President Biden has made a vow that many of us will seek to ensure he keeps it.
He pledges to use all the executive authority contained in his high office to wage war against climate change, which he labels — quite correctly — as an “existential threat” to the nation’s security.
Biden cannot depend on Congress to enact legislation. Sen. Joe Manchin, the West Virginia Democrat who seems to take pleasure in torpedoing Biden’s agenda, signaled yet again he won’t back any legislative answers to climate change.
That means, according to Biden, that he will use the power of his office to take whatever measures he can legally take.
Let’s understand that only one person is elected on a national scale: the president of the United States. The Constitution does distribute power to the legislative and judicial branches of government. Individual senators, House members or judges, though, do not have the authority bestowed on the individual who is elected by the entire nation.
Thus, President Biden is spot on in his effort to deploy the power of his office to do what Congress is unable — and unwilling — to do.
That is to declare war on climate change. Many of us are keeping our eyes open to ensure he follows through.