An Eastern Diplomat's View of America

Author: Wu Tingfang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-09-01
Features: In the United States, people do not rush to become officials. There are many talented and capable individuals with business acumen, who have various ways to excel in their respective careers. They can easily attain positions that offer both wealth and influence, so these people are reluctant to enter politics. However, this does not mean that American government officials are incompetent. On the contrary, I can happily use my own experience to prove that the work they engage in is not only efficient but also, on the whole, comparable to that of government officials in European countries. Of course, considering the modest salary, it is not surprising that they are unable to persuade particularly outstanding individuals to accept positions in government. I know several cabinet ministers who had to resign and return to their old professions after serving for two or three years. It is said that the president went to great lengths to find capable successors to replace them. This does not apply to the president, not because his salary is high—compared to the wealth of European kings and emperors, it is indeed meager—but because this position is far above any other, and it is the most generous gift that the people can bestow. I have never heard of anyone rejecting a nomination for the presidency. I believe that whoever is offered the position would readily accept it. I have spoken with some people in the United States who told me that they were clearly successors to the White House, and they were indeed, because just as any European prince is the heir to the throne, they are the legitimate candidates for the presidency. There was once a woman who was nominated as a presidential candidate, although she received very few votes. As for the current laws and constitution, Americans do whatever they please, which impresses me greatly. From the president at the top to the smallest vendor at the bottom, everyone abides by them without exception. However, sometimes being too rigid with the law can create difficulties. Let me give an example. According to Article VI of the Constitution, "Senators or Representatives shall not hold any civil office in the government that is to be established during their campaign, nor shall they receive an increase in salary during this time." A certain senator was appointed by the president to join the cabinet, and coincidentally, the salary of that institution had been raised while he was serving in the Senate. According to the rules, he could only receive the salary he had before becoming a senator and was not entitled to the salary increase approved by Congress during his time in the Senate, even though he was completely unaware that the increase would affect his income. The relationship between the state and the federal government is rare and unique. Foreigners often make a mistake when discussing the different provinces of China, and I will correct this mistake to illustrate my point. Western writers generally believe that each province of China is autonomous, with local governments acting independently and ignoring the orders of the Beijing government. However, in fact, before the establishment of the Republic, all local government officials were appointed or approved by the Beijing government, and according to the emperor's orders, they could be replaced or dismissed at any time. Major matters could not be carried out without the emperor's approval. How does this compare to the states in the United States? Every American boasts that their state is independent of the federal government. All officials below the state governor are elected by the people. Each state has a legislative body composed of a Senate and a House of Representatives, which is also elected through popular vote. The state government has a great deal of power, almost...