People routinely call for heads to roll when disasters happen. When corporations grossly overestimate their projected earnings, CEOs are fired. When teams drastically underachieve, coaches are fired. Regardless of whether the scapegoat had any direct or indirect control of the circumstance is simply of no issue. The buck stops here.
In many of these cases, one can follow a logically progression of events and end up at the top guy. If the CEO hired the wrong people, ultimately it their failings are his fault.
However, in our present form of Federal Government it is quite rare that one can ever stop the buck any higher. Many of the persons that officials depend upon to carry out operations are either elected or appointed by someone other than the man that is held responsible for their actions.
In the case of the President, even those members they personally appoint must then be confirmed by a body in which he might have influence upon yet no control over.
Is it just that we hold these officials responsible for subordinates in which they have little actual power over?
In many of these cases, one can follow a logically progression of events and end up at the top guy. If the CEO hired the wrong people, ultimately it their failings are his fault.
However, in our present form of Federal Government it is quite rare that one can ever stop the buck any higher. Many of the persons that officials depend upon to carry out operations are either elected or appointed by someone other than the man that is held responsible for their actions.
In the case of the President, even those members they personally appoint must then be confirmed by a body in which he might have influence upon yet no control over.
Is it just that we hold these officials responsible for subordinates in which they have little actual power over?
