GREEN: Best man for sheriff

Back in the days of Andy Griffith and Mayberry, the town consisted of a mayor and a clerk and a sheriff, Raleigh and Washington. seemed far away. Children studied the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Common sense was common because there were few laws. There were inequities and discrimination because men are not angels, but it was easy to weigh right and wrong without pulling out law journals.

Fast forward 50 years. The community now consists of hundreds of employees who must attempt to improve life by regulating more and more of it. Boise and Washington now impact us daily with 50 years of regulations. While the entire U.S. Constitution is 5,000 words, the tax code is 70,000 pages. Nobody knows what is in it. Children do not study the Constitution. Men are still not angels.

Today, we need men and women, educated in the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. Leaders who will educate their subordinates to ensure that other government employees do not exceed their authority in carrying out policy. A sheriff who understands the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution and understands that when laws that are made, but don’t support the Bill of Rights, they are unconstitutional. Those laws cannot be enforced if one values the Oath taken to the Constitution. Men like John Green clearly see that distinction and will ensure his subordinates follow their Oath. Men are not angels and the Constitution is there for our protection. John Green will not roll over or back down.

JOHN MACKEY

Hayden