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Supreme Court’s decision erodes separation of powers

by Joel Matteson - 07/13/15 5:10 PM ET

The Supreme Court’s deeply divided 5-4 ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges marks a watershed moment in U.S. history. Not only does it establish a new federal right to same-sex marriage, it establishes precedent for creating future laws by similar unconstitutional means of unelected judicial decree.

There, a small cadre of five lawyers, the Supreme Court justices, joined ranks and declared on behalf of — or in spite of — a similarly divided nation that a federal right to same-sex marriage now exists. They did so by inferring an implied right in the 14th Amendment that must, they say, involve the “fundamental right” to redefine marriage for all Americans.

{mosads}In so deciding these rights themselves, this small handful of elite lawyers abruptly ended the ongoing political debate for all of us, for all time — a debate that had until then been working itself out through the democratic process established by the Constitution.

The creation of the right to a same-sex marriage by the judicial branch instead of the legislative branch not only violates the constitutional doctrine of separation of powers, it sets a dangerous precedent for further breaches of constitutional procedure and democratic process. We are not just participants in our great democracy, we are its custodians for future generations. We are obliged to preserve the Constitution and our democratic institutions for future generations.

While some may celebrate this milestone victory for the LGBT community, we should all mourn and protect against the erosion of the democratic process and separation of powers that the Obergefell decision represents.

From Joel Matteson, San Diego

Trump is wrong: Immigrants come to U.S. to build better life

Congratulations to NBC for taking a stand against the mean and untrue words of Donald Trump. NBC has decided not to air the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants, which were before projects of NBC and Trump. Of the tens of thousands of Latinos I’ve worked with in my over 50 years of being a translator and health educator, all came with one goal: work hard and build a better life for their families, as immigrants have done since the U.S. began.

Trump also said that terrorists are entering through the southern U.S. border. No, they have money. They don’t crawl through a desert in the frightening dark. They come with tourist visas, or like those of 9/11 with student visas, and enter standing upright through airports. If Trump is really serious about wanting to be president, he should learn much more about the country and its people and not just open his mouth and spew vile, untrue venom.

So pay no attention to the lies of a man named Trump. Go with the facts. A vote for immigration reform will give hard-working parents a chance to go to work without fear of being stopped and deported for not having a driver’s license they cannot obtain or car insurance, the latter which, of course, helps all of us on the road. Once at work, with nine good Social Security numbers, they’ll pay trillions of dollars in pay-roll deductions, which helps all of us, especially seniors. These are young, hardworking families who are glad to contribute to the U.S.

Maybe with NBC throwing some cold water on Trump’s lies, some people will see the new immigrants as they really are and ask for reform.

From Fran B. Reed, Hilton Head, S.C.

Tags Donald Trump