as a major concern. The article cites the dismissal of the *Defense for Children International-Palestine v. Biden* case as an example of the judiciary’s deference to executive power, even in cases involving alleged human rights violations. The unchecked nature of the presidential pardon power is also criticized.
The Supreme Court’s role in historically upholding inequality and privilege, from *Plessy v. Ferguson* to more recent decisions, is examined. While acknowledging the Warren Court era’s expansion of civil liberties, the article points to a resurgence of conservative influence leading to the dismantling of many of those gains. The *Citizens United v. FEC* decision, legalizing the influx of corporate money into politics, and *Trump v. United States*, granting presidents broad immunity from prosecution, are cited as particularly damaging rulings.
The author concludes that the current crisis is not an anomaly but a direct consequence of the Constitution’s inherent flaws and the enduring influence of elite interests. The fear gripping many Americans is deemed justified, reflecting a system that prioritizes power and global dominance over justice and the well-being of its citizens. The article calls for a critical reassessment of the US Constitution’s adequacy in addressing the challenges of the modern world, suggesting that fundamental reform is necessary to prevent future abuses of power.
First Piper 