For the People
With the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s passing there was a seat on the Supreme Court left to be filled. As most know, filling the Supreme Court seat is left to the sitting President and is a lifetime appointment. However, in February 2016, when we lost the late Antonin Scalia, the Republicans Senate Judiciary committee refused to hold hearings for Justice Merrick Garland. The Judiciary committee claimed that the nomination would be “null and void” since it was an election year. New precedent is always set. One can be upset however, it makes sense, why should a president, especially one who is a lame duck and has no chance of being elected make a decision to last years, decades even, without giving the voice of the people. However, that precedent should continue to be upheld.
Here we are in 2020, another election year. I understand that there is a possibility that President Trump can get re-elected; however, there is also a possibility he does not. Why can we uphold the standard four years ago but not presently? This was one of the fastest Justice hearings ever held. I will not celebrate the fact of how brilliant Amy Coney Barret was because she did not have any notes. A subject that has now become a bipartisan issue, (let us face it no one will compare to RBG), or how awful she was from avoiding questions. Considering the fact, in most hearings, the nominee avoids questions from the opposing side. Although I personally am more than unsatisfied with the Justice chosen, there is a lot of discussion of packing the courts in debates today. Personally, I see this as unconstitutional and almost a defense of a sore loser. FDR attempted to do this when he needed a more liberal leaning Supreme Court as well and it was ruled unconstitutional. If the Supreme Court were expanded, then it would almost have to trickle down to all other appellate benches as well.
The largest issue is not just the discussion of court packing; nor the republicans ignoring precedent and confirming a Justice quicker than paint dries. The issue is that instead of providing actual necessities for its citizens, that have been on the house floor time and time again, which can never end in any agreement, they were able to take more rights away in less than four weeks. The country still has no healthcare reform, no police reform that has been highlighted in the black lives matter movement, and better yet still have not decided to give us a COVID-19 relief package over months of deliberation. Children will continue to be in cages along with DACA suffering, women will no longer have the choice over their own bodies, nor will the LGBTQ+ community continue to make the small strides they have been able to. The Senate met on a Saturday, something that is a rarity, to confirm the Justice but the House cannot decide on relief for the constituents that they supposedly care so much about to leave dying every day. The truth of the matter is, our governmental institution cannot provide basic necessities like healthcare, police reform, immigration reform, and a federal minimum wage to name a few minor items. Yet, they can pass a Justice with minor experience as a Judge in less than a month after her nomination. A Supreme Court Justice that wants to overturn Roe v. Wade, and the ACA among other key issues. Instead of wanting to provide welfare for the people of the United States, Congress has so quickly taken them away. I do understand, with such a divided Senate, and when the President is unwilling to work with the House Speaker, it is nearly impossible to do anything. But please, go vote if you have not already. Next election, try to encourage people to run for congress with new views and convince people to retire. If I am living in a country where Kamala Harris is the most liberal Senator, it is just not going to cut it for me.
