Wouldn't it be good to have hope, and expect change? Our government, our country, our people can change, for the better, or for the worse. I'm sad that you think the status quo can't be changed. It can and should be.

The president can change many things. They choose not to because there is a cost. Of course, checks and balances with legislators and the courts, but the executive branch has tremendous leeway in executive policy and action. Obama could order the NSA to stop tapping domestic fiber and they would. He chooses not to because he doesn't want the Washinton insiders to attack him. This is our country, not the career politicians. It's not a cliche, it's true. Those of us who are voting citizens should realize that politics need not be a Hegelian compromise, elect people that affect positive change, and punish and vote out those that don't.