Balance of power must be restored

The Constitution of the United States of America envisions three co-equal branches of government - executive, judicial and legislative. Wary of kings and monarchs, dictators and tyrants, the framers wanted a robust system of checks-and-balances to rein in abuses of power by any one branch. This wise system is broken on the state level and in Washington, D.C.

We have one party rule run rampant and our way of life is being threatened. In addition to the need for balance of power between the branches of government, I believe we need to even out partisan representation in the legislature and in the judicial system.This to reassert the classic checks-and-balances function the Constitution envisages. Iowa used to have such divided government and it served us well. What some may have called 'gridlock” may have been a safe-guard against tyranny.

When you vote in 2018 and 2020, I would encourage you to keep at least one eye on a balance-of-power approach. Let's alternate the political party of the president and governor, re-balance the legislature, and thereby influence judicial appointments so that the courts, both statewide and nationally, make decisions based on the law, not on political pressure or ideology. This will require a united effort by Democrats. We would benefit too from Republicans and Independents being willing to cast votes for Democrats this time around. Let's bring parity back into government and see how things go. We can recalibrate in future election cycles if we don't like the way things turn out.

Christopher Epting

Iowa City