Politesse
Lux Aeterna
- Joined
- Feb 27, 2018
- Messages
- 12,163
- Location
- Chochenyo Territory, US
- Gender
- nonbinary
- Basic Beliefs
- Jedi Wayseeker
Watching the coverage of the presidential race, I am struck by the extent of the powers that most of the candidates seem to be striving for. In theory, our Consitution suggests a system of divided powers, in which the three branches have separate responsibilities and also a certain amount and check-and-balance control over each other's excesses. This has been malfunctional for a long time, and the executive branch has been unofficially but really acquiring many of the powers of the Legislative and Judicial branches. This process has been steadily consistent under both Democratic and Republican presidencies. As I listen to the candidates talk, it seems to me that most of their talking points - overhauling immigration policy, changing fundamental elements of the economy, declaring or ending wars - are well outside the scope of the president's actual job, whereas many things that I deeply care about and which actually are the presidents job - setting the tone for the educational system, overseeing management of natural resources, enforcing existing treaty obligations, filling the thousands of job vacancies that Trump has allowed to lapse - don't get nearly as much press. The irony is that most of the candidates, given that they already sit on the Senate or House, technically have more power now to do half the shit they are promising to do as president, begging the question of why they don't want to just stay where they are if those things are truly their principal focus.
Has any of the existing candidates for the presidency actually based their candidacy on issues and policies that the president (according to the bounds of the Constitution, not "unofficial" influence) actually has the legal responsibility to do?
To give an example, Kamala Harris lists the following on her website as her first six priorities:
That whole list and only one of the things on it is within the constitutional bounds of the office. Are there any candidates who want to just be a president, and not a de facto monarch?
Has any of the existing candidates for the presidency actually based their candidacy on issues and policies that the president (according to the bounds of the Constitution, not "unofficial" influence) actually has the legal responsibility to do?
To give an example, Kamala Harris lists the following on her website as her first six priorities:
Ensuring Medicare for all (A president could work to execute a law that guaranteed this, but it is not their job to make such a law or even "get it passed")
Reversing a tax cut (Congress), raising the minimum wage (Congress), and holding corporations accountable for bad practices (Judicial).
Raising teacher's pay (not really Congress' job either, that's more of a district-by-district thing and ignoring this is ignoring unions; but definitely not the president's)
Passing the Green New Deal (Congress) and encouraging alternative energy (this I could see a role for the executive branch in doing).
Reforming the Criminal Justice System (Either Congress or the Judicial, depending on which specific item we're talking about)
Passing Reasonable Gun Safety Laws (Congress)
Reversing a tax cut (Congress), raising the minimum wage (Congress), and holding corporations accountable for bad practices (Judicial).
Raising teacher's pay (not really Congress' job either, that's more of a district-by-district thing and ignoring this is ignoring unions; but definitely not the president's)
Passing the Green New Deal (Congress) and encouraging alternative energy (this I could see a role for the executive branch in doing).
Reforming the Criminal Justice System (Either Congress or the Judicial, depending on which specific item we're talking about)
Passing Reasonable Gun Safety Laws (Congress)
That whole list and only one of the things on it is within the constitutional bounds of the office. Are there any candidates who want to just be a president, and not a de facto monarch?