Why it doesn't matter who is president

We are once again in the midst of a presidential campaign.  I've watched with both amazement and disgust the various Republican presidential candidates and their often bizarre posturing.  Aside from campaign statements that border on lunatic ravings, I'm struck by how completely irrelevant the entire presidential election is.

Consider the issues.

The country is running unsustainable budget deficits.  Both Democrats and Republicans agree.  What they don't agree about is how to balance the budget, balance income and expenses.  Note that there are two parts to this issue, income and expenses.  The president has balanced both cuts in expenses and increases in income.  Congressional Republicans say no to increased income favoring only cuts in expenses.  Congressional Democrats, a minority in the House, are unable to change this posture.

The key point here is that the issue remains unresolved, not because of the president but because of Congress.  The country remains mired in a Great Recession not because of who is president or Presidential action or inaction but because of a completely dysfunctional Congress.

Consider if there were a Republican president.  Would things change?  I think not.  Congress would still be divided and mired in partisan inaction.  While the President's proposed policies might differ absent Congressional action the country would remain gridlocked, stuck in a protracted recession.

In this way, who is president doesn't really matter.  Changing Congress by changing senators and representatives, and changing Congressional Rules does.  It is only by changing Congress that the current gridlock can be changed.

Related articles

• Political gridlock becomes roadblock for stocks (usatoday.com)
• Could Any GOP Candidate's Jobs Plan Pass Congress? - The Atlantic (news.google.com)
• Tribal Self-Determination and Congress (indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com)
• Will voters respond to a pro-gridlock message? (washingtonmonthly.com)