Donald And Hillary Aren't The Only Ones You Should Be Worried About | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics

Donald And Hillary Aren't The Only Ones You Should Be Worried About

It might be easy to forget with the non-stop coverage of the presidential campaigns, but the President isn't actually all-powerful.

6
Donald And Hillary Aren't The Only Ones You Should Be Worried About
SCOTT OLSON/GETTY IMAGES

It was Missouri Governor Jay Nixon who appointed Capt. Ronald Johnson to take over Ferguson’s police force, finally calming tensions in the city after Michael Brown was killed unarmed by police officers. Yet, much of the political dialogue in America centers on the race for the White House instead of the state, local, and congressional races that all too often ending up affecting the lives of everyday Americans. Rather than the District Attorneys, sheriffs, and representatives at the center of the controversies and legal battles that shape our politics, it is the President who is more likely to shoulder the blame or enjoy the credit for our government’s successes and its failures.

Since President Obama took office in 2009, I have heard plenty of people complain about things that are beyond his control. “Obama is trying to screw us over by passing this law”, “Obama isn’t doing what he promised he would do”, or even “The road by my house is falling apart, why is our president not doing anything about it?” Americans should know that the president does not have control over any of those things. The president does not have the power to do whatever he (or she) pleases. To be fair, it might be hard to remember that fact with the abundance of attention nearly every detail of the presidential race receives.

More than 90 percent of our members of Congress are re-elected every election cycle, despite Congress having only a 13% approval rating. This is the result of the advantages of incumbency, such as the fact that many people do not pay attention to ‘down-ballot’ races. When we talk about politics people are more interested in the twists and turns and meaningless information about the presidential candidates, instead of paying attention to all the components that make up our government.

We let Congress and our local leaders continue get away with incompetence because we do not seem to care about the whole picture. We continue to elect the same individuals who continue to disregard our best interests, who are unmotivated to spend the political capital required, and who refuse to work with the president the country has elected. Why would they? It isn’t them who will take the blame.

This not only applies to Congress, but also to our state officials, district attorneys, and city council members who ultimately decide on the state minimum wage, enforcement of the laws we are subject to, and so much more. Voting in local elections grants you more influence in the decision making than you’d ever be afforded by a US president. You get to elect your mayor, city council, school board, and county officials — who all work within driving distance of your home. That influence could in turn lead to changes farther up than you could have directly contributed to otherwise . It is said that you cannot build something from the top down — rather than bottom up. Everything needs a strong foundation, especially our government, and that foundation is in our schools and city halls, not the White House.

Presidents are important, but so are your representatives, senators, the state, and local politicians who often go unscrutinized by the public. Do not expect change to happen if you only vote for high office and neglect the ones that could affect you more. People wonder why nothing gets done, while forgetting it takes more than just the president to do much of anything.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

4080
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

450392
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

22177
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Moana's Top 10 Life Tips

"Moana" is filled with life lessons that involve far more than finding true love as many other Disney movies do.

45102
Animated image of a woman with long dark hair and tattoos
StableDiffusion

1. It's easy to be fooled by shiny things.

Digital image of shiny gemstones in cased in gold. shiny things StableDiffusion

Tamatoa created a liar filled with shiny things simply for the purpose of tricking fish to enter and become his food. He too experiences a lesson in how easy it is to be tricked by shiny things when Moana distracts him by covering herself in glowing algae so Maui can grab his hook.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments