There's value in checks and balances. And there's value in having

There are truths so ancient that even the stones of the earth seem to remember them — and among these is the truth that power must be balanced if it is to remain just. When Charlie Baker declared, “There’s value in checks and balances. And there’s value in having independence in the governor’s office with respect to the legislature,” he was not merely describing the machinery of government; he was invoking one of the oldest laws of civilization — that freedom cannot endure without restraint, and that authority must never stand unchallenged. His words remind us that independence within leadership is not a threat to unity, but the very thing that protects it.

To understand his meaning, we must look to the heart of the phrase checks and balances. It is a system born of wisdom older than democracy itself — a recognition that even the most righteous rulers, if left unchecked, may drift toward tyranny. In the founding of the United States, the architects of the Constitution enshrined this principle into the bones of the Republic. They knew that power is like a river: it can give life, but without channels to guide it, it will flood and destroy. Thus the legislature, the executive, and the judiciary were made to stand as three guardians in constant dialogue, each watching, limiting, and correcting the others — not to weaken government, but to keep it honest and humane.

Yet Baker speaks not of balance alone, but of independence — the soul of leadership that refuses to bow blindly to the will of the crowd. The governor’s office, as he envisions it, must not be an echo chamber for legislative power, but a counterweight. To have independence is to think not for favor or fear, but for the good of the people, even when that good runs against the tide of politics. In a time when compromise often bends into cowardice, Baker’s call for independence is a defense of integrity — the courage to act from conviction rather than convenience.

History is filled with examples of leaders who understood this sacred balance. Marcus Aurelius, the philosopher-emperor of Rome, governed with the Senate as his partner, not his servant. Though he wielded the ultimate power of the empire, he often chose restraint, writing that “he who rules best is he who rules least.” His wisdom was not in command alone, but in listening — in allowing others to weigh upon him, and in allowing his conscience to stand apart when their judgment faltered. It was this harmony between independence and accountability that made his reign one of peace amid centuries of chaos.

But contrast this with the fate of those who ignored balance. The kings of France, having cast aside the checks of counsel and the independence of conscience, grew bloated on absolute power. When the Revolution came, it did not ask for balance — it demanded blood. So too in all ages, when leaders forget to temper power with humility, or fail to respect the independence of other voices, the very structure of governance begins to crack. Thus Baker’s words serve as both guidance and warning: a system that silences dissent will one day silence itself.

His wisdom also speaks beyond politics, into the lives of all who hold responsibility. In families, in businesses, in friendships — there too must be checks and balances. To lead well is not to command without question, but to invite correction and value difference. To be independent is not to isolate oneself, but to stand firmly in one’s principles while respecting the truth in others. The wise leader does not fear opposition; he welcomes it, for he knows that only through tension is strength forged, as iron sharpens iron.

So, my child, remember this lesson: seek always balance in power and independence in spirit. If you rule, rule with humility; if you serve, serve with courage. Do not be swayed by the noise of many nor paralyzed by the fear of standing alone. The greatest harmony in any society — and in any soul — is born when independence walks hand in hand with accountability. For as Charlie Baker reminds us, the value of checks and balances lies not in restraint alone, but in the enduring wisdom that no one — not king, governor, nor common man — should ever hold the world’s reins without the guiding pull of another’s hand.