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POWER: A history lesson

| July 7, 2021 1:00 AM

I was excited to see coverage in Thursday’s Press of Rep. Amador’s town hall. However, one part struck me. Amador was quoted as saying: “There were never created three equal branches of government. I don’t know where that comes from, and that’s not how I remember history. I think there is always going to be a constant struggle between the three branches of government because all of them want to be the most powerful. Because, why wouldn’t you? I think it’s a perfectly accurate analysis to say that there was a power struggle to have the legislative branch have more authority.”

In response, I would point Rep. Amador to Federalist 51. Often regarded as the most contemporary insight into the creation of the Constitution, The Federalist Papers clearly outline the necessity for checks and balances among three separate but equal branches of government — specifically because the Founders recognized, as Amador did, the constant struggle for power.

James Madison wrote, “It may be a reflection on human nature that such devices should be necessary to control the abuses of government. But what is government itself but the greatest of all reflections on human nature?”

From his quote, Amador seems to understand human nature. What Amador (and arguably the entire Idaho Legislature) could brush up on is how the Founders were great students of human nature and put in the Constitution checks and balances to guard against its abuse. After all, “if men were angels, no government would be necessary.”

SARAH GLENN

Coeur d’Alene