Today, a man who is loved/hated by millions will replace a man who is loved/hated by millions as President of The United States. There is little doubt that the American President is the most powerful man in the world, but it behooves us to remember that his is not the power of a king.

The war of Independence, which ended two hundred thirty-three years ago, sought to undo the unaccountable power the Crown held over the colonies. The Constitution that was ratified two hundred twenty-eight years ago was, at its core, a document limiting the power of government over its citizens, and in particular ensuring that no one man could have the power of a king.

The power of the Presidency, for better or for worse, has been growing ever since then, both in parallel with the growth of government overall and in excess of the growth of power of the other branches of government. While it was envisioned that those other branches: the Congress and the Supreme Court, would be co-equal to the Presidency, it is an unfortunate reality that recent Presidents have expanded the magnitude and scope of the office’s power. Signing statements and executive orders are increasingly standing in for Congressionally-originated legislation, and Congress itself has been steadily ceding broad power to the various agencies that are overseen by the executive branch (atop which sits the President himself).

Nevertheless, it remains that, despite all this accretion of power, the President is far from omnipotent. His power is still held in check by the Constitution and the other two branches of government. More practically, his power is limited by the sheer size and scope of government itself. A new President might install several thousand people of his choosing into the various executive roles he oversees, but those few thousand stack up against 22 million people employed by the government. The sheer size of government creates its own inertia and substantially limits what even the most aggressively change-oriented President can accomplish.

Whether your expectations of President Trump are filled with euphoria or terror, it would be good to remember all this. Harken back to the inauguration of President Obama, an event that, similarly, invoked either euphoria or terror in many. Some shared the near-messianic vision Obama shared in his nomination victory speech, while others predicted the destruction of the nation and the installation of a new emperor. Here we are today, a nation still beset with problems, yet about to engage in another orderly handoff of power.

So, take a breath. If your hopes for Trump are pie-in-the-sky, temper them with a dose of reality. If your fears of Trump are jackboots and gulags, temper them with a dose of reality. Trump is not being crowned, he is limited in his power to do either good or harm. Exhibitions of extreme adulation or extreme terror serve only to marginalize you and detach you from the realities discussed herein.

There’s plenty of time ahead to judge Trump. If an action produces a good result, be honest and praise it. If an action produces a bad result, be honest and criticize it. And, above all, temper your expectations. Our system of checks and balances, even degraded as it has been by the expansion of executive power by our last two presidents, stands in the way of massive change and reckless predation. The Republic has survived 44 presidents, it will survive its 45th.

• About the Author

About Peter Venetoklis

I am twice-retired, a former rocket engineer and a former small business owner. At the very least, it makes for interesting party conversation. I'm also a life-long libertarian, I engage in an expanse of entertainments, and I squabble for sport.

Nowadays, I spend a good bit of my time arguing politics and editing this website.

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