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Biden should get more than a passing grade for foreign policy

He pursues a cautious but pragmatic approach, without drawing the US into a major international crisis, or military conflict.

Published Wed, Jan 19, 2022 · 09:50 PM

    DeeperDive is a beta AI feature. Refer to full articles for the facts.

    THE president of the United States may be the "most powerful person in the world", but you do not have to be a political expert to conclude that this cliche notwithstanding, the White House occupant is actually not so powerful.

    He (or she) has very limited influence on the business cycle (from an economic perspective, the Fed chair is the most powerful person in the world). Most major policy issues like public education and healthcare are under the jurisdiction of state governors, and as we know now, presidents cannot defeat a global pandemic.

    In fact, the idea behind the system of checks and balances, including powerful legislature and courts, was to constrain the power of the president.

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