But there is reason for mirth this Yuletide season. Whichever one of the latest lusters for power accedes to the throne, that throne will be just a wee bit smaller and tighter and tarnished. Anything that reduces the power of the presidency, anything that restrains the occupant of the office, whoever he is, is to be welcomed, even if with only a small sigh of mere temporary relief. The United States may or may not be the last best hope for mankind. History is long.
Civilizations come and go.
But right now, along with a handful of free democracies with viable institutions in Western Europe, its all we ve got. The Founders knew well the lust for power in the human heart and understood that government institutions needed to be held in strict control. We have allowed things to get way, way out of control. Maybe this deadlocked election, frustrating and exasperating as it seems at first glance, is a blessing in disguise.