Who Runs the Country? Nobody.
Have you ever stopped to consider who really runs the country? It’s a common topic of discussion among media commentators, with many right-wingers believing that Joe Biden deferred to a troika rather than taking charge, while others think that Donald Trump currently holds the reins of power. But the truth is, no one actually runs the country.
When you think about it, how many decisions made by the U.S. president actually impact your daily life? The reality is, very few. While the president may have influence, he doesn’t dictate how you live your life. And if he doesn’t control the lives of over 300 million Americans, it’s hard to argue that he truly runs the country.
Some may argue that the U.S. president runs the federal government, but even that assertion falls short. As we learned in civics class, there are three branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial. The president may lead the executive branch, but even within that realm, there are agencies with their own autonomy, like the Federal Reserve. So, at most, the president only oversees a fraction of the federal government.
It’s also worth clarifying that while the president is often referred to as the commander in chief of the country, his authority extends solely to the military, which represents less than 1% of the population.
In conclusion, when it comes to the question of who runs the country, the answer is not as straightforward as many believe. The president may hold a position of power, but his influence is limited in the grand scheme of things. The true authority lies within the collective decisions and actions of the American people, the various branches of government, and the diverse agencies that make up the federal system. So, the next time someone poses the question of who runs the country, remember that it’s a complex and multifaceted answer that goes far beyond the individual occupying the Oval Office.
