MyndJack Radio Blog

"....the incumbent Barak Obama, and the as-of-yet-unnamed-but-apparently-Romney Republican challenger...."

Once again, I am trying to avoid wearing my tinfoil hat; however, it’s getting more and more difficult these days.

Our nation faces a lot of issues and a lot of promises are being and will be made during this election year.   Two presidential candidates, the incumbent Barak Obama, and the as-of-yet-unnamed-but-apparently-Romney Republican challenger, will flood the media with their campaigns to tell us how the path to utopia rests with their leadership, while the path to destruction is the sole outcome of voting for their opponent.

Those of us who are a bit more skeptical of what is spoon fed to us may find a pattern in many of the sudden crisis issues in the news today.  Health care is an issue and does need reform, but it doesn’t mean that the latest reform act itself is in our best interest.   That’s like saying water is good for you, so here have a cup of some deliciousness I scooped out of the Dismal Swamp.

There is one vital piece of information that seems to either be ignored or misunderstood about our government.  When the presidential candidates make their promises of cutting taxes, enacting reform, and bringing change, there is one fact that we should all remember:  The President does not make laws.

Remember in school when they taught us the three branches of government?  I wonder how many of us were truly paying attention because it seems like a lot of us forgot this.  Below is the definition of the actual powers of the Executive Branch of government, according to congressforkids.net:

Executive Branch: Headed by the president. The president carries out federal laws and recommends new ones, directs national defense and foreign policy, and performs ceremonial duties. Powers include directing government, commanding the Armed Forces, dealing with international powers, acting as chief law enforcement officer, and vetoing laws.

(http://www.congressforkids.net/Constitution_threebranches.htm)

The Executive Branch is the President.  Congress is the Legislative Branch, the one that makes laws.   The President can make recommendations and use his veto power to stop laws he does not agree with, but it is Congress that we should be more concerned about if we want change.  Perhaps it is easier for us to hold one person responsible for the fate of our nation rather than a larger group.

Still, presidential candidates make a lot of promises that they can’t possibly keep just to get elected.  I would rather hear from a candidate that they are going to hold Congress accountable for their screwing around, but since all they can do is suggest bills rather than make laws, how empty are these promises to begin with?   Shouldn’t we be more concerned with who we elect to Congress this year rather than President?

The laws that affect us all are not handled by the President but by our Congress.  Each state has two senators and a number of representatives depending on our state population.   Shouldn’t we be more concerned with the body of government that actually makes the laws and the decisions that directly affect our lives?

I am not saying that the Presidential election is unimportant; in fact, who we elect as our president represents us to the world.   Let’s just remember that if we really want change, let’s focus on the appropriate branch of our government.