Dear Editor,
This is regarding W. Wilson’s letter citing the MVP natural gas pipeline and the federal government abuse of power. One major factor that letter failed to cite is the palpable conflicts of interest in the regulatory structure, leave alone the judiciary. With the regulatory structure, much of the regulatory agencies’ budget comes from the corporate sector in terms of license and permit fees. Many regulators have close ties with the companies they regulate during their government career and after. The “revolving door”, inspired by the attorney-lobbyist regime,is the root source of corruption.
What creates the conditions for the foregoing? One indirect causal effect is the choosing of President and Vice-President. The US is one of the few nations which allows the head of its federal executive branch to be directly elected, for the most part, by its citizenry.
Is this really a good idea? While the US Constitution actually bans this with its 12th Amendment, this practice has happened nonetheless for many decades. This direct choosing of the head executives of the federal and even state governments needs to stop. These head executives do not make the law but rather administer the agencies which enforce the law. They have to maintain a certain amount of distance with the citizenry so that they can perform their duties with the required competence, expertise, and impartiality. They should be partially shielded from the “Winds Of Populism” and thus not be subject to direct popular vote. With the current system, only a major party establishment candidate or a billionaire such as Donald Trump can contest the Presidential elections. While the Founding Fathers did not want lawmakers to choose the President and Vice-President, they knew the average voter did not have the acumen to objectively choose the Commander-In-Chief Of The Armed Forces and the head executive of the federal government. America needs to rid itself of the present system of choosing the President and Vice-President. They need to have electors choose these officeholders instead as the US Constitution requires.
Very Truly Yours,
Harsha Sankar
Covington, Virginia 24426
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