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>"and it just seems unlikely that he'll make good on everything he is promising." This is unfortunately a big failing of democracy and the political landscape, in my opinion. You have individuals that are voted into political positions under certain "promises", and then have access to a myriad of excuses that they claim prevented them from implementing said promises. Of course, I understand that sometimes there really are stumbling blocks and active measures preventing a plan from being implemented. But can we not draw a line somewhere? And hold political figures accountable for at least trying to implement their promises. Or at least require them to present sound reasons or studies for actually wanting to enact something as law. E.g. "Study on effects of UBI on the well-being of single-parent households" Additionally, I'm a tad confused about this concept of Democracy (warning, not really confused, just arguing): If the president is elected in a presidential election and represents the majority of the people, why then do we elect a separate set (branch, as they call it), of individuals at a more granular level that could very well "fight" the already-elected president? I'm referring to the congress/senators there. Could the entire problem not be solved by removing the entire "checks-and-balances" concept, and simply hold presidents accountable for their actions (or lack thereof when it comes to promises)? And by accountable, I mean real consequences: prison/large-fines. Following from that, we don't all believe that we could potentially get a "crazy" or "rogue" president that abuses his power after election? E.g. creating some sort of police-state, starting wars that the public doesn't want or rewriting constitutional-law? Such that we require some sort of "checks-and-balances" entity/branch to keep him/her from doing so. Anywho, just some random rants from someone that thinks too-logically about politics, because my ideology requires me to. |
You're confused. That's not a bug, it's a feature. The whole political philosophy of the US is that no one person gets power that somebody else can't block.
> Could the entire problem not be solved by removing the entire "checks-and-balances" concept, and simply hold presidents accountable for their actions (or lack thereof when it comes to promises)?
The thing you see as a problem could be solved that way, yes. But imagine that the next president is Trump rather than Sanders. Still think it's a good idea?
The public makes bad decisions at the ballot box sometimes. No matter which way you lean politically, you're sure to be able to find examples in the last 20 years. Having Congress able to block some of their most stupid ideas is genius, rather than a flaw.