Why Can’t America Have a Sharp Young President??

Fortunately, the nation and its governments are far more resilient than the temporary political controllers of the executive branch.

First, periodic elections and term limits allow turnover, obviously. No hereditary monarchs or supreme leaders for life that the people at large never get to choose.

Next, federalism spreads control and duties across the nation. The city or county governments handle most crimes and local regulations, the states handle a lot, and things like schools. It makes for a confusing patchwork, but allows diversity, where people technically could move to a better place. Still, fairness and goodness should be universal. So the national government has a role, to standardize things.

Also, at the national government, power is split, as well, and each part has a say on the other parts. The executive nominates judges, the legislative approves, and then judges are independent. The legislative passes laws, but the executive must approve (unless the veto is overturned by the executive). The executive interprets implementation. The judicial judges both the laws and implementation. No decrees, no kings.

It is messy, and hard to do things. But this is by design. The only expediency is during an emergency, so we give such power to the executive. So it is scary when they are bad, crazy, or feeble. But they are surrounded by advisers. And moral people can still refuse to carry out orders. They are not robots. Still, ballistic missiles would obey. So scary.