Does the fate of America as a nation lie ultimately on its voters or its elected leaders?
Or is it like the question “Which comes first the chicken or the egg?” where the answer is always elusive and maybe non-existent. Maybe the question should be “Which should come first?”
Curious as to a definitive answer for the sake of moving the country forward into the future where ever increasingly complicated challenges await ( flow of immigration, infrastructure rebuilding, job creation, population trends, climate change, global trade, poverty, education etc. ) where does the responsibility truly rests?
Should voters drop support from candidates who are willing to compromise to move things forward and replace them with ones who would never cut a deal? Paralyze the goverment?
Has it all come down to a take all or nothing fight?
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Chicken and egg I guess. Of course in a democracy we rely on the voters to put competent people into office. I guess the question also is, are elected officials obligated to represent the people who voted them in to the point that they will vote against their own better judgement to please the people. I have to hope the politicians in the end are guided by some ethics, morals, and hopefully a little smarter than the average person, but it’s just hope.
I guess I lean towards the elected officials in the end have the ultimate influence. Look at segregation—it was changing the laws that in the end started the real change.
Maybe I’m wrong though, it’s very complicated. I say all the time that we need to go back to grass roots as a nation to improve relations between the left and the right. That if we the people go back to respect and compromise the leaders will follow.
Well it certainly can, which is why the founding fathers designed our government they way they did. They figured that one person couldn’t completely fubar it in 4 short years, tho trump is sure trying.
The chicken or egg conundrum is a perennial favorite on Fluther
It does not apply here.
Even though plenty of people these days think it’s a lot of bullshit, the framework of American government is the Constitution.
The Constitution introduces itself to the reader as “We the People”, and NOT “We the Government”
Seems pretty simple to me.
@josie And that is what elected officials swear to do, uphold and defend the constitution. In that aspect, we should have the same goals.
The American people will always be there, governments and presidents come and go. The voters give the government a temporary licence to exist, that is all.
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