Joe Biden worries that the “extreme” US supreme court, dominated by rightwing justices, cannot be relied upon to uphold the rule of law.

“I worry,” the president told ProPublica in interview published on Sunday. “Because I know that if the other team, the Maga Republicans, win, they don’t want to uphold the rule of law.”

“Maga” is shorthand for “Make America great again”, Donald Trump’s campaign slogan. Trump faces 91 criminal charges and assorted civil threats but nonetheless dominates Republican polling for the nomination to face Biden in a presidential rematch next year.

In four years in the White House, Trump nominated and saw installed three conservative justices, tilting the court 6-3 to the right. That court has delivered significant victories for conservatives, including the removal of the right to abortion and major rulings on gun control, affirmative action and other issues.

The new court term, which starts on Tuesday, could see further such rulings on matters including government environmental and financial regulation.

  • Cosmic Cleric@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    27
    ·
    1 year ago

    everything needs to be viewed through the lens of either “does this agree with an incredibly pedantic and stilted reading of this document” or “what would those historical dudes think about this”

    To be fair, they did expect us to modify the constitution from generation to generation.

    Ultimately the failure is ours.

    • JonEFive@midwest.social
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      8
      ·
      1 year ago

      It’s amazing to me the way we’ve elevated the constitution to near biblical proportions. And just like the Bible where every church and pastor interprets it in their own way, so too do our 9 oracles in black robes interpret the will of our village elders from ages past.

      • Cosmic Cleric@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        3
        ·
        1 year ago

        And just like the Bible where every church and pastor interprets it in their own way, so too do our 9 oracles in black robes interpret the will of our village elders from ages past.

        “So shall it be written, so shall it be done”, eh?

        There are parallels in your example because it all comes down to governance of people, but I truly don’t think that people look at the Constitution/Courts like they do at the Bible.

        • JonEFive@midwest.social
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          2
          ·
          1 year ago

          In terms of commandments and how one is expected to follow the rules, I would argue that some do. In terms of attaching spiritual beliefs to it, no, not so much.

          But yes, your point is true - it boils down to governance and how people want to be governed.