Single Individuals and Policy
by Matt (an undergarduate student at BC)

I have heard a lot of talk regarding the use of single individuals to dictate U.S. policies in an attempt to create greater clarity. This strategy appears to be disasterous. What few people understand is that no single individual may conduct a governmental policy. This means that any individual, no matter how famous he or she is, may not carry out a policy even if he or she is a governmental agent. Even when the President issues an Executive Order, which is about as unitary as things get, other agencies must comply and carry-out the policies. In the case of an Executive Order it is executive agencies or the military. Thus, not even Bush, the most powerful person in the United States may conduct foreign or domestic policy unilaterally. In the end, individuals must get the support of other agents in order for policies to go into effect. Unfortunately, not even Chuck Norris can get by this restriction.