[stayed]

I read every single word MyBrain. Thank you for taking the time to do so. 

I hope you decide to go this route Phoenix, your intelligence and attention to detail would be an attribute.

Stayed

[Roma]

I read it Brain

When say 'the President has no real power' What I'm saying our local politicians have more power over our daily lives. The President works more internationally with other country heads than decides what day our garbage is picked up or when school starts or ends for our children.

Someone like Trump really only watches or participates on TV. He obviously has no clue of what he was just elected to do.

We are REALLY in trouble people!

ps Trump got his hair done like a week ago, looks to me like he knew he would win, while the rest of us went to the polls and actually voted. He had the same ridiculous style for as long as I remember. Could there be something funny going on here? Like a rigged election FOR Trump and against Hillary?

[terrified_in_TN]

Brain,

  Real quick-I won't even attempt to debate you on any of your points, as I will be the FIRST to admit I am ignorant on many levels when it comes to politics, and EXACTLY what power the president actually has, but just a couple notes:

1)  I was aware of executive orders.  But again, this cannot be a permanent change as the incoming president can always reverse any executive orders made by the previous one.

2)  As a former military member, yes the President is our "highest level" boss, and I am aware he can send troops into various places, but I thought he could NOT declare any sort of war without the approval of congress...

-T

[stayed]

2)  As a former military member, yes the President is our "highest level" boss, and I am aware he can send troops into various places, but I thought he could NOT declare any sort of war without the approval of congress...

Actually I knew that, for a max of 60 days..then it goes to congress and senate,  but I don't think a Congress or Senate has ever NOT supported a sitting president when he sent his troops in. 

[MyBrainIsBroken]

T, you're correct on both counts. Speculation is already under way regarding which of Obama's executive orders will be immediately rescinded by Trump. But an executive order issued early in Trump's administration will be in place for most of 4 years and could do a lot of damage. For example, a lot of children in our area receive meals at school and for some of them, that may be the only time they eat. It would be well within the president's authority to issue an order abolishing the school lunch program. Does that sound like something that might impact our daily lives?

Of course, Congress could pass a law re-establishing the school lunch program but we have a Republican Congress and even if they did pass such a law, the president can veto it.

Another example of how the president can directly affect our lives. The president has the right to appoint a new chair and co-chair for the Federal Reserve Board and will also be appointing several FRB members. He could choose to sway monetary policy, which is currently set by the FRB, by appointing people who are in favor of a tight money policy. The FRB could then raise interest rates, slowing the economy and causing large numbers of people to be laid off. Or he could do the opposite, appoint members who are in favor of opening up the floodgates, boosting the economy to the point where rampant inflation occurs, the price of everything goes up, and your dollar becomes worth less and less. Far-fetched? Maybe, but Trump has been openly critical of the FRB.

What else could happen by executive order? Perhaps an order mandating that Muslims be required to display a crescent somewhere on their clothing for national security reasons. Or maybe just create camps and send them all to live in those camps. While we're at it, he could order that the LGBTQ community be required to wear rainbow colored necklaces to protect our children from their influence. Of course, these things would create controversy but controversy doesn't seem to influence Trump.

It's true the president can't declare war. Only the Congress has that right. But he can send our troops off to fight for up to 60 days without Congressional approval. With the weapon systems we now have can you imagine how much damage could be done in 60 days?

The president can also influence foreign trade and Trump has advocated tariffs on foreign goods. Do you suppose it would affect people's daily lives if everything that we import from other countries suddenly experienced huge price increases? What do you think that would do to the world economy?

I know these are worst-case scenarios, but we now have a President-elect who follows his own path and has shown a low tolerance for people or ideas he doesn't approve of.

[Roma]

Hey Brain,

I wasn't aware of the school lunch program, so I googled it, and States have the option of participating or not.

I am no Trump fan in the least, yet really the President is more for International use. I'm not saying everything, yet for the most part.

To me Trump seems more qualified in playing "I declare war" the card game than serving the American people.

[OldPilot]

OR he could get the BILLIONS of dollars that corporations have hidden overseas to avoid taxes to bring the money back to the US to be used here and stimulate our economy.

[stayed]

Wow MyBrain, that was a pretty good incentive for people to educate themselves and VOTE!  Probably preaching to the choir though MyBrain.  That being said, your comments, your clear succinct explanation of the control the president has, was not wasted, at least certainly not on me. 

I have been focused mostly on the international consequences but can now see it will or at least could be quite consequential to all American's.  I hope the DEPLORABLE ADORABLES enjoy it.  How will Trump twist this to be somebody else's fault? 

Nothing to be done about it now. Even if Trump dropped dead of a heart attack tomorrow, you would have the adorable deplorable Mike Pence.  Better, I'm really not sure.  I expect the first thing he will do is ban abortions, any sort of health coverage, probably even Medicare (is that possible), Republicans think that NOBODY should get a free right... all social services cancelled immediately. 

Uggh.  All you can do, is hope for the best. 

Thanks again MyBrain, that was extremely informative.

Stayed

[stayed]

OR he could get the BILLIONS of dollars that corporations have hidden overseas to avoid taxes to bring the money back to the US to be used here and stimulate our economy.

Including his own OP?  Oh right, he doesn't pay any taxes so what does he care. Try and paint your conscience any way you want OP... this man is toxic and he is going to do NOTHING but turn your country back into a racist, hateful country.  Anything that man will do, will firstly benefit him... secondly the rest of his wealthy elite society.  He doesn't have a clue about hard working people because he has never done anything but take advantage of them... like he did this time. 

You think he's so brilliant and compared to the fools he persuaded to support him, I guess he is right. Obviously, didn't take much!

Stayed

[OldPilot]

You think he's so brilliant and compared to the fools he persuaded to support him, I guess he is right. Obviously, didn't take much!

Please dont make this personal, I understand that we dont agree about politics,
that does not change the fact that I know lots of Democrats and I respect their right
to have their own views, I still love my children who are democrats and I don't hold it against them.
Nor do they hold my political views against me.