The Constitution mandates an enumeration of the population of the United States every ten years. This count is used to layout the districts represented in the House. By placing the census under his control he could potentially fiddle with the numbers. Many will counter that he would never do that. I hope they’re right but our system of government is designed to assume the worst. We have checks and balances because power corrupts and the people need protection from those who would trample on the rights of their fellow citizens. The founders understood that Washington would be the best candidate for the first president. Washington himself understood that this office was most likely going to be offered to him and it was the only part of the Constitution that he took an active roll in crafting. Even with one as impeachable as Washington in office the framers of the Constitution chose to keep his power in check.

President Obama needs to understand that even the appearance of wrongdoing must be avoided. This action looks like an effort to circumvent electoral protections. We are a nation of partisans who stand for our rights and assume others want to take them. A couple of years ago I was speaking to a friend from New Zealand. He shared his surprise at American gun ownership and the way we vociferously defended it. I explained to him that though both our nations were of English origin, our founding experiences and the traits they bred within our peoples are different. They trust their government to do the right thing. Parliament is seen as the people’s voice and a bulwark against abuse by the sovereign. In our history, parliament was part of the problem and instigators or supporters of many abuses. We trust the government only within the bounds we have placed upon it. For this reason we insist on our right to bear arms in case it becomes necessary for the people to force the government back into ts prescribed limits. We are a revolutionary nation every watchful of those who could undermine the Constitution.

Mr. Obama, you are our legally elected president and as a result we must distrust you—it is part of who we are. It is your job to earn our trust. So far you have failed miserably. Grabbing the Census, forcing through a huge pet spending package under the guise of stimulus, appointing one who didn’t pay his own taxes to collect ours and picking an international spokesperson (Secretary of State Hillary) whose husband made millions from foreign nations causes us to doubt your character and intentions.