SCHOLAR: AMERICAN HEDGEMONY

Having a constitution is a means whereby democratic nations can subscribe to a system that is considerate of the rule of law.  The rule of law prevents the arbitrary exercise of power through a system that is written or codified.  In America, the constitution was signed on September 17, 1787.  This document established the nations government and fundamental laws which guaranteed citizens basic rights.  With pertinence to the presidency, Article II states, “that executive power is “vested” in the president, who is also given the responsibility to ensure that the laws and policies of the country are being “faithfully executed,””  Moreover, the president is the, “Chief of State,” who then entertains foreign dignitaries and important Americans.  Article II also bestows the government with the title of, “Chief Executive.”  He therefore sees to it the laws are being enforced.  The more controversial title given to the presidency is also specified in Article II.  It says that the president is, “the Commander and Chief of the Army and the Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called in the actual service of the United States”   With all this in mind, it will be explored how perhaps the presidency in the United States of America is given too much power.  This essay will point out events in which demonstrate this thoroughly while analyzing those specific moments in time.  As the proverbial saying goes, “power corrupts;  absolute power corrupts absolutely”.

There has been great contention with pertinence to the Military Industrial Complex.  It was warned by Eisenhower that this coop was gaining influence over the government which causes it to be in a state of perpetual war.  There is no better example of this than that of George W.  Bush.  There are accusations that he was, “lying about Iraqi weapons of mass destruction to fool Americans into supporting the war in Iraq” .  This war was a result of the American demand for oil.  There were no weapons that were ever obtained from this war however, it proved that there was a lack of accountability on the part of congress to implement adequate checks and balances which would have evidently prevented America from entering the Iraq war.  In contemporary America, it seems that something has changed.  They were traditionally a nation that were weary of getting involved in such wars i.e. WWI and WWII.  Perhaps the warnings from presidents such as Eisenhower have some merit.  Or perhaps the fact that America is now in a state of hegemony has something to do with their change of strategy.  

Another example of too much power includes the sex scandal of Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky.  This was a clear abuse of power of the presidency.  This scandal involves another sort of power, the use of sexual prowess to manipulate an individual who is directly working under an authority.  The undue influence experienced by the victim clearly shows the president abusing his authority for personal pleasure.  He was later impeached by the House of representatives for, “perjury and obstruction of justice” .  Influence is a form of power that must be used to persuade people to a certain value set.  It is the president’s duty to the people to project the values of liberalism, democracy, justice, peace and the rule of law.  The fact that Clinton used undue influence to manipulate a victim shows that the president has not only political power but influence as well, the force of interpersonal relations. 

The last example to note is president Trumps attempt to build a wall.  He claims that through declaring a, “national emergency,” he is able to construct the wall.  According to the Washington Post, there are several provisions if the president aspires to construct such ‘wall that such as, “to reshuffle existing military construction funds and redirect them to previously unauthorized purposes in the event of an emergency.”   The construction of this wall was and still is a major controversy.  Its functions to keep foreigners out, those whom are unauthorized.  According to Trump these people are drug dealers, murderers and not the best people.  Drugs are being smuggled into America via underground tunnels and through illegals who force themselves into the country.  However, it is also America’s duty to be the hegemon and such hegemony comes with great responsibilities such as compassion.  The fact that president Trump describes these people with such disdain is not reflective of benevolence.  The ability for him to declare a national emergency to construct the wall is really a depiction that perhaps the American president is bestowed with too much power.