Voting & Vetting

It's been a busy time at the White House during the first month of the new president's administration.

There have been 11 Executive Orders signed.

The current administration occupying the White House seems to believe they are following up on campaign promises that represent the majority will of citizens living in the US. But taking a quick look at the election results proves this is not the case.

According to The United States Election Project, only 59% of those eligible to vote did so. That means 41% of those eligible didn't. Unbelievably, that's about average for a national election.

The Pew Research Center reported that among those who did vote only 8% of Blacks and 28% of Latinos voted for the current president. Understandably, many people of color feel let down and left out.

According to New York Magazine, the Democratic nominee actually won the general election by 2.8 million votes, or 2.1% of the total. This is the second largest margin (by percentage) by which a candidate lost the Electoral College vote but won the popular vote since 1824.

Considering all of the above, it would seem like the current party that controls the White House and Congress would be less inclined to act as if they somehow have a mandate. Instead, the current president continues to insistent that he lost millions of votes due to widespread voter fraud. Including an allegation that Massachusetts voters were bused to New Hampshire to vote illegally. None of these claims have been proven to be true.

The current administration's lack of popular support among US citizens is especially important when considering a few of the executive orders signed by the president within his first month of office. This lack of support goes far beyond politics.

One executive order elevated Stephen Bannon (his chief strategist) to the National Security Council (NSC). The same order lessened the power of the Director of National Intelligence and the Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (the highest ranking military officer in the US). Now the Chair of the JCOS and the Director of National Intelligence will attend meetings of the NSC only "where issues pertaining to their responsibilities and expertise care to be discussed."

Former White House aides who know the importance of separating politics from national security decisions have said that this action on the part of the present administration is ill-advised and unprecedented.

The president also signed an executive order authorizing the US to build a "contiguous, physical wall, or other similarly secure physical structure"  across the Mexican border. The estimates of building the wall run from a minimum of $12 billion to $24 billion.

Another executive order pledges to hire an additional 10,000 immigration officers. If an immigration officer earns $20,000 a year, that would translate into an expenditure of $200,000,000 annually.

Given the Republican party's historic focus on fiscal responsibility (especially when it comes to a reluctance to fund programs targeted to serve the poor) it's curious to me why they would back executive orders that will substantially raise the national deficit. How is this being fiscally responsible? (Giving in to fear and prejudice can be extremely expensive.) Not to mention that the Pew Research Center and others have factually proven that for the past few years, the number of Mexicans leaving the US has been greater than those coming in. Meaning, in practical terms, there simply isn't a need for a wall. 

The president insists the wall will do wonders for our national security, meanwhile he has succeeded only in alienating President Enrique Pena Nieto of Mexico.

Perhaps the most controversial of the executive orders has been the one instituting a travel ban on Muslims from seven targeted countries, as well as all Syrian refugees.

The day the president signed this particular executive order, there were protests across the US and around the world.

The president has also cited the need for "extreme vetting." The current vetting process involves 20 steps, beginning with the United Nations, and includes clearance from the US State Department, FBI, Homeland Security and US Immigration. What would "extreme" vetting accomplish, except making it more tedious and expensive to implement? What practical, factual cause is there for hiring 10,000 additional immigration agents?

BBC World News has done an outstanding job of detailing the executive orders.

If you're wondering why there have been more protests than normal surrounding this new administration in Washington, maybe it's good to remember that the president isn't exactly popular, and despite his belief, he did not come into power upon a tidal wave of support.

In fact, the support for the current president is actually quite low.  Forbes reported a late January Gallup poll in which recipients gave him a 45% approval rating.The most recent Gallup poll puts the president's approval rating at 38%  The lowest approval rating for an in-coming president in the history of Gallup (since 1953). To put this in perspective President Obama came into office with a 68% approval rating. George W. Bush had a 58% approval rating.

And this displeasure has been filtering down to members of Congress at local town hall meetings.

Those familiar with the Bible and what it has to say about treating the poor know the gold standard for a religious life, which is to "do justice, love mercy and walk humbly before your God." (Check out Micah in the Old Testament and Jesus in the New for additional details.)

So, taken from a moral or religious view, the current administration's actions to date, have much to be desired.

It's no wonder then, that there has been such an outpouring of protest - the Women's March in January and the aforementioned demonstrations at airports included.

What else can a person do to keep the present administration accountable?

. call your elected state and national representatives and tell them, respectfully, what you think
. after you get off the phone, track how they voted
. which is part of keeping tabs on your state capital and federal government
. stay informed - but steer clear of radio talk shows, cable news, alt-news websites and any other source that is extreme in its views; read a national newspaper on a regular basis; understand the difference between opinion and fact (we need to be able to separate fact from political opinion)
. continue to stay engaged - but not enraged (the Bible also tells us to take a break, in fact, one of the Ten Commandments specifically mentions setting aside a day a week to rest and give thanks).

Photo Credit: Jeannette Rankin Peace Center