We're moving toward one-branch rule

The Constitution of the U.S. established three equal branches of government, the executive, legislative, and judicial.

There was a recognition by our Founding Fathers that this form of government required compromise to work. And it did work for 232 years until President Obama was elected. That was when the leaders of the Republican Party stated (Mitch McConnell) that the job of the Republicans was to ensure that Barack Obama was a one term president. They failed in this task, but they voted as a block against almost every bill introduced by the Democrats, even shutting down the government at one point.

With the election of Donald Trump there is no longer even the thought of compromise. Gone is the collegiality that until 2008 had existed in the Senate. Everything is considered a zero sum game. We win, they lose.

The Republicans, with few exceptions, are completely supporting Trump's executive actions and his choices for Cabinet positions, even though some of his actions are possibly illegal and certainly unwise, and some his Cabinet nominees are certainly unqualified.

Supporting Trump instead of questioning his decisions means that Republicans are placing party above what is best for country. If the Republican leadership continues to blindly support Trump, this removes the legislature as a check against the president, who is both irrational and irresponsible. The end result is that all powers will exist in only two branches of government - executive and judicial.

Should there be a second opening on the Supreme Court, Trump will nominate even a more Tea Party-approved judge, so the judicial branch of government will become just another tool of Trump. At that point only the executive branch will be ruling the country. Then the country will have what Trump has always wanted, a dictatorship.

It will be the end of our freedoms and the fate of the U.S. will be the same as that of the Roman Empire.

Robert Frankel

Schaumburg