Quote:
Originally posted by MiscX
and if you think one man can destroy this country, you're dead mistaken. That's why we have separation of powers, and checks and balances. unfortunately you all seem to be in the dark on how the us government operates. the president doesn't declare war, CONGRESS does. in america we don't have a unitary system like the U.K., for example. In America, we have federalism. We have a system where people are ELECTED to represent the people (who are king). Yes, our government is inefficient but it is IMPOSSIBLE for one man to destroy this country.
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Technically, Congress is the only branch that can declare war. But some time in the last century Congress passed some papers that allowed the Executive to take military action without the consent of Congress. However if the President wants Congress to be happy with him and therefore be more cooperative with him, then he had better not ignore Congress too often.
For example, Congress hasn't declared war with Afghanistan (I think), though I'm sure there's a majority consent (not that it matters). But what Bush is doing now
could cause many other countries to get pissed at us if he takes it too far. I'm pretty sure Congress would eventually stop him if Mr. Bush got a little too kill-KILL, but it could possibly be too late by that time.
So could one man destroy our country? Perhaps it's a bit unlikely; after all, most presidents probably don't want to have their career ruined and carry the whole animosity of the American people or any other number of things (assasination?) if they did such a thing. But I bet it could happen. Commander-in-chief with the power to send military action without anyone else's agreement is an easily abused position for someone who doesn't mind the consequences.
But again, (probably) very unlikely.
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