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Is the role of the president really that disproportionate compared to other countries? The USA, for example? Recent presidencies, with their loads of executive

by remram 5y ago

Is the role of the president really that disproportionate compared to other countries? The USA, for example? Recent presidencies, with their loads of executive orders etc really make me feel differently.

dragonwriter 5y ago
> Is the role of the president really that disproportionate compared to other countries? Yes. > The USA, for example? The US has, among modern democracies, pretty much the strongest Presidential system. So, no, not compared to the US, in the same way that <extremely hot city> is probably not hot compared to Death Valley.
mytailorisrich 5y ago
The President has a lot of power but it's not a problem and it works. What should be mentioned, especially to foreign readers, is that this topic is part of the left-right divide in France. It was De Gaulle (an army General) who came up with the current system while the preceding system, favoured by the left, was parliamentary. The left favours a parliamentary system that they claim is "more democratic" while depicting the current one as "elective monarchy" that perpetuates the "myth of the strong leader" (Napoleon, De Gaulle). Supporters of the current system point out that it does have balances and limits and that it brought stability (the preceding parliamentary system used to be very unstable, a bit like in Italy nowadays).
- southerntofu 5y ago
  > The President has a lot of power but it's not a problem and it works. By what metrics does it work? I could point half a dozen metrics by which it does not work. > it does have balances and limits In theory yes. In practice, though? All former presidents have been involved in illegal activities ranging from severe corruption to murder and crimes against humanity. Can you name one who had to stand trial?
fredestine 5y ago
nope. European Union ( Germany which translate to USA) dictate France what to do using European laws. National politics and President Power in Europe all lean toward the same thing, new social measures that affect only a fraction of the population (same-sex marriage, positive discrimination). On the social side this is nice and good for those people. On the nation scale it doesn't change anything about average income, industries going abroad while pushing to welcome more immigrants that become jobless due to the loss of our industries, the 1% getting more and more of the cake.
- southerntofu 5y ago
  > European Union dictate France what to do using European laws. That's a common misrepresentation that the government is very happy for us to believe: - when the government isn't happy with european law, they just ignore it; see also data retention laws and anti-Rroma laws in France which are famously illegal by european standards - who controls the EU? the french government is one of the key players (along with Germany) controlling the european commission; french interests dictate what becomes european law > average income Minimum wage and taxes on fortune are determined by France, not by the EU. > industries going abroad This is determined by private industry, not by EU. However, the french government has powers to nationalize those industries, or requisition them, or help the workers self-organize the production (eg. by fundraising to keep activities going). They are just ideologically opposed to that (because they're capitalists), despite all their broken promises for the workers. 1336 and LIP are famous French examples of what workers self-organization can achieve when the government doesn't get in the way. > pushing to welcome more immigrants This is controlled by France, not EU, and France is definitely not welcoming immigrants. France has closed its borders (for people, not merchandise) many times since 2015 in contradiction to the Schengen treaty. There are many people dying on the French border, and the government couldn't care less (see also Aquarius scandal). France has also been condemned by the european court of human rights for deporting people before they can apply for asylum at the italian border (which is illegal in international treaties). French police is hunting for undocumented folks; you can see them in the metro in bigger cities controlling anyone who isn't white so they can deport as many people as possible. > become jobless due to the loss of our industries We become jobless not through lack of industry, but because the work and resources aren't shared. We live in one of the richest nations on Earth, and we could all work 5-15h weeks and enjoy modern comfort. But people in power like it that over 10% of the population lives under the poverty line. Once again, this is due to the french oligarchy, not the EU.

by remram 5y ago

dragonwriter 5y ago

> Is the role of the president really that disproportionate compared to other countries? Yes. > The USA, for example? The US has, among modern democracies, pretty much the strongest Presidential system. So, no, not compared to the US, in the same way that <extremely hot city> is probably not hot compared to Death Valley.

mytailorisrich 5y ago

The President has a lot of power but it's not a problem and it works. What should be mentioned, especially to foreign readers, is that this topic is part of the left-right divide in France. It was De Gaulle (an army General) who came up with the current system while the preceding system, favoured by the left, was parliamentary. The left favours a parliamentary system that they claim is "more democratic" while depicting the current one as "elective monarchy" that perpetuates the "myth of the strong leader" (Napoleon, De Gaulle). Supporters of the current system point out that it does have balances and limits and that it brought stability (the preceding parliamentary system used to be very unstable, a bit like in Italy nowadays).

southerntofu 5y ago
> The President has a lot of power but it's not a problem and it works. By what metrics does it work? I could point half a dozen metrics by which it does not work. > it does have balances and limits In theory yes. In practice, though? All former presidents have been involved in illegal activities ranging from severe corruption to murder and crimes against humanity. Can you name one who had to stand trial?

fredestine 5y ago

nope. European Union ( Germany which translate to USA) dictate France what to do using European laws. National politics and President Power in Europe all lean toward the same thing, new social measures that affect only a fraction of the population (same-sex marriage, positive discrimination). On the social side this is nice and good for those people. On the nation scale it doesn't change anything about average income, industries going abroad while pushing to welcome more immigrants that become jobless due to the loss of our industries, the 1% getting more and more of the cake.

southerntofu 5y ago
> European Union dictate France what to do using European laws. That's a common misrepresentation that the government is very happy for us to believe: - when the government isn't happy with european law, they just ignore it; see also data retention laws and anti-Rroma laws in France which are famously illegal by european standards - who controls the EU? the french government is one of the key players (along with Germany) controlling the european commission; french interests dictate what becomes european law > average income Minimum wage and taxes on fortune are determined by France, not by the EU. > industries going abroad This is determined by private industry, not by EU. However, the french government has powers to nationalize those industries, or requisition them, or help the workers self-organize the production (eg. by fundraising to keep activities going). They are just ideologically opposed to that (because they're capitalists), despite all their broken promises for the workers. 1336 and LIP are famous French examples of what workers self-organization can achieve when the government doesn't get in the way. > pushing to welcome more immigrants This is controlled by France, not EU, and France is definitely not welcoming immigrants. France has closed its borders (for people, not merchandise) many times since 2015 in contradiction to the Schengen treaty. There are many people dying on the French border, and the government couldn't care less (see also Aquarius scandal). France has also been condemned by the european court of human rights for deporting people before they can apply for asylum at the italian border (which is illegal in international treaties). French police is hunting for undocumented folks; you can see them in the metro in bigger cities controlling anyone who isn't white so they can deport as many people as possible. > become jobless due to the loss of our industries We become jobless not through lack of industry, but because the work and resources aren't shared. We live in one of the richest nations on Earth, and we could all work 5-15h weeks and enjoy modern comfort. But people in power like it that over 10% of the population lives under the poverty line. Once again, this is due to the french oligarchy, not the EU.