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Congress approves bill barring any president from unilaterally withdrawing from NATO (thehill.com)

submitted 11 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Congress has approved legislation that would prevent any president from withdrawing the United States from NATO without approval from the Senate or an Act of Congress. The measure, spearheaded by Sens. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), was included in the annual National Defense Authorization Act, which passed out of the House on Thursday and is expected to be signed by President Biden.

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[–] obinice 28 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Only a fascist trying to be a dictator would actually do this.

Sounds like rather than patchwork mini laws like this, they need to revamp the system to ensure no single person can take such drastic overreaching action.

Lets not forget that a president/prime minister isn't the singular person in charge, they're merely the figurehead/frontman of an entire government of elected people, as well add representing their party, and of course ultimately are a civil servant working at the pleasure of the people.

95% of the things the president does should go through proper democratic channels within the government and not simply rubber stamped by a single person, that path is the path towards dictatorship.

The few exceptions are rare things that can't be put to a vote or through regular channels, like launching nukes, etc. But these are exceptions only.

There should never have been a situation where it was possible for a president to personally decide to change the future of the entire nation and indeed world, in such a dramatic and drastic way, without any checks and balances to ensure that it is the will of the people, out even the will of anyone else in government.

Which is why it sounds to me like they need some significant reform, rather than just making this one little change :-(

[–] Duralf 10 points 11 months ago

Yes, past presidents have gradually expanded the power of the position beyond any reasonableness over time.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 11 months ago

Which is why it sounds to me like they need some significant reform

Unfortunately the US founder had the same idea as you about reform. IE no one person or small group should be able to do so.

Now over decades Heck centuries. Power has migrated to the president. As groups continued to objects to slow change. So took the easy answer of trusting one elected member.

But any change to significantly limit power. Would need the constitution to be reworked to limit such power. Would require a huge approval. 66% of every state I think.

The very fact that Congress has to worry about such things. Is clear evidence such agreement is not and may never be possible.