President Obama's Strategy Regarding Dysfunctional Congress - Essay Example

Suggestions for President Obamas strategy of declaring he cannot wait for a "dysfunctional" congress as he suggests policies to "get around" congress Introduction Constitution is the national document that leaders adhere to for effective control. Different countries have different constitutions and each have different impacts due to their effectiveness. There are several countries that are assumed to have best constitutions globally, however, these countries still complain of leadership issues and effectiveness of several functional departments structured by the constitution. United States is one of the countries considered with the best constitutions globally. However, there are several functional departments that citizens are crying foul of their effectiveness in the country, for instance, the congress. Basically, I agree with Obama’s suggestion that he cannot wait for a “dysfunctional” congress due to the constitutional system adopted by the United States. This paper focuses on difficulties imposed on policy making by the United States’ constitutional system. It also discuses why founders opted for a system based on separation of power, checks and balances. Moreover, it evaluates its effectiveness in the present situation of the United States. Finally, it offers personal suggestions on Obama’s strategy on declaration that he cannot wait for a “dysfunctional” congress and suggests several policies. United States is considered the world super power with strong and operational constitutional system. However, the policies system and structure were only effective in the past years. This is because in the past years United States had really advanced both economically and politically. In the recent few years, the constitutional system adopted by United States has proved ineffective and unreliable (Child 48). This is due to non-responsive nature of the system to the problems facing the country over the past few years. In the past years that is twentieth century, united states have been faced with series of problems that have greatly compromised its position globally and exposed certain weaknesses of the constitutional system on policy making and implementation (Congress 37). United states have been faced with series of problems most of which can be controlled by the country, but the policy making procedure adopted in the constitution does not allow for quick response to such issues due to the legal procedures. For instance, unemployment rate have greatly increased in the United States over the past years (Schwartz 90). Basically, this has been caused by trade with china. China offers cheap products in the country which cannot be adequately and effectively competed against by the country’s locally produced commodities. This has led to closure of several companies’ especially local company. This is because they cannot adequately compete against Chinese products due to their market prices. This has led to exportation of unemployment from china to the United States (Leebrick 79). United States is the largest importer of Chinese products. Low cost of Chinese products is due to their currency value and regulation by the government on value regulation of the currency. Though this has caused United States its economic strength and china emerging as a potential contender as a global power house, United States have done little on addressing the issue (Schwartz 43). The country through its legislation could have suspended trade with china so as to address the problems in the economy due to the trade. However, this has taken long and the country has been frequently faced with similar problems arising from trade between the country and china. The issue has not been addressed due to the policy making procedure in the country and separation of power, checks and balances that take long. According to the constitution of the country, there are several departments and legal investigation and considerations that have to be taken before sanctioning trade with china. This shows the weak policy making system in times of emergency (Hossell 68). The congress has taken log to sanction china so that it reviews its currency to save the country from the present unemployment crisis that has greatly affected the country. Moreover, the country has operated with similar economic and political strategies and tactics that were adopted long time ago (Hossell 87). However, there are several changes that have occurred globally hence the tactics are not effective in operation. Moreover, there are certain issues that require immediate response, but the system developed and adopted by the United States lacks quick response due to the separation of powers and checks and balances in the system (Schwartz 121). Basically, the system was adopted by the United States due to several reasons that were effective by then but not applicable to some extent in the present time. United States adopted the system so as to promote democracy and transparency in governance. It as also meant to ensure that each position held by an individual does not lead to misuse of power due to the checks and balances (Rushefsky 96). This was effective in the past and greatly assisted the country in development and retaining of its status globally. The system developed by the founders was slow to ensure accuracy and developments of effective policies hence avoid unnecessary changes in developed policies (Leebrick 56). Secondly, during recession the country could not effectively and adequately respond to the economic status due to the slow process of policy making. This led to series of effects on the economy leading to problems such as increased unemployment rate, among others. This has affected economic growth and stability in the country yet it could be addressed (Child 53). The constitutional system of the United States has been identified as slow in response to issues especially those with urgency. This has compelled president Obama to impose certain policies in the country so as to save the country from further problems facing it (Congress 21). Basically, the president has imposed two laws due to lack of response from the congress, for instance the unemployment and tax bill. This bill aimed at addressing both unemployment and tax issues in the country. Obama imposed the bill on congress and forced them to pass it into law. This is due to the rising rate of unemployment and other related problems such as equal tax between high and low income earners. However, the president opted for tax levying according to personal income. This compelled him to impose the law so as to address the issues facing the country (Congress 22). President Obama is justified to ignore the congress and impose rules that help the citizens. This is because the policy making system adopted in the United States is slow and does not effectively respond to issues that require quick response such as economic strain on the citizens and equality on taxation (Congress 34). According to the policy procedure of the country, policies are made after consultation and investigation which might take long while citizens undergo tough economic times. The president took the position to save the country from further economic problems (Child 89). On the other hand, it can argued that the president was not right in taking the position due to several reasons, for instance due to disobedience to the constitution. The constitution clearly outlines duties of the president and any other office holder in the United States (Hossell 67). This has compelled debate on breach of the system. The constitution requires the president to impose rules only after approval by the congress. However, the president took a personal incentive on the issue. However, the constitution opts to be flexible and accommodate any necessary changes especially on important aspects such the economic situation and citizen suffering. Though the president might have been against the system through imposition of the policy, he was justified. The system is slow while the situation was getting out of control (Child 123). Works cited Child, In the Hands of a. " The United States Constitution." Law and Constitution (2011): 23 -67. Congress." Congressional Record, V. 153, Pt. 6, March 26, 2007 to April 17, 2007." Washington: Government Printing Office, 2011. Hossell, Karen Price. "The United States Constitution." New Jersey: Heinemann Library, 2003. Leebrick, Kristal. "The United States Constitution." New York: Capstone Press, 2002. Rushefsky, Mark E. "Public Policy in the United States: At the Dawn of the Twenty-First Century." Washington: M.E. Sharpe, 2007. Schwartz, Alex F." Housing policy in the United States."Chicago: Taylor & Francis, 2010. Read More