What is the role of the President?

One of the barriers to meaningful discussion during the Presidential election is that everyone has different ideas of what the President should be.  Should he be a military commander, moral example, skilled economist, expert negotiator, coalition builder, good father, good husband, good musician? 

Which skills and traits are really necessary for this job? 

Do you value things like personality, trustworthiness, stance on social/personal issues?  Are these things more or less important than knowledge of technical issues such as military strategy, economics, or world political history?  Why?

What kind of influence does the President really have on the economy?

The economy has been the major issue discussed in this election season.  I don't think there is a single person who doesn't think that our economy needs some improvement.  However, the public discussions so far seem to have focused on two things (1) who is to blame for where are now and (2) why the other candidate will result in a wholesale collapse of life as we know it.  This is not hyperbole.  Read the news, on both sides.

But what influence does the President really have on the economy?  Not just in what ways but exactly how much influence?  Throughout history the stance by both parties has been:

• if the economy is bad, it's due to issues beyond the control of the President or government 
• if the economy is good, it's because of their programs and policies which have had sweeping influence

Our critique of the candidate views on the economy should acknowledge what is actually within their power to change.  It just doesn't make sense to congratulate either party for saying that they will do things that legally they just can't and it also just doesn't make sense to hold a person or a party accountable for problems that they don't have the power to fix directly.

What really is the status of our "welfare state"?

Certainly in the last few days we've heard a lot about this.  But what really is our current welfare state?  How does it compare to our country's history?  How does it compare to other countries?

I think it's important in the American context to be specific on what we even mean my "welfare"...surely a person who takes advantage of deductions in the tax code to reduce their income tax responsibility is not on welfare - even though recent new headlines may make one to believe that. 

So before we make this our #1 concern, I ask you...what exactly would you consider being government supported?

What percentage of people actually rely on government programs or assistance for survival....to buy food, to pay rent, to get medical attention.  If you drive on a non-toll highway or buy corn from the grocery store, are you taking advantage of government support?   Where do we draw the line?  What level do you think is acceptable?

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Political systems that work require engagement

You are engaged in the election, or at least you consider yourself educated and want to keep up on the issues.

But you can't stand reading political posts on Facebook.  Everytime the person you barely knew in high school or your mother's cousin posts something that makes your blood boil, you hold your tongue.

Here is your freedom.

This space is for everything you WANTED to say...all those posts, links and rebuttals that you never put on Facebook.  Maybe it was out of respect for the other person, maybe it was not wanting to rock the boat, maybe you didn't know if you were up for the fight, maybe you thought it was futile.  It doesn't matter here....

Collect your thoughts and post them.

Engagement in the issues and political discourse on real issues is always a good thing.  Just keep it clean.

Alright...tell me what you are thinking!

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