Advances Presidential agenda Argument: Ensures personal plan
Counter: Provides alternative option
In my third argument I discuss the problems with the President using executive orders to advance his own agenda. I acknowledge the counterargument that executive orders are necessary. |
Additionally, President Obama has been shown to use executive orders as a way to advance his own personal agenda. When discussing how he has been completing his obligations, President Obama admitted, "We've acted on our own. . ." ("Remarks on Signing an Executive Order” par. 9). Although there are three branches of government that have been set forth by the founding fathers in order to prevent power-grasp maneuvers like the one that President Obama is using, he is blatantly acting on his own. The actions he has taken to advance his personal plan have been disputed in court. Edwards reported that with a large portion of the American public against his tactics, “nearly all the building blocks of Obama's domestic legacy - from healthcare and financial reforms to environmental regulations - have been challenged in court" (par. 2). If President Obama had cared more about the lasting impact of his orders, than the majority of what he has done to “help” American citizens would not be being challenged in court.
Furthermore, President Obama has chosen executive orders as his way to get his plans into action. One major problem with executive orders, besides leaving out two-thirds of the American government, is that his orders are simply not helping anyone. In fact, President Obama even claimed that, in reference to companies that have violated agreements with the government, his “emphasis is not going to be on punishments" (“Remarks on Signing an Executive Order” par. 20). If his focus will not be on punishing the violators of his executive order, how is it helpful? . President Obama is supposedly “taking action” against corporations in his executive orders, but companies that have violations are not being punished. His orders are not only removing input from other branches of government, but they are either harmful or unhelpful in all other aspects. If the President of the United States is taking actions that to put his own plans into effect, most people would hope that his plans are at least being helpful, when sadly the evidence shows that it is not the case. Supporters of the Obama administration believe that executive orders are just an alternate way for him to help American citizens. For some supporters of President Obama, they believe that his executive orders are the only way to help specific groups in need. President Obama celebrates the fact that, when in reference to an executive order for fair pay and safe workplaces, “this is a first step in a series of actions to make it easier for companies, including small businesses, to do business with the Government" (Remarks on Signing an Executive Order” par. 20). Americans find it hard to trust a man that says that he is being helpful when, in fact, he is not bettering our country. Sprusansky mentioned that American citizens believe Obama will agree to do anything for a vote and then not follow through (par. 13). It is very easy for the American public to see that President Obama cannot complete the promises he has made. When he cannot work with congress to accomplish the goals he has set forth, he will sign an executive order without public or congressional approval in hopes that they will resolve his issues. |