Do Americans want a semi-absolute dictator?

[ηєω ƒяσηтιєя]

Many Americans seem to be want the President to do everything but at the same time not be a "king".

If a President doesn't accomplish everything they said on the campaign trail in 2 short years then BOOM, here comes the midterm backlash and the opposing party takes control of Congress.

Do many Americans not realize the the Office of the Presidency doesn't give a person absolute power?

[OSR stands with Israel]

Not really


1994 : Democrats held the House for 40 years so the Dems in house got the blame for many of the problems and 1994 was a realigning election in the South

2006: Iraq War was very unpopular and Multiple Scandals for GOP.

2010: Pocketbook voting 101

2014 : Horrible Senate Map for the Dems

2018 : Trump



If Kasich was President instead of Trump , the GOP keeps the House and gains at least 4 senate seats  

[Stranger in a strange land]

Civics education in much of the country has deteriorated to the point where people think the president is basically an elected king who has total control over all levers of government, including a dial under his desk where he can control the price of gas.

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

Every president since Nixon have lost one or both houses of Congress, so no.

[Cassandra]

Yes, a large section of the American public seems to have the authoritarian personality type.

[ηєω ƒяσηтιєя]

Every president since Nixon have lost one or both houses of Congress, so no.

But......that's the point.

[Kyle Rittenhouse is a Political Prisoner]

A semi-absolute dictator who enacts my preferred policies would be great. A semi-absolute dictator who enacts policies I dislike, on the other hand, is terrible.

[Former Dean Phillips Supporters for Haley (I guess???!?) 👁️]

A semi-absolute dictator who enacts my preferred policies would be great. A semi-absolute dictator who enacts policies I dislike, on the other hand, is terrible.

Jalaketu West for semi-absolute dictator.

[Badger]

Most Americans, even in concept? No.

A majority of Republicans at least in concept? Yeah, sadly it's probably the case.

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

Every president since Nixon have lost one or both houses of Congress, so no.

But......that's the point.

Line-item veto needs to brought back, so the president can balance the budget without an amendment, and term limits for Senators needs to be accomplished too, as well as popular vote voting for president instead of the EC. That will get rid of the absolute power of the president.

[Progressive Pessimist]

Most Americans (including the President himself) don't seem to understand how the Executive Branch works as it is.

[Fuzzy Bear]

Most Americans want an authoritarian, but one they know they will be voting on every 4 years in free and fair elections.

One reason Trump is President is because he gets that.  Not that this is what we have, or should have.  Not that such an idea is even feasible.  But it is, I believe, what most folks want; a Mr. Fixit.

[fluffypanther19]

Civics education in much of the country has deteriorated to the point where people think the president is basically an elected king who has total control over all levers of government, including a dial under his desk where he can control the price of gas.

[IceSpear]

Civics education in much of the country has deteriorated to the point where people think the president is basically an elected king who has total control over all levers of government, including a dial under his desk where he can control the price of gas.

[Rookie Yinzer]

Most Americans are idiots.

[Technocracy Timmy]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

[Former Dean Phillips Supporters for Haley (I guess???!?) 👁️]

Most Americans are idiots.

[Fuzzy Bear]

Civics education in much of the country has deteriorated to the point where people think the president is basically an elected king who has total control over all levers of government, including a dial under his desk where he can control the price of gas.

Whose fault is that?

[Frodo]

You mean someone like this guy?



Someone who is strong enough to take charge and direct the course of a nation almost single-handedly, while being cunning enough to at least maintain the facade of the old republic?

I think at least a third of the population would welcome such a figure.  The rest of us.....

[Torie]

I would like to think not, and hope not. But the numbers who now hold views that come close to wanting a semi-absolute dictator (sharing their views of course), has probably gone up, particularly if the word "absolute" (that is really extreme) is replaced with "authoritarian," and that is very disturbing. I have been distressed for a long time that so many Americans are not in favor of as robust a free speech clause as SCOTUS has fashioned.

[136or142]

Most Republicans/conservatives do (as long as that dictator is a Republican/conservative.)

[Yank2133]

Most Americans are idiots.

Pretty much.

We elected a president and then two years later we give control of the legislative branch to the opposing party and then two years later we complain why nothing gets done.

[ηєω ƒяσηтιєя]

Most Americans are idiots.

Pretty much.

We elected a president and then two years later we give control of the legislative branch to the opposing party and then two years later we complain why nothing gets done.

Yep, that's exactly what I was talking about.

[Progressive Pessimist]

Civics education in much of the country has deteriorated to the point where people think the president is basically an elected king who has total control over all levers of government, including a dial under his desk where he can control the price of gas.

Most Americans are idiots.

Pretty much.

We elected a president and then two years later we give control of the legislative branch to the opposing party and then two years later we complain why nothing gets done.

[Beet]

The president has tremendous power within the limits of the Executive Branch. Congress passes many laws where the details of the law, 90% of it or more, is left up to Executive Branch interpretation. The members of Congress are not experts. They are old man and women whose real expertise is getting along with other people and collecting money. So they leave most policy up to the Executive Branch. Which gives it a lot of power. If Americans want him to have even more power, then yeah that's verging on a dictatorship.

On the other hand, if you are talking about solving huge problems like the entire health care system, wealth inequality, or political corruption, then no, the President can't solve those things by himself. He needs Congress.