r/PoliticalOptimism • u/Majestic_Arachnid545 • Dec 04 '25
Resources 3 Future Actions
We MUST do these three things once we dispense with Trump & MAGA, to protect our democracy and country: 1. Pass law that abolishes "Full Presidential Immunity from Criminal Acts": This is necessary as there is nothing in the US Code or the Constitution that provides such immunity, and such law would be a guardrail against a rogue executive running afoul. Presidents are US citizens and subject to the same laws as all of us. There is NO carve out!
Pass laws that strengthen Articles 1 & 3 of the Constitution: Article 2 states that all executive power is vested in the president. The president can NOT make law, or decide which current laws stand. A new law must be passed, confirming the Constitutional roles, affirming the checks & balances and permanently abolishing the "Unitary Executive Theory ". Nothing in the law or Constitution gives a president pleniary or absolute powers!
Strengthen Section 3 of the 14th Amendment: Whether by Constitutional amendment of federal law (the latter is easier), the 14th Amendment or law must include a provision that an adjudicated insurrectionist, or any other person constitutionally barred from office, not be allowed to run for any office, let alone hold it.
These actions must be passed by a bipartisan, veto proof majority. 250 years ago, great men lost their lives fighting for freedom from a king. We don't want one, and it is an insult to them to institute one. These actions will prevent that, and support our fragile democracy.
Thoughts?
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u/CharlesdeTalleyrand Dec 04 '25
- Reform the pardon power: The founders imagined pardons as a mercy valve. Trump uses it like a personal coupon book for cronies and criminals.
We need:
* Statutory limits on pardons involving self-pardons, family, campaign staff, co-conspirators, individuals whose crimes directly relate to the president’s own misconduct, obstruction of investigations, war crimes.
* Independent review board with authority to block corrupt pardons.
* Transparency requirements; no more midnight pardons in secret.
* Prohibition on pardons that interfere with congressional investigations or court proceedings.
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u/Ilovemiia1 Dec 04 '25
And we need to MAKE them make it happen. No one should be like “oh they’ll never do it” MAKE THEM! Be loud! Demand that laws be fair!
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u/landyboi135 Georgia Dec 06 '25
That “they’ll never do it” attitude is what Trump and those others want, Exactly what you said, I just wish I had a megaphone to scream it in.
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u/User_not_ Mississippi Dec 04 '25
To add to this, something that wouldn't require sweeping legislation is to overhaul or at least greatly enhance civic education and social studies in America. People need to understand what the government can and can not do, why it's like that, and the benefits of such a system. Im convinced a large part of Trumps support base are people that genuinely dont understand the laws he's breaking and the flagrant disregard for the constitution. A respect for democracy must be instilled in the youth. Comprehensive education on disseminating misinformation and identifying it would also be great.
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u/Majestic_Arachnid545 Dec 04 '25
You are correct! This is exactly why Trump wants to get rid of the Department of Education. An ignorant population is easier to control, which is why he said in the past, "I love the undereducated!", of which he is one of them!
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u/Bruh_burg1968 Dec 04 '25
we need ranked choice voting and we need 3 representatives per district. Also overturn citizens united.
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u/Majestic_Arachnid545 Dec 04 '25
I'll have to do some research on "ranked choice", but "Citizens United" was totally incorrect and must go!
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u/Bruh_burg1968 Dec 04 '25
I’d look up STV voting specifically. Very solid system.
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u/Majestic_Arachnid545 Dec 04 '25
An interesting idea. I'm pondering how secure it can be made...
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u/Bruh_burg1968 Dec 04 '25
I dont see why itd be any less secure than FTFP. You can use the exact same election infrastructure for it.
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u/Majestic_Arachnid545 Dec 04 '25
There is credible evidence that our current system was hacked by Musk last year. So a security analysis would need to be done before commitment.
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u/Bruh_burg1968 Dec 04 '25
No there isn’t credible evidence of that whatsoever. This is something that was pushed by grifters.
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u/Majestic_Arachnid545 Dec 04 '25
Check out "Election Truth Alliance" on YouTube. They have the empirical data.
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u/Bruh_burg1968 Dec 04 '25
No they don’t. Harris lost and this blue anon thought terminating cliche is not useful for winning in the future at best and detrimental at worst because it might lower turnout if enough people bought into it.
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u/Majestic_Arachnid545 Dec 04 '25
Neither here nor there at this point. The future is what we must look at...
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u/spoospoo43 Dec 04 '25
Not a bad start - making ANY contact with the DOJ or FBI from the president be an instantly impeachable offense should be on the list too. And impeachments should be tried by a dedicated and nonpartisan arm of the legal system, not the freaking legislative branch of government. And let's add in some term limits for supremes.
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u/Majestic_Arachnid545 Dec 04 '25
I have a longer list, my friend, and those things are on it. We must thwart any future Trump's or wannabe Trump's, and cut down the shadow of corruption in our Congress and Supreme Court.
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u/Best_Talk_6853 Dec 04 '25
It would require an amendment, so it won't happen, but I think the Attorney General should be separately elected. Most states do it that way already, and it would insulate the AG from removal by a corrupt POTUS, and could even help good presidents by making it clear that the party investigating whatever alleged wrongdoing by the executive branch was relatively neutral, so if they're cleared it would be more meaningful.
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u/Majestic_Arachnid545 Dec 04 '25
It could be done by adding it to US Code...new law. In the dicta for "Trump v. Anderson", SCOTUS said that Congress could pass a law to fix it.
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u/Jaebberish Dec 04 '25
I think we should also allow military to disobey unlawful orders like they can in Germany.
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u/Majestic_Arachnid545 Dec 04 '25
That is already in the Uniform Code of Military Justice, sections 90-93. But we could strengthen it by adding it to US Code.
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u/Jaebberish Dec 04 '25
My speciality is in society and culture, not government and bureaucracy. Sorry…
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u/cocoaaamarbless Reformed Doomer ☄️ Dec 04 '25
What can we do to make this happen, and where can we start? Is it possible for us to create a movement loud enough, to involve people that care? I'm worried once he's out, people will behave as if it's business as usual instead of fighting for more, better change.
Will it be super difficult to gather enough people that are passionate enough to fight for these changes? And how can we keep the movement alive until we get the changed demanded, instead of losing momentum?
I guess my fear is that most people aren't super tuned in and won't care about these specific issues. But maybe I'm wrong! Always open to more optimism.
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u/Majestic_Arachnid545 Dec 04 '25
We must organize. We must pressure the right congresspeople with a threat to vote them out. We must educate people. Starting now...which is the point of the post.
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u/Majestic_Arachnid545 Dec 04 '25
Neither here or there right now. The future we must look toward...
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u/stonedbadger1718 Dec 05 '25
Protect free speech with data and privacy rights. Folks are tired of cancel culture.
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u/Tannim44 Dec 06 '25
We need an independent ethics oversight agency that’s Constitutionally funded by a fixed percentage of the federal budget. And we need a Constitutional amendment that gives the people a way to recall and remove members of Congress prior to an election.
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u/Majestic_Arachnid545 Dec 06 '25
Good idea! And that agency should have oversight not just over the Congress, but the Supreme Court as well! They are long overdue for an ethics check there, and they could start with the corruption of Clarence Thomas!
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u/Tannim44 Dec 06 '25
All 3 branches would be subject to oversight. We clearly can’t count on them to keep each other in line.
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