The sight and sound of fireworks lighting up the sky and new drone light shows reminded us of our freedoms. It is not linked to car ads, furniture, or mattress promotions, “The more you buy, the more you save,” that blast out July 4th sales. However, it is the Constitution that guarantees these freedoms to advertise them far and wide.
This patriotic holiday comes at a time in history when the Supreme Court is making some major decisions. Rulings are coming down of major importance on affirmative action, forgiveness of student loans, Indian issues, and freedom of speech and services rendered. The most recent court rulings passing on a 6-3 vote. The Supreme Court is the third house of government, the executive branch is first, then the legislative, and judicial branches follow. There is one more branch of unofficial government called the 4th estate that is the media. First, described as a watchful force on government in 1821, by Edmund Burke. The First Amendment continues to protect the 4th estate. Newspapers are the pillars of the 4th Estate. That’s one of the major reasons you should subscribe and read this newspaper. We are one of the last windows of transparency in local government and good government begins at home.
The Supreme Court (SCOTUS) is sometimes misunderstood, their job is to interpret and enforce the Constitution of The United States. We celebrate the document adoption on July 4, 1776; one hundred years before Colorado became a state and joined the Union.
About one year ago, SCOTUS reversed Roe vs. Wade, a controversial decision. The majority opinion ruled that it never should have been protected by the law in the first place. It isn’t mentioned in the Constitution, and therefore shouldn’t be protected or rejected by federal laws. The court simply tossed abortion back to the individual states and voters to decide what they wanted to do about abortion. Colorado is a leading state in pro-choice legislation.
Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch, a Colorado native, has voted numerous times in favor of Indian Rights, defending tribal sovereignty, and recently his latest vote protected the rights of Indian children to be placed with family members.
The latest freedom of speech issue goes back to the Colorado cake baking ruling that service people don’t have to do things against their religious beliefs. The latest case was similar with a graphic designer not wanting to do a gay wedding web page. SCOTUS overruled a Colorado court decision otherwise, deciding in her favor. The bottom line is that one can’t be forced to do, or say, something against one’s belief, or will. This is proclaimed a historic victory for freedom of speech by national jurists and First Amendment scholars.
Regarding student loans, that issue isn’t in the Constitution either, maybe under the “pursuit of happiness” clause, but otherwise President Biden attempt to write off 400 billion dollars of student debts failed. The court wisely ruled that the president didn’t have the authority to make that decision. Congress controls the purse strings. Former Speaker of The House Nancy Pelosi is on record supporting Congress having power of the purse. Her speech was used as evidence in the court case to defeat the President’s student loan proposal.
Not to be easily defeated, President Biden is turning to The U.S. Department of Education to seek some form of relief for the students to start paying back the debts in future months.
It would make sense to give students, who would volunteer to join the military, become nurses, pilots, or key vocational trades, that portions of their debts be applied to the training. It is my belief that students have been charged too high a rate of interest and the money has been doled out too liberally by lenders and higher education institutions who eagerly received most of the funds. Biden would do well to ask Congress to lower the interest rates.
Lastly, the court was color blind about affirmative action. They didn’t see white students, black students, or brown students. The majority vote of justices just saw students eager to learn and receive higher education regardless of race.
Women’s Title lV sports, and transgender participation, is still on tap. What will the Constitution have to say about that issue? Having three daughters, who all played sports, I object to birth males competing in women’s sports. Do a separate league for transgenders.
Being a judge and parent today is a tough job.