We might

  I was writing about the IRS and their ruling on tax exempt status for the church should they endorse/campaign for a political candidate. They said they wouldn't revoke that tax exempt status. A district court Judge in Texas has yet to make a ruling on that. Other than being surprised to find out that the church wasn't allowed to do that one other thing surprised me as well. The IRS publicly stated they wouldn't be enforcing that rule anyway, what the Judge says doesn't matter to them. Yes, that's the official press from the IRS, we understand that is the rule but we won't enforce that rule. It leaves me a bit baffled. 

  It reminds me of the marijuana laws. Under the federal statute it is a felony to use, posses or distribute that plant, in any form. Yet, many states have decided to just ignore that. They are passing legislation left and right about it being just fine, as long as the proper taxes are collected. I guess I just don't understand the supremacy clause of the constitution. Article VI, clause 2 seems clear enough to me, it says federal law is the law of the land and takes precedence over state law. So, okay a state can make a law, but the federal government can just ignore that law if they want? That would seem to be the case if the Feds aren't arresting anyone for violating that law and states are establishing "dispensaries" to sell that plant. 

 I have remarked on several occasions about law enforcement agencies refusing to work with each other and in some cases actively working against each other. That's another one of those legal things I guess I just don't understand as well. I've always felt that all those agencies had the same objective, the enforcement of the law. It isn't their job to decide if they like that law or not, there job is to enforce it.       Lady Justice is wearing a blindfold. The reason is obvious enough, the law is to be equally applied. It doesn't mean she can turn a blind eye to laws she doesn't agree with. The law is the law. Currently we have a known illegal alien being held in a prison awaiting a trial on human smuggling and a few other charges. The judge hasn't ruled on whether he can be released while waiting for that trial. But the deal is this, ICE has stated if he is released, he will be deported. The legal team for the guy in jail now doesn't want him released to avoid that happening. They are using the prison system as a sanctuary. Now, how crazy is that?

 On the national level it is well known that the Democrats in particular have been judge shopping for quite a while now. It's all a part of their efforts to somehow, in some fashion get Donald Trump. If they can't impeach him they can block his executive powers. The supreme court has had to step in and give their opinion on all of that. So now we have one branch of government ruling on what another branch is doing because of the machinations of the representatives. Those you elected are now attempting to use the system to further their agenda, not yours. They are deciding what the executive branch can and can not do regardless of what the constitution says about that. But I get that, it's all about the lawyers. The law applies to thee, not to me. 

  The balance of power is certainly shifting these days, those scales aren't really balanced at all. The seat of that power, the people, are being pushed aside in favor of political power and position. Yes, they still need the votes, any way they can get them apparently, but they don't have to actually do the will of the people. Those elected representatives now feel they were elected to tell you what you want! With enough lobbying or social media postings and tweets, those representatives are representing that. They are representing the money! It's not a new thing. I have long thought, why don't those candidates ever ask, what do you want? Listen to them, all they ever do is tell you what they are going to do. They aren't asking, they are telling. 

 They are hoping you will agree and vote for them. Also the reason they are always telling you, I hear you, you are oppressed, downtrodden and I'm here to help. They are using the psychological trick of saying, I can, while never saying I will. As a former Navy recruiter I said, in the Navy you can, fill in the blank with whatever you want to do, fly a jet, command a battleship whatever. 90% of the people I was talking to heard, they were going to do whatever it was. They never heard the, if you qualify, part of that statement. Voters don't hear what those candidates are really saying either. All they hear is, I will be getting my way if I vote for you. Yeah right, until I get elected that is and then it reverts to, if you qualify. 

  I have thought about moving to another state perhaps. Not because I don't like Maryland but I like a change in scenery. I suppose that comes from my nomadic existence during my Navy days. I have done some research, we all do research these days don't we, what was once called asking questions. Anyway, I have researched the costs of living in various places in the country. I've looked at the weather patterns and the incidence of storms and such. I'm old enough that the availability of doctors and hospitals is a growing concern. I've got my guy, and I really don't want to find another. 

 But now I'm thinking I need to do a little more research. I need to look at what laws are being enforced where. I wonder if there is an app for that? I heard about an app to notify illegal aliens when ICE agents are coming. What's next? An app to notify you when the sheriff is coming to issue your subpoena? What can I do where? A sort of social measurement of liberal tolerance or conservative hard liners. There's no doubt what is considered perfectly fine, normal even, on a public street in LA is far different than what it would be in Wooster, Arkansas. Seems like a good idea if we are just going to say, we get to choose whether or not to enforce the law. No need to strike it down, erase from the books or anything like that, just ignore it. Turn a blind eye to that, just collect the taxes and fees. It's all good. It's the law and we might, or might not enforce that, it all depends.