No need for fancy analysis.
The answer is: NEITHER, if our Constitution was actually being followed.
The answer is: CONGRESS, under the current “interpretation” of same.
Without a doubt it’s Congress. They control the purse strings and write the legislation.
The Federal Reserve would be the second most influential on the economy.
The president has little influence, in good times or bad. Though like a head coach, they take the credit when times are good, and get overly blamed when times are bad.
“That folks like me can only understand a very simple answer, and the very simple answer is that it’s all George Bush’s fault, that it is the President. Because I am either too dumb to too lazy for anything else but a very simple answer.”
That simple answer runs deeper. When Opossum becomes POTUS and begins socializing the economy, the voters won’t think it is improper.
I know, I KNOW, it is the people who comprise the economy, From the stay at home mom that does typing for local doctors to factory owners who employee thousands of people. Neither branch of government can do much more, although some regulation is necessary, than minimize interference.
I think in terms of maintaining confidence in the economy, a president can do more.
In terms of making the actual changes that effect the economy, congress can do more.
So i’ll give this one to congress.
Then to make a long story short ... step by step and incrementally continuous steps have continued down the road of socialism/communism. all the while calling it something else. Once a program is implemented it grows. Like the camel that gets its nose under the edge of the tent .. it in time is filling up the inside of the tent. Many programs that began based on sensible ideas the G.I. Bill, for housing and education i.e., get broadened and perverted ever increasing. Layer upon layer these programs multiply, seemingly ... good ideas. The chicken in every pot and car in every garage ideas presented by candidates to get elected (both parties.)
Flash forward to the last 20 years .. the encouragement of CREDIT, CREDIT, CREDIT, buying cars on long term credit, buying houses on 35 year credit, buying stuff on credit cards which gradually increased percentage of interest, etc. Just like everyone else ... we live on credit. So it followed that all along government was expanding and living on credit as well until it has gotten so extremely out of control as to bring everything to the edge of total collapse. The lies started long long ago, each party has had corruption, each party lies and does not deliver on their promises.
So where are we now? God is not allowed in schools, all religions are honored and okay except Christianity. Abortion is (paid by the government) on demand, homosexuality is taught and presented as an acceptable life style, The real power in government in Washington is not in the people. ... It is the the hands of the Bureaucrats, especially in the State Department. Communist ideas are being touted to us in other forms. Disguised sort of ...
There is virtually no difference in what the legislative bodies have done in the last 40 years ... it is spend, spend, increase taxes, over and over,.
I know that conservatives and liberals are quite different in what they espouse. Reagan stopped it a bit during his 8 years. Not enough. Now immigration, welfare, and democrats are a majority, either working for our government state and national, or on welfare, entitlement programs ... so they will vote for the democrats mostly.
IN SHORT/LONG ... WE ARE IN A HECK OF A FIX. No answer in sight. Of course the changes brought about to the Constitution and Supreme Court Decisions have had huge impact too.
Books and books and books are written about the overall situation ad nauseam.
It seems we are powerless to really change the forces behind our government.
SO WE ARE CONTINUING TO GO THROUGH THE MOTIONS.
I'm sorry ... I do not intend to depress you or make it seem hopeless. As long as people grouse to each other and continue to accept the current sate of affairs ... nothing will change the current course.
POLITICAL CORECTNESS HAS BEEN HUGE in controlling of thinking and acceptance of the unacceptable.
PRAY FOR THE INTERVENTION OF GOD.
The above is simply my opinion. I may be wrong.
uhhhh .. . .George Soros?