The American Public is the ultimate kingmaker
The American public fills the most powerful job on earth.
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Context
The President of the United States was in any given year of the last century, the most powerful person on earth.
The Argument
The President of the United States governs the world’s largest economy with the world’s largest and most advanced military. Therefore, at any time in the last century, the President of the United States must be considered the most powerful person on earth.
The American president is beholden to those that put him in office; the American voter. Therefore, the American electorate becomes the most powerful kingmaker on earth and by proxy, the most powerful political force in history.
Counter arguments
The American public are not a single person and are therefore disqualified from the debate.
Also, the American public is easily influenced by powerful individuals and groups. They are influenced by media, which is influenced by corporations and media moguls. They are also influenced by social media, making those that control social media networks far more powerful than individual voters.
Framing
Political power is distributed by the electorate. Therefore, the electorate is the ultimate source of political power. As the largest economy with the most advanced military, the US is the most powerful political force on earth, and by proxy, the US electorate hold the most power on earth.
Premises
[P1] The US president is the most powerful office on earth.
[P2] The president is beholden to the American public.
[P3] Therefore, the American public are the most powerful people on earth.
Rejecting the premises
[Rejecting P2] The American public is influenced by social media and traditional media. Therefore, the heads of these organisations hold the most power.
[Rejecting P3] The American people are not a single person and are therefore disqualified from the debate.