Tools of Reform

There are numerous tools available to the President within the confines of a nonpartisan executive that may seem boring and unexciting, but are underrated resources that can help increase confidence and predictability in public federal institutions, which can in turn facilitate long-term growth, safety and justice.

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First, the President has the ability to nominate - not appoint - thousands of senior executives to the federal government. Many, many of these officials exist to help the President look good and help the President's allies and friends get reelected and get favors returned. A nonpartisan President is not beholden to these special favors. I would focus on nominations based on merit and experience rather than partisan politics. A Secretary of Defense should in general have military experience (note that the current Secretary of Defense does, but this is not always the case across administrations). A Secretary of Transportation should in general have experience in that Department. An ambassador should in general have diplomatic and preferably linguistic experience in the liaison country. 

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Second, the President has the ability to initiate the budget process with their budget request made in the Spring (preferably). Any President in modern American history taking office operates under the previous Administration and Congress's final budget for the first fiscal year of their administration. This April and May, if elected, I would be able to initiate, not create, the first steps towards the budget process that is and should be dominated by Congress. One of the largest budgetary items is salaries of  personnel. I am in favor of decreasing the size of the military (I am the only candidate I am aware of on the ballot in any state with combat experience and I know firsthand how much gets wasted going through the process of dealing with nonperformers) and I am in favor of decreasing top-heavy staffs with positions that are designed to facilitate partisan allies and donors. Congress ultimately passes budgets, appropriations, spending bills and authorizations, but the President does have a role to play.

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Third, the President has the ability to conduct themself and communicate intentions clearly, directly and simply. I have not run my campaign going on media tours using legacy and faddish media - anyone with an Internet Protocol address can see what I'm about and contact me directly. I have met you in person without security or filter, and as President I can work hard to stay connected to the public.

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Fourth, the President's character and experience can engender trust and motivation from the government's workers. For example, I have combat experience in the military. I was an enlisted soldier in the Army, and I know what it is like to work hard in dangerous environments forgotten by your country. I would command the respect of a distrustful and entrenched security establishment better than partisan candidates, without being beholden to their special interests. 

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There are more tools available, but any President claiming they can fix things unilaterally is generally ignorant, dishonest or both. The Presidency has some tools at its disposal, and a healthy understanding and plan to use them is beneficial for the public.

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