Samson
Póg Mo Thóin
- Dec 3, 2009
- 27,332
- 4,237
IMHO the bigest problem with the US Government is the unnatural growth in size of The Executive Branch which now has WAY too much power.
This branch was never meant to be the gross bohemoth it grew into during the Civil War, and particularly WW II. From what I can see, before WWII, the Chief Executive was little more than a unfunded branch, whose President was conveniently dispised almost universally, and on very rare occasions, deeply loved, but almost never held accountable for anything except military adventures, most of which were done on very small scale.
As a result, the Legislative Branch doesn't take much responsibility for anything, and most Americans don't even know who their congressman and senator are. Most HoR and Senators have become low profile idiots (Boehner, Pelosi) who welcome the spotlight during an election, the dodge responsibility during their terms (e.g. Senators Obama, McCain). They make gawdawful Presidents.
Solution?
Not really sure that the sybiotic relationship between host (The Executive) and paracite (The Legislative branch) is possible to weaken. It would start with the American People recognising the problem: They don't, because, frankly, they LIKE the Semi-Monarcy of the President. For partisan morons who are used to being spoon fed by a media that makes their lives simple with only two colors (Red and Blue), a Dem president to blindly attack or defend is as attractive as a Repub president to blindly attack or defend.
But, let's suspend reality.
If voters would elect a President that would close down most of the Executive Branch's various Depts, Bureaus, Agencies, etc...to pre WWII levels....just say fuck it, I'm only going to do the job strictly spelled out as it has been written, which is very Fuzzily Written.
In Summary:
Executive Branch legal definition of Executive Branch. Executive Branch synonyms by the Free Online Law Dictionary.
We need to elect a President that uses "The lack of specific, detailed language in the Constitution describing the power and responsibilities of the executive branch" to WEAKEN the EXECUTIVE BRANCH.
This branch was never meant to be the gross bohemoth it grew into during the Civil War, and particularly WW II. From what I can see, before WWII, the Chief Executive was little more than a unfunded branch, whose President was conveniently dispised almost universally, and on very rare occasions, deeply loved, but almost never held accountable for anything except military adventures, most of which were done on very small scale.
As a result, the Legislative Branch doesn't take much responsibility for anything, and most Americans don't even know who their congressman and senator are. Most HoR and Senators have become low profile idiots (Boehner, Pelosi) who welcome the spotlight during an election, the dodge responsibility during their terms (e.g. Senators Obama, McCain). They make gawdawful Presidents.
Solution?
Not really sure that the sybiotic relationship between host (The Executive) and paracite (The Legislative branch) is possible to weaken. It would start with the American People recognising the problem: They don't, because, frankly, they LIKE the Semi-Monarcy of the President. For partisan morons who are used to being spoon fed by a media that makes their lives simple with only two colors (Red and Blue), a Dem president to blindly attack or defend is as attractive as a Repub president to blindly attack or defend.
But, let's suspend reality.
If voters would elect a President that would close down most of the Executive Branch's various Depts, Bureaus, Agencies, etc...to pre WWII levels....just say fuck it, I'm only going to do the job strictly spelled out as it has been written, which is very Fuzzily Written.
The lack of specific, detailed language in the Constitution describing the power and responsibilities of the executive branch has given presidents a great deal of flexibility to increase its size and scope over the years, in terms of both the range of its authority and the number of people, offices, and agencies employed to carry out its responsibilities. Today, the executive branch consists of well over 3 million people who work in one of three general areas: the Executive Office of the President (EOP); the cabinet and 15 executive departments; and an extensive collection of federal agencies and corporations responsible for specific areas of the government.
In Summary:
Executive Branch legal definition of Executive Branch. Executive Branch synonyms by the Free Online Law Dictionary.
We need to elect a President that uses "The lack of specific, detailed language in the Constitution describing the power and responsibilities of the executive branch" to WEAKEN the EXECUTIVE BRANCH.