The Purpose of our Union will be Determined by the Outcome of the Impeachment of Donald J. Trump
A nation’s identity is defined by its organization and by its constituent components, as a whole. In other words, it is not simply a collection of human beings nor simply divisions on a map. One cannot separate one of its constituent parts from another without the structure being compromised. Just like a tree is not just a collection of roots, branches, and leaves. If one cuts that tree down and harvests the wood to make a table, it then ceases to be a tree. A nation’s organization is codified, its structure defined, in its constitution. Therefore, its constitution is the physical embodiment of that nation. Thus, if the constitution, the laws of the land, cease to be enforced, then the nation itself will also cease to exist.
Aristotle, the most famous political scientists from antiquity, makes the argument that humans are political creatures by nature. That is, we naturally form groups and partnerships, with an expressed mutually beneficial purpose. He goes further and posits the premise that all such associations of men exist for the purpose of some common good. The purpose of a union of men and women is thus to enable its citizens to live virtuous fruitful and fulfilling lives by providing its populace the means and the tools with which to do so. Therefore, a nation must provide security of its citizens so that they might live in peace, roads, bridges, and a regulatory environment within which an economy can thrive, education which will enable a prosperous life, and healthcare so that they may live a life free from disease.
Aristotle wasn’t so naive to assume that all nations will in practice provide these benefits, or even ascribe to do so, or even that any nation would in practice achieve all of these lofty goals. However, he opines that all nations should strive to achieve those goals, regardless of their underlying political organization, and that the closer a nation is to achieving these goals, the better off it will be. That is, beyond providing basic security and stability for its inhabitants, a good nation, and thereby a good constitution, is one that is directed towards improving and maintaining a good life for its citizens. It is is an inclusive partnership agreement that aspires to allow all of its citizens to achieve the prosperous and fulfilling life. It is also one to which the parties to this partnership, the citizenry, are more likely to adhere to in the long run.
Aristotle categorized the basic forms of government according to the number of people who hold power and to the goals to which their constitution aspires. For instance, a single person ruling for the common interest is a monarchy. However, one man ruling in his own interest is a tyranny. In our system of government, a representative democracy, representatives are selected by a democratic majority, and then they run the government by proxy. If our representatives then run the government and rule for the common interest, then it would be good and it would fit with the ideals that our founders ascribed to our republic in the U.S. Constitution. If however, they run the government in their own interests then we will be living in a nefarious oligarchy.
The adherence to law also played an important part in Aristotle’s political views, for he felt that there was a distinct difference between constitutions which bound the popular assembly to a rule of law and to others in which decisions depended purely on the decisions of the ruling body. He held a great disdain for extreme democracies, lawless monarchies, and lawless oligarchies in which the ruling bodies had the power to do whatever it liked. Again, he wasn’t an idealist, and knew that laws themselves might be biased, but Aristotle believed that a ruling body which has to conform to law would be then less likely to exercise its power arbitrarily or maliciously.
Aristotle knew that there would be political disagreements. As we see in modern times, and in the time of Aristotle, political disagreement often are disputes over values. Different values lead to different views, and sometime people find it hard to comprehend the position of the otherside. Aristotle believed that we should seek to solve these disputes by asking ourselves, “What does the nation stand for? What is the purpose of our union?” The answer to that question can often lead individuals with differing views to find a compromise, for the common good of the country.
Which brings us to the second impeachment of Donald J Trump. Our constitution clearly aspires to “form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity”. These words which introduced the world to the United States of America could have been ripped from the pages of Aristotle’s manuscripts. Members of the house today, and soon, members of the Senate will be voting on whether or not to impeach our President for Sedition. To those who wavering as to whether to vote with party, and not for the common good; remember the tree.
