A view on Government
Patrick commented on the lack of pro-Bush propaganda on my site, so I figured I should add some. We all spend ample time bashing everyone else, claiming we're taking the lesser of two evils when it comes to political figures. And I agree. . . . .sort of.
Before I get into it, though, I'd like to post a quick view on government, which will help our discourse on presidents. I view our government as such: The power rests with you and me. There. That's it. Plain and simple. If you and I and the rest of the people in this country decided we were fed up with our government, as it currently exists, we could overthrow it. The president has no power except the power we give him. Or, maybe another way. The power rests with whom can wield authority. If the American military decided to take over our nation and become a communist power, guess what? They could. Who's going to stop them? A law written on paper? Or better yet, if another group decides to invade us and take us over, what's going to stop them? A UN resolution? Please. . . .The only thing stopping them is another, more powerful group. We've forgotten that, in our culture, power is still defined by might. It has to be. Think on a local level. Without a police officer, what stops criminals from overrunning a store? A law on paper? no no. It's what the law on paper represents. And in the case of America, the laws on paper represent power that is in the background, but still there. It's a lot like our currency. That 5 dollar bill is only worth $5 because you and I say it is. It has no inherent value except that which it represents.
Likewise, our president holds no power except that which we give him. Or, rather, that which we give our military, who in turn, are led by him. (And the other people you and I elect to be in charge, but that's another story.)
Our president is a figurehead. He doesn't wield all kinds of unlimited authority, enabling him to do as he pleases without question. Sure he can set some policies and scribble his name on paper. But if we have a problem with a decision made in the annals of government, chances are the president is just the lightning rod. There are countless others, some of whom you and I get to elect, who are backing, or making, the decisions.
This isn't to say the American President is without power. He has authority and powers just like the other branches of our government, but he's still a figurehead. (figurehead, not puppet.) And it follows that the president can be overturned. Because the power doesn't rest solely on him, if he tries to stear the country too far off the tracks, he's ousted. He can be overruled by elected officials, or kicked out of office altogether.
Before I get into it, though, I'd like to post a quick view on government, which will help our discourse on presidents. I view our government as such: The power rests with you and me. There. That's it. Plain and simple. If you and I and the rest of the people in this country decided we were fed up with our government, as it currently exists, we could overthrow it. The president has no power except the power we give him. Or, maybe another way. The power rests with whom can wield authority. If the American military decided to take over our nation and become a communist power, guess what? They could. Who's going to stop them? A law written on paper? Or better yet, if another group decides to invade us and take us over, what's going to stop them? A UN resolution? Please. . . .The only thing stopping them is another, more powerful group. We've forgotten that, in our culture, power is still defined by might. It has to be. Think on a local level. Without a police officer, what stops criminals from overrunning a store? A law on paper? no no. It's what the law on paper represents. And in the case of America, the laws on paper represent power that is in the background, but still there. It's a lot like our currency. That 5 dollar bill is only worth $5 because you and I say it is. It has no inherent value except that which it represents.
Likewise, our president holds no power except that which we give him. Or, rather, that which we give our military, who in turn, are led by him. (And the other people you and I elect to be in charge, but that's another story.)
Our president is a figurehead. He doesn't wield all kinds of unlimited authority, enabling him to do as he pleases without question. Sure he can set some policies and scribble his name on paper. But if we have a problem with a decision made in the annals of government, chances are the president is just the lightning rod. There are countless others, some of whom you and I get to elect, who are backing, or making, the decisions.
This isn't to say the American President is without power. He has authority and powers just like the other branches of our government, but he's still a figurehead. (figurehead, not puppet.) And it follows that the president can be overturned. Because the power doesn't rest solely on him, if he tries to stear the country too far off the tracks, he's ousted. He can be overruled by elected officials, or kicked out of office altogether.
For more info, check out the following:
Checks and balances diagram
Checks and balances notes
Checks and balances diagram
Checks and balances notes
