Happy Presidents’ Day

Happy Presidents’ Day

Today is Presidents’ Day, which began as an amalgamation of George Washington’s birthday and Abraham Lincoln’s birthday, but now is nobody’s birthday but just honors our chief executives.  So let’s take a pause from the current presidential campaign to discuss the institution itself.

Is it wise to have the same person be head of state and the  head of the executive branch?

Most democracies today have a Prime Minister as chief executive, who is the head of the party that has the majority in the legislature.  Is that better than our elected Presidents?  If not, why are Prime Ministers more common in modern governments?

Do our presidents have too much power or not enough?

What does it mean to be “presidential”?

Who do you think was our greatest president? The top five?

 

"Freedom to express difference of opinion in a healthy way. without disproportionate consequences.Freedom of assembly. ..."

DISCUSS: What Do You Love about ..."
"Right, we don't want the "lies for children" problem where the concept has to be ..."

Monday Miscellany, 7/7/25
"It seems like they are already here and likely to become more prevalent not many ..."

Monday Miscellany, 7/7/25
"quantum computers could break every known encryption system.This is repeating a common misunderstanding. Quantum computing ..."

Monday Miscellany, 7/7/25

Browse Our Archives

Follow Us!