5 ms·
Yes, I'm aware that politicians often speak "empty words". However, I would point out some politicians are indeed active and effective. President Obama has alre
by jeromec 16y ago
Yes, I'm aware that politicians often speak "empty words". However, I would point out some politicians are indeed active and effective. President Obama has already signed over 200 bills into law, including one so large and complicated it took over 50 years of unsuccessful attempts: healthcare. I was just wondering if President Medvedev is more of the "empty words" type of politician, or does he genuinely feel compelled to do his best to improve conditions? As much as he safely can, that is.
- snitko 16y agoWell, how am I supposed to know if he's genuine, I'm not his psychoanalyst. And I don't think it matters. I don't see how he can change anything - that's the problem.
- jeromec 16y agoI agree that progress, if any at all, would be slow. President Medvedev recently toured Silicon Valley, opened a Twitter account, and proclaimed Russia "open for business". Unfortunately, with articles like this I don't think he will get many takers. However, I do think such efforts can plant the seeds of improvement better than doing nothing at all. That's why I mentioned a long term view. This article looks at Russia now, today, and we see people even is this thread talk of leaving. But if there were at least honest attempts to change things for the better, maybe people wouldn't be in such a hurry to leave, hurting chances for progress before they even get started.
- varjag 16y agoNone of his personality traits matter until he fires his puppetmaster buddy Putin. And that just ain't gonna happen.
- temphn 16y agoObama is a government official increasing govt power. That's easy comparatively, govt has the guns and the pulpit. Going against the flow is hard.
- jeromec 16y agoObama is a government official increasing govt power. Government power in the U.S. is limited by the Separation of Powers as well as the Constitution. Edit: Someone downvoted me? Why not post an argument with your position?
- vorg 16y agoI'm always amazed how many U.S. Supreme Court decisions are passed by a 5-to-4 vote. Government power in the U.S. is limited by the beliefs of the 9 lifelong Supreme Court judges, interpreting written laws and precedents according to their own subjective belief systems.
- jeromec 16y agoYes, that is how it's set up and yet the Supreme Court does not make the laws or set policy. So the judicial branch of government is limited too -- just as it is meant to be -- by the Separation of Powers.
- fgf 16y agothere is no position to disagree with, just a well known fact posted as if it was in opposition to the quoted statement..
- jeromec 16y agoThat's just it. It is in opposition if it's a fact. The OP said President Obama is expanding government power. If it's a fact that government power is limited by the Constitution and Separation of Powers then no president can expand government power without circumventing these checks and balances. They may expand government influence but not government power. So for the OP to be correct I guess the claim is that President Obama is circumventing the Constitution, Congress and the Supreme Court? Edit: Actually, I take that back. Since the citizenry and Congress can neglect their oversight duty, presidents can in fact increase government power, as evidenced recently by George Bush Jr. However, in theory the mechanisms exist to place limits on what any single person/politician can do. Making a blanket statement that Obama is increasing government power without providing specific arguments how is not substantive. After all, the same could be said by picking any of the other 43 presidents at random.
- lsc 16y ago>President Obama has already signed over 200 bills into law, including one so large and complicated it took over 50 years of unsuccessful attempts: healthcare. I will believe it when I see it. Right now, the situation is that nobody will sell me health insurance /at any price/ and the things that are wrong with me are really pretty minor. The health plan says this won't be a problem in 2014. Then, the people this bill was really meant to help are screaming bloody murder because they are now going to have to pay for health insurance. the thing is, most people are just getting by. Sure the bill provides help for low-income folks, but people worry they might not meet the low-income cut off, what with the payments on the truck and the house. So yeah, I'll be /very/ surprised if this actually goes in to effect. My personal plan is to try to get a group plan for prgmr.com; I've gotta bring nick on full time anyhow, so I might as well.