Far back in the annals of time, when I was a freshman in high school, we had a required class called Civics - the study of US government. In that class, we were taught that the federal government was comprised of three branches: the Legislative Branch, which enacted the laws; the Executive Branch, which enforced the laws; and the Legal Branch, which interpreted the laws.

In which one of those branches does a government agency fall? Apparently the Legislative Branch.

I am referring to the CDC.

Where in the Constitution is the power to regulate privately owned property bestowed upon an agency created as part of the vast federal bureaucracy? Is the CDC part of the House so it can pass laws? Is it also part of the Senate so it can approve or reject laws?

Once again, apparently so.

President Biden, the leader of the Executive Branch, acknowledged he lacks the Constitutional authority to mandate that private property owners would be subject to prosecution if they evicted tenants for non-payment of rent. The President lacks the authority but the CDC has such powers?

Again, evidently so.

Obviously I'm well aware that this isn't a new action, but rather the extension of a moratorium the CDC previously saw fit to mandate. The fact that the original wasn't struck down we can lay at the feet of Justice Kavanaugh and his spineless evasion by letting the order expire rather than ruling correctly in the middle of it. The same Justice Kavanaugh who's confirmation would lead to a right-wing dictatorship. Remember him?

If what we want is to prevent evictions during a pandemic for humanitarian reasons, then there is a right way to do it. It's not by Executive Order, as Biden correctly stated. Nor is it by any agency regardless of whatever they do. Rather it's by the do-nothing weasels in Congress actually DOING THEIR JOB and enacting legislation that not only protects those who can't pay their rent due to the pandemic, but also compensates the landlords who rely on that income.

But then they would have to cooperate. Then one side couldn't accuse the other of hating the poor and the other side couldn't reply that the others hate middle class business and homeowners. Think of all the political hay that would be lost.

Instead, let's just tear up the Constitution. Nobody cares, amirite?