The Constitution and the Rule of Whim

In early December, Donald Trump wrote that the alleged stolen election of 2020 “allows for the termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution.” Trump clearly recognizes that the Constitution is an obstacle to what he wants: the rule of whim. The rule of whim is precisely what the Constitution sought to prevent.

Ayn Rand wrote that a “A ‘whim’ is a desire experienced by a person who does not know and does not care to discover its cause.” Trump wants his desires to supersede any other consideration, including the Constitution and the rule of law.

Of course, Trump isn’t alone in in seeking to impose his whims on the American people. Democrats claim a desire to help the poor, and they force taxpayers to foot the bill. Republicans express a desire to defend free speech, and in response they seek to censor social media companies. Tenants across the nation desire lower rents, and so, they clamor to impose rent control on landlords. In each of these examples, and countless others, someone’s desires supersede all other considerations, including the interests, desires, and rights of other individuals.

The fact that all of these policies are destructive isn’t considered. They satisfy the desires of the moment, and the long-term consequences are conveniently evaded.

In drafting the Constitution, the Founding Fathers were thinking long-term. They established the principles by which a proper government should act, not just in the late eighteen century, but for all time. The principles of proper government are timeless.

It is worth remembering that the Founding Fathers sought independence from Great Britain because King George III was imposing his whims upon the American colonies. The Founders declared that all individuals have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. They asserted that each individual has a right to live without being subjected to the whims of government. The Constitution codified that principle into law.

That most politicians today support the rule of whim, whether implicitly or explicitly, illustrates just how far we have deviated from the Founders’ vision.