The head figure of governments(in the U.S. anyways) is supposed to be in office to represent the public, right? so how could anyone ever defend the president going against what the public wants and going with his gut. He is not elected to do what he wants and to do whatever he feels is right. He is elected to do what we, the public, want.
2007-01-08 02:49:52 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Other - Politics & Government
It is true that elected officials are elected to do what we, the public want. If the public is dissatisfied with the performance of the prsident or any other elected offial, the public can remove that person from office. The problem is that the public, in this case has to be a large majority of the public. Nobody stood behind anyone else on election day forcing them to vote for any particular person.
2007-01-08 02:55:52 · answer #1 · answered by fangtaiyang 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
IN a true democracy the government works for the people. If having the public opinion factor into the governments operations, why do we go to the cost and trouble of electing and maintaining regional representatives?
I agree with you completely that an official is ELECTED to act of public concern and in the best interest for the country in the present and future.
However in these unfortunate times the public is being bombarded with misinformation, fear and at times flat out lies. America is a country that is effectively divided along partisan lines, the social fabric is tearing, and Americans themselves cannot find a peaceful resolution to their own differences. Rather there is a paralytic public effect wherein we bicker amongst ourselves as the government does as it pleases.
The system is broken. The government is involved heavily in international concerns at the expense of the issues at home.
2007-01-08 11:15:51 · answer #2 · answered by smedrik 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
While theoretically what you say is true, it can also be very dangerous. The public rarely has all of the intelligence data a President has. The public is also not able to rely on diplomatic and military advisors. Lastly, public opinion is aften emotion driven. Keep in mind that public opinion kept the US out of the second world war until it was almost too late to help England.
Having said that it is important to realize that this President has largely ignored the opinions of his military and intelligence professionals. We are in a war that was poorly planned, poorly executed and now, against the advice of his generals we are aparrantly going to throw a minute number of troops into the fray. His own campaign commander has stated that in order to have a chance to make a difference we will need 200,000 to 350,000 additional troops. The President's 20,000 will just create more targets.
2007-01-08 10:57:43 · answer #3 · answered by toff 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A president is elected to lead, not follow, the nation. He is elected to do what he believes is right, public opinion be damned.
If all a president is supposed to do is follow public opinion polls, then why have the position at all?
2007-01-08 11:04:19 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because the public opinion is nt always right. It is that simple.
If you ask the public, most would vote to have no income tax.
The public's opinion is voiced in the elections. The elected officials are supposed to do what is right within the law for the situations they face and the choices they are faced with.
2007-01-08 10:55:55 · answer #5 · answered by DiamondDave 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Only way you really can know public opinion is to put the idea on a ballot and then be sure everyone votes. This will not happen. That is why it is important to elect officials that may vote the way you are thinking.
2007-01-08 10:56:15 · answer #6 · answered by lollylou 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The public's opinion, largely, is shaped by the media. The media is biased and sometimes provides incomplete or incorrect information, which then shapes the public opinions.
Therefore, if public opinion is based on misinformation, and our leaders have the correct information, that is what they need to act on. Not our misconceptions. We elect them not only to represent us, but to LEAD us. To lead means to make decisions based on facts, not opinion.
2007-01-08 11:30:09 · answer #7 · answered by ItsJustMe 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The job of the president is to do what is in the best interest of the American people with some input of course from the American people regardless of it's popularity.
When my children were teenagers there were decisions I made that they hated, now that they are adults with more knowledge they now realize that my decisions was in the best interest of the entire family that basically how the president has to operate.
2007-01-08 13:51:50 · answer #8 · answered by Ynot! 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We elect presidents to lead, not just be caretakers.
If a move is extremely unpopular then there are ways to counter that. Like electing the opposition party, as happened last fall.
But we don't want a cipher as president. We want a leader, with vision.
2007-01-08 10:53:14 · answer #9 · answered by American citizen and taxpayer 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
We elect a President to lead, not follow polls. If what you said was correct, why have a government, just hire some poll takers!
2007-01-08 10:55:22 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋