John Locke in his Second Treatise of Civil Government wrote: “The Legislative cannot transfer the Power of Making Laws to any other hands. For ti being but a delegated Power from the People, they, who have it, cannot pass it over to others..” Yet today, Congress routinely passes laws giving wide discretionary powers to numerous Federal agencies with little or no oversight. As a result, the Federal Courts often end up providing oversight of the agencies as law suits are filed by those negatively impacted by the rules and enforcement of same rules by quasi-independent agencies.

This excellent review of Judicial Fortitude: The Last Chance to Rule in the Administrative State by Peter J. Wallison should make you wonder why Congress has given up it’s power to unnamed bureaucrats. Is it because actually doing their job might be a bit too difficult? Are they that lazy? And, why do we as a people in our Republic allow it to continue? https://claremontreviewofbooks.com/full-court-press/

Although Valentin Berezhkov was not Stalin’s primary interpreter, he did attend many important meetings with Stalin during the Second World War, including Yalta and in Moscow.  With a natural flair for languages, Berezhkov found that he was chosen for important work by Molotov and was suddenly thrust into the middle of history making events.  His memoirs are interesting as they reflect the mind set of suspicion, fear and ambition at the very highest levels of Soviet government. The leaders of the State were constantly looking over their shoulders and testing the ground beneath their feet as their leader, Stalin, the consummate politician watched them for any inking of disloyalty or lack of duty.