Its getting increasingly difficult to believe the U.S. Supreme Court can be an arbiter of justice.
As illustrated with the recent appointment of Brett Kavanaugh, justices today are selected, more and more, because of their political leanings.
Todays court is balanced by having four liberals and five conservatives, all appointed by their respective presidents of either the Democrat or Republican party.
Kavanaugh was elected by the slimmest of margins two votes.
It wasnt always this way. Justices Earl Warren, Harry Blackmun, William Brennan and Anthony Kennedy all progressives were appointed by Republican presidents.
But todays politics are more black-and-white. Issues such as abortion and gay rights which, though valid, affect only a sliver of Americans have been allowed to divide us as a nation.
The most recent wedge is the supposed oppression of men by females who have come forward about being sexually abused.
Celebrities and big shots being brought down is all of a sudden being extrapolated to include all males.
Its a scary time for men, President Donald Trump is warning audiences in his effort to undermine the legitimacy of the #MeToo movement and those who have been sexually abused or assaulted.
No, Mr. Trump, its a dangerous time for women when their president wont acknowledge that they are the most frequent targets of sexual assault.
For him to twist the narrative so that men are now the victims is nothing short of a scary genius and its alarming that many are jumping on this ideological bandwagon.
THE DAMAGE that ensues from this polarization seeps into our everyday lives, including those who serve in our courts.
If justices think in such stark terms, their ability to reach consensus by compromise is thwarted. Instead, decisions are increasingly made by a tally of votes.
To remedy this inferior model, some have suggested instituting terms for a justice as opposed to a lifetime appointment. Stagger the terms, and a typical president could have the privilege of appointing two or more justices during his or her tenure. Make the term nine years, and wed get a new justice every year.
The change would also bring a new vitality to the high court. Todays justices have averaged 25 years of service.
