Americans (USA) do you ever feel like having a president is pointless?

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   peeplesposted 11 years ago

   Americans (USA) do you ever feel like having a president is pointless?
   
   Since really they are unable to do anythng and depend on other parts of government to make decisions, do you feel we are wasting time and money having a president? Even if you always vote do you feel it is becoming pointless?

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   Matthew Kirkposted 11 years ago

   I heard on a radio 4 (UK) documentary that they have pretty much no power apart from foreign policy and that their real use is as a figure head / promotional tool for the country and the economy. Not that I understand American politics personally.

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      Matthew Kirkposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      ... I would also think that he might have done it to save your country from embarrassment as the only 1st world nation who lets their citizens die because they are poor, you have to take that into account too.

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      SassySue1963posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      The Health Care Law does not provide medical care nor insurance. It just mandates that you purchase insurance. We already have Medicaid for the poor.

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      Matthew Kirkposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      So you still let them die? Are there subsidies for people who can't afford is that your problem?

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      peeplesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      We not only have medicaid but we have hospitals who are required to treat you no matter your ability to pay. No excuses for people dying because they don't have healthcare.

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      SassySue1963posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Did you not listen? Where do you get this idea we let the poor die? We already had Medicaid and hospitals MUST treat anyone who needs it.

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      Matthew Kirkposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Sure, treat everyone, thats why we get horror stories of people having to raise tens of thousands of dollars to pay for operations. I saw it on a mainstream US TV program, a fairly middle class family unable to get a major operation for $20,000...

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      SassySue1963posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      You mean like the horror stories we hear of people who have private insurance over there getting preferential treatment? And those using NHS having to wait for life saving operations?

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      Matthew Kirkposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Waiting times are now almost non-existent in the NHS. It is a VERY popular and very successful national health service that nearly every British Citizen is proud of and thankful for whatever other shortcomings may be (waiting times not one of them)

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      SassySue1963posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Well, I don't live there but I heard from another Brit that is not the case. However, it was only brought up to show you can't believe everything you see and hear.

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       Matthew Kirkposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Maybe you shouldn't believe everything you hear with your statistics as you don't seem to be replying to my points but rather making your own questions instead (which I am answering). Waiting times were an issue a few years ago, so you heard right...

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       SassySue1963posted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Actually Matthew, Rasmussen was voted by all sides of the media as the most reliable around. So they are spot on. Not everyone agrees with you on NHS apparently:
       http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article … -year.html

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   SassySue1963posted 11 years ago

   It is called "checks and balances" and was intentionally set up that way. A REAL leader is able to work within the confines of the system (see Reagan and Clinton). They do not attack the other side but work with them. Yes, compromises have to be made to get things done, but, in most cases, compromise means the people win. It prevents a President from declaring himself a Supreme leader but it also prevents a President from ignoring the voice of the people, the ones he is supposed to represent.
   
   Now, sometimes it happens, that a President will get a majority in Congress of his own Party. It then becomes apparent rather quickly if you have a President that understands his responsibility to the People, or one who is only concerned with his own agenda. (see Health Care Law). This is what makes it crucial that some Congressional seats are up for grabs each mid-term. It prevents a power grab.

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      Matthew Kirkposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Just to clarify where would you put healthcare law? Own agenda or responsibility to the people?
      
      I prefer first past the post, doesn't work everywhere but provides a strong government/leader for a fixed term - regulated by the HoL.

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      SassySue1963posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Own agenda as at the time of passage, 80% of the people did not want it. Even now, 60% of the people want it repealed. The majority of the Dems in Congress who voted to pass it, lost their jobs at mid-term.

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      Matthew Kirkposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Got to be careful where you get your figures from, 10 seconds of google gives me a 43% approval rating. This is from a national news article from 2 days ago....

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      SassySue1963posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Perhaps you should be careful:
      
      http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_ … h_care_law
      55% in favor of repealing. I believe I said 60%...5% off. Nice trying to twist stats though.

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      Matthew Kirkposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      "80% don't want it" you ALSO said "60% want it REPEALED" - Do critical thinking course to improve your ability to reason. Easy to quote wobbly right wing articles...
      
      http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-574 … -care-law/

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      SassySue1963posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      @Matthew Try reading comprehension classes. I said, 80% did not want it WHEN IT WAS PASSED and 60% want it repealed now that is Law. The trend is also moving toward more wanting it repealed. Rasmussen is not right nor left. Most reliable polls around

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4. 88

   MizBejabbersposted 11 years ago

   I agree that the president is part of the checks and balances system, but he is also the chief executive officer of the country. While there are people who won't like that term, the president does serve like a CEO. People who don't like that have the chance every four years to fire the president.

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5. 61

   hollyteeposted 11 years ago

   I think sadly the declining interest in our elections is what makes it feel pointless. I honestly don't know much about politics, but listening to my friends discussions, no one really cares anymore. I guess we forget that this country was founded for the people, and I think the fact that we just don't care anymore is why things are becoming what they are. If that makes sense...

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   ParagonHRSposted 11 years ago

   Unfortunately as with our UK Government politics is becoming less and less about the best interests of the country.  The horrid reality is that with the American election campaign costs estimated at 9 billion this needs funding and that comes primarily from those who are rich and have vested interests (they don't make money by just giving it away, there will always be a reason for their donation).  As an example over here in the UK it is not uncommon to hear things like the Conservatives are received donations from private health organisations and thats why they are bringing in GP commissioning.
   
   So to answer your question, personally I think politics is dying and we can all read the news about Dmitry Medvedev being Putin's puppet and chuckle but the reality is that America's and the UK's leaders are puppets of people a lot worse.

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