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Trump is continuing a trend that has been going on since at least Bush Jr. Presidents for a couple decades now have been moving more power into the executive br
by _heimdall 2y ago
Trump is continuing a trend that has been going on since at least Bush Jr. Presidents for a couple decades now have been moving more power into the executive branch.
Obama and Biden both talked about undoing this, but neither did. The Patriot Act still exists, three letter agencies still have authority to spy on American citizens, and immigration laws still defy what's written on the Statue of Liberty (I think most have forgotten how harsh Obama was on southern immigration).
- malcolmgreaves 2y agoFalse equivalence.
- brigandish 2y agoSince Woodrow Wilson.
- _heimdall 2y agoThe Dangerous History Podcast has a very interesting series in Wilson. The host was not a fan.
- brigandish 2y agoI'm going to give it a listen, thanks. I found this funny and interesting interview with the host, safe to say, you're right he's not a fan! :) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usXS9ciS0gs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usXS9ciS0gs
- UncleOxidant 2y agoWith a slight pause in the post-watergate era when Jimmy Carter was president.
- mindslight 2y ago... which has been allowed and caused by the Republican congressional obstructionism going on since the 90's. Bush, Obama, and Biden could have reduced their own use of executive power, but they couldn't undo it - rather it was Congress that would have had to reign them in and shrink executive power. Just as the current Congress is ultimately allowing Trump's ongoing authoritarian power grabs, rather than passing laws and impeaching. For another example, take the frequent neofascist argument that the federal agencies are "unaccountable" unless they are under the direct command of the President. No, the agencies were created by Congress, and have always been accountable to Congress. But Congress has not been doing its job, which is why they seem unaccountable.
- try_the_bass 2y ago> No, the agencies were created by congress, and have always been accountable to Congress. But Congress hasn't been doing its job, which is why they seem unaccountable. If Congress hasn't been doing its job, then they don't just seem unaccountable, they actually are.
- mindslight 2y agoThe levers of accountability could have been pulled any time, so it stands to say that they were still accountable. Perhaps they weren't held accountable as much as you or I would have liked. But the authority was there. But either way I don't really see what greater point you're trying to make.
- try_the_bass 2y agoJust that there is no practical difference between "seeming unaccountable" and "being unaccountable", especially if, as you say, "the levers of accountability could have been pulled", but weren't. If the departments aren't being held accountable, they are, by definition, acting unaccountably. You seemed to disagree, and be trying to make a distinction where no practical difference can be found. You also seem to agree that they haven't been held accountable, which makes this apparent distinction even less coherent! This kind of just comes across as contrarian, or perhaps sophistry to avoid agreeing with an apparent opponent?
- freejazz 2y ago>Trump is continuing a trend that has been going on since at least Bush Jr. Presidents for a couple decades now have been moving more power into the executive branch. Are you familiar with the constitution? It describes which powers belong to the executive and which don't.