Kings - and Presidents !

When the last century commenced many of the countries of Europe were ruled by Monarchies.  Over the years the Kings and Queens fell out of favour and many became Republics - with a President becoming head of state.  This post changes hands as Presidents are elected by the people.

In much earlier centuries the King ruled by " Divine Right " and in Britain this was curbed when the powerful barons of that era forced the Monarch to sign " Magna Carta ", devolving power to an elected parliament.  Under the form of government in which we live the Crown serves as a figurehead and the person who leads the nation is a Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister is selected by the political party holding the most seats in parliament and may be replaced at the whim of that body.  The policies imposed on the nation require the support of the government party and must win assent on the floor of parliament.   The power of a prime minister is thus limited.

Strangely, most Republics leave Executive power in the hands of the current President, and that power includes the right to wage war.  The affairs of the nation as still governed by elected bodies but the impetus the nation takes is directly flowing from the edicts that the President issues.  This is closer to the " Divine Right " of earlier Kings.

The fact that the President is the choice of the people by way of a vote ensured that there is moderation in policy.  The selection of a President is a lengthy process and over the years the choice has changed as both Republican and Democrat politics has come to the fore. It was generally felt that the office was in safe hands.

Many Americans are both disillusioned and alarmed.   The vote of the people has put in office a man who completely contradicts the leadership of the free world and seems to delight in insulting our allies.  He was formerly a Real Estate developer and host of a television series and his electioneering caught the attention of many voters still recovering from the displacement of jobs and trade caused by globalization. He has surrounded himself with family in executive positions and ignored the usual protocol of putting personal financial interests on hold during the presidency.  Hundreds of positions that shape the direction of government are unfilled and he has not even bothered to make nominations.  It is feared that commerce and even the military safety of the nation may be at risk and a scandal has arisen that foreign powers may have consorted with his close advisers to influence voting intentions.

Now there is talk of impeachment over his firing of the head of the FBI who was investigation links between Russian intelligence and a " fake news " blitz that detracted from his presidential opponents campaign and may have delivered him the presidency.  The damage this is doing to American world prestige is enormous.

It seems possible that some Americans will start thinking it is time that the Presidency was subjected to a form of Magna Carta to reduce the damage an unsuitable President is able to cause.  The present incumbent defies the assumption that whoever is elected to office will be sane, sober and intent on doing the nation no harm. In the minds of many, the four years of this present presidency may do irreparable damaged to the American nation.

At such times new ideas on forms of government are likely to appear.