…but our President has already ‘appointed’ over two dozen. Since Czars are not approved by or answer to Congress–nor to you or me–it’d be a good thing to find out who they are right? (In the President’s defense, some of these people were appointed prior to January 2009. The principle remains the same, however.)
Afghanistan Czar – Richard Holbrooke
AIDS Czar – Jeffrey Crowley
Auto Recovery Czar – Ed Montgomery
Border Czar – Alan Bersin
California Water Czar – David J. Hayes
Car Czar – Ron Bloom
Central Region Czar – Dennis Ross
Climate Czar – Todd Stern
Domestic Violence Czar – Lynn Rosenthal
Drug Czar – Gil Kerlikowske
Economic Czar – Paul Volcker
Energy and Environment Czar – Carol Browner
Government Performance Czar – Jeffrey Zients
Great Lakes Czar – Cameron Davis
Guantanamo Closure Czar – Daniel Fried
Health Czar – Nancy-Ann DeParle
Information Czar – Vivek Kundra
Intelligence Czar – Dennis Blair
Mideast Peace Czar – George Mitchell
Pay Czar – Kenneth R. Feinberg
Stimulus Accountability Czar – Earl Devaney
Sudan Czar – J. Scott Gration
TARP Czar – Herb Allison
Technology Czar – Aneesh Chopra
Terrorism Czar – John Brennan
Urban Affairs Czar – Adolfo Carrion Jr.
Weapons Czar – Ashton Carter
WMD Policy Czar – Gary Samore
Sorry there’s so many; I know it’s gonna take serious focus time. But…I’m sure you agree that one can’t defend someone unless we’re informed about them, right? (Here is a well-researched list done by some “terrible right winger.”)
Oh!! I almost forgot Van Jones, the “green jobs” czar. He’s a fascinating character–no one needs to falsely accuse him of being a communist. He makes that claim all on his own. (He was radicalized in jail? How often does someone go from jail to high positions in government? Maybe Charles Manson could be ‘The Family Czar’; after all he has experience with the family.)
In his book, The $$$$Green Collar Economy, Jones bemoans that oil, natural gas, and coal are allegedly “fast-diminishing nonrenewable resources,” despite the fact that, for example, we have enough domestic natural gas resources–including new discoveries–to last for several decades; plenty of time to come up with real stewardship-worthy solutions. As supplies disappear (read: as Leftists hamstring US domestic energy development and drilling), the price of energy climbs and nearly everything becomes more expensive. With costs and unemployment soaring (and continues down a dark path thanks to wasteful Spendulus bills and punitive tax policies), the economy stalls. Not only that, when we burn these fuels, the greenhouse gases they create overheat the atmosphere (and if you don’t accept that you will be prosecuted and re-educated). As the political Power-hungry and green profiteers like Gore cry out–climate chaos looms over us, the sky is falling, the sky is falling, we need cap and tax now. The bottom line is that Gore’s ilk and their allies in the MSM who would like to see a world communist government (ruled by an elite politburo including, of course, Gore, Obama, Soros, and the czars, who know better how to handle the world’s resources than the common folk) and want to continue to dupe the dupes in America into believing: we cannot drill and burn our way out of these dual dilemmas. Oil and gas are bad. Health-care is broken. Everyone must turn in their SUV’s and take mass transit. We must “fix” the health-care system. Crisis and alarm. Blah blah blah.
***Update: Sept. 22. Within the last week or two, Mr. Jones resigned due to pressure over his radical views.
My friends, the Founding Fathers set up a framework for a healthy paranoia regarding government. They knew first hand about oppressive governments. Their goal was to find a balance between self rule of the people (what is desired) and government rule (basically there to keep us from killing each other or being killed by some foreign nemesis). Government is necessary–but it is best when kept small and completely accountable to the people who, state by state, self rule.
The people we elect swear to uphold and protect our Constitution. We, who elect them, must do our part to be sure they do just that. It doesn’t matter who is in office; balance of power is essential to our survival as a Republic.
That brings me back to the Czars. As you know, there are 3 branches designed to keep a balance of power. My position is that these Czars can and do affect the balance of power. Czars essentially bypass accountability to the other 2 branches. 1 or 2 Czars (though I don’t think there should be any at all) may not make a huge difference in radically changing our republic (without the consent of congress and the people) but what happens when there are 32? 40? 50? These Czars have the power to design and set policy with NO accountability to Congress or you and I. As a result, the balance of power is shifted to the Executive branch. It is no longer “equal”.
If you and I could be absolutely certain that this shift of power would never corrupt–or ever go contrary to what our Republic is all about–then we would not have to worry. But unfortunately, that is not what human nature is like. There is no such thing as “perfect” power. Power corrupts. The Czar apparatus does not operate within the framework of the Constitution because the Executive branch, per our Constitution, is required to vet and confirm nominees through the House and Senate. This way, we KNOW who they are and what they believe. Knowledge is power. It’s the only real power you and I have. When we are informed, we can make smart decisions about our futures.
Czars are given billions of our dollars and power to make policy (and now trillion is the new billion, right?). It is imperative that not just ONE person decides who they are. That’s what dictators do, and we don’t want that (unless, of course, someone wants that!).
These 30-odd Czars do not answer to Congress. They do not answer to us. They are not “elected”, let alone vetted or confirmed. No matter what party affiliation we are, this is not healthy for the Republic.
These powerful people with power to shape this country are put in place in a back-door sort of way. I don’t think you and I should ever want Czars–isn’t Congress bad enough? The potential damage should concern us enough to at least want to KNOW who these Czars are. At this point, if we don’t look out for ourselves we are in the dark. There is NO President or Congressperson I blindly trust. I don’t care what party they are in.
Who knows, maybe they are the most wonderful men and women that ever graced the face of the earth–but I am not willing to assume that. We should be on each others side; we should be watching each others backs. If we find there was no reason to fear–great! But, there is nothing wrong with our need to know who these people are just in case there is reason for concern, even fear. Our leadership should be vetted and elected. Reagan, Bush, Obama… NONE should have placed or place appointments that do not answer to the other branches of power–and the people.
What a fascinating foray into “soft tyranny.” This is precisely where the “Representatives” turn into “Rulers” if We the People do not inform, instruct, (and then monitor) them of their limits.
(Too bad. Here in Minnesota, I do not feel very represented…seriously, Klobachar and Franken?)
**Note: I do not believe the Republicans are going to fix America, either. In fact, they, for the most part, don’t possess the intellectual firepower to enunciate the true problems we face any more than the Power-grabbers on the Left. Most of the Republicans in Washington, too, are content with their cushy job with the best benefits, their Brooks Brothers suits, and the escort of people that meet their every whim. God save us all.
“When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.”–Thomas Jefferson
