“The Founding Fathers, knowing Democracy was not perfect, added Article V to the Constitution so that the people could move it towards a more perfect Union.” John Johnson II 04/23/25.
By John Johnson II
The Founding Fathers feared the potential rise of a President with ambitions of ruling as a King. They also feared that uneducated people/voters could make poor choices. However, they did not contemplate that the Supreme Court (SCOTUS) would not foresee the dangers of granting presidents “absolute immunity.” Unfortunately, (SCOTUS’) six conservative Justices became pawns and deliberately turned Democracy into a chess game.
Chess is far more challenging than a game of checkers. It requires a higher level of cognitive thinking. A Chess game’s objective is to capture the opposing player’s King. Once a player’s King faces capture, the conquering player yells, “Checkmate.”
Regrettably, the fear of a weakening Democracy treated as a game of Chess is as haunting today as it was during Watergate. Now, polarization between political parties could ignite a solemn Chess game. Elected Officials, instead of moving legislation forward, as in a game of Chess, to benefit their constituents, tend to focus on the wishes of billionaire donors of dark money.
Nevertheless, viewing billionaires as villains is not the answer. They are also integral players in Democracy’s game of Chess. They use their vast wealth to collect relics, souvenirs, memorabilia, and even elected Officials as human pawns. In a game of Chess, the pawns’ job is to protect the King.
President Trump’s DOGE’s objectives include scanning the federal government like a chess board before making strategic moves. These moves targeted dismantling the government, cutting Social Security, Medicare/Medicaid, deporting millions of undocumented immigrants, and extending tax cuts to billionaires.
MAGA voters acting as pawns appear convinced these cuts are necessary to achieve positive results regardless of their temporary pains. If their pains reach an unbearable level, will they remain pawns or cry aloud, “checkmate”?
As the opposing player in a virtual reality chess game, Senator Schumer wants to use the courts to Check President Trump’s executive orders and DOGE’s objectives. This strategic move, as in the game of Chess, could either prevent the President from making these moves or force him to adhere to the U.S. Constitution and respect rulings issued by (SCOTUS).
Let us be clear: In a game of Chess, if President Trump indiscriminately and intentionally violated the rules, he would automatically face elimination from the game unless the judges lack integrity or are pawns. A functioning Democracy depends upon Officials having integrity and a commitment to the “Rule of Law.”
Fortunately, what is currently happening to Democracy is not a game of Chess. Yet, Republican Congresspersons, MAGA supporters/militia, and billionaires should not behave as pawns. Billionaires who acquired their vast fortunes from consumers, not from a game of Chess, should not turn their backs on the very people/consumers who have made them wealthy.
Why do Republican Congresspersons and billionaires stand idle or in support as Democracy mimics a game of Chess? Where are the billionaires such as Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey, Warren Buffett, Reid Hooman, and Michael Bloomberg? The stakes are just too dangerously high to remain silent.
The stock markets are falling, tariffs have become an albatross, and threats of a recession are on the horizon. America’s Democracy, which is not a game of Chess, is facing a perilous fate at the hands of its own government. Consequently, the fate of our Democracy is in your hands. Your decisions and actions will determine its future!
YOU BE THE JUDGE!
