Some are circulating an untruth about the number of executive orders Obama has signed as President of the United States.
Looking at the federal archives website says he has signed much fewer than the 900 some claim. He's signed 137, which is the least since 1929.
A little number jockeying about this is interesting. For instance, from 1789-1929, a period of 140 years, only 5088 EOs were signed. This nation endured 9 wars and 33 recessions/depressions.
From 1929 - 2012, a period of 83 years, 8,538 EOs were signed. This nation endured 10 wars, The Great Depression, and 13 recessions.
From 1929 - 2012, FDR (D) signed the greatest number at 3466, which is 41% during the given time frame.
Herbert Hoover (R) signed 995, which is 12% during that time frame.
Harry S. Truman (D) signed 893, which is 10.5% during the same period.
Dwight D. Eisenhower (R) signed 481, which is 5.6% during this period.
Hoover, FDR, and Truman had large economic and security issues causing great concern. Some will argue the validity of their intervention with EOs and justify them with language in the US Constitution. I disagree with their arguments and conclusions.
During the years 1929 - 2012, Democrats signed 67% of the EOs and Republicans 33%. If FDR is normed with Hoover and Truman, Democrats signed 53% of EOs while Republicans signed 47%.
Removing The Great Depression, WWII, Korea, and the remainder of Ike's years in the WH, the numbers look a bit different. A total of 2703 EOs were signed.
Ronald Reagan (R) is the number one signer of EOs at 380 or 14%. He broke the USSR through a technology race.
The second place holder is Bill Clinton (D) at 363 EOs or 13%. He is considered by some to have flaunted his executive power in the face of the Constitution.
The third place holder is Richard Nixon (R) at 345 or 12%.
Then we have LBJ (D) at 323 EOs or 11.9%.
If we assume linear relationships between the years, EOs signed, and numbers of wars and recessions/depressions, the numbers provide me with some interesting stuff.
From 1789 - 1929, they averaged 36 EOs/year and experienced war every 15.5 years and economic distress every 4.24 years.
From 1929 - 2012, they averaged 103 EOs signed and experienced war every 8.3 years and economic woes every 5.9 years.
If we throw out the period of the heaviest users of EOs and review only 1961 - 2012, they averaged 53 EOs/year and experienced war every 6.4 years and economic burps every 6.4 years.
If we consider the normal circumstances to be the years from 1789 - 1929, assuming linear relationships, the number of EOs signed from 1929 - 2012 should have been 3016. The number of EOs signed from 1961-2012, should have been 1853. Yet they signed 8538 and 2703, respectively.
The frequency of economic downturns is not significantly different. When viewed from the numbers of wars, war is coming 2 - 3 times more frequently but that is not alarmingly more frequent.
A review of some of the titles of EOs did not yield anything of relevance either. FDR issued 42% of his EOs between 1933 - 35. Many had nothing to do with The Great Depression, it appears.
Obama's track record is 1.6% at most, which is not a bad record. However, a review of the titles reveals some actions taken many including me disagree with, which should be the real point and not the numbers. And yet Republicans have done similarly.
Because of that, I would prefer weighty matters be taken before Congress by both parties. The WH has been evenly split between the number of Republicans and Democrats holding the office. Therefore, both parties need accountability leveraged by Congress.
If we are going to make "much ado" about something, let's get the information accurately cited first.
There are some discrepancies in the numbers at the federal archives website, which were not investigated because they were not that relevant overall.
This is not an endorsement for President Obama's re-election bid. We are diametrically opposed on many issues and he does not seem to truly understand the American mindset.
Looking at the federal archives website says he has signed much fewer than the 900 some claim. He's signed 137, which is the least since 1929.
A little number jockeying about this is interesting. For instance, from 1789-1929, a period of 140 years, only 5088 EOs were signed. This nation endured 9 wars and 33 recessions/depressions.
From 1929 - 2012, a period of 83 years, 8,538 EOs were signed. This nation endured 10 wars, The Great Depression, and 13 recessions.
From 1929 - 2012, FDR (D) signed the greatest number at 3466, which is 41% during the given time frame.
Herbert Hoover (R) signed 995, which is 12% during that time frame.
Harry S. Truman (D) signed 893, which is 10.5% during the same period.
Dwight D. Eisenhower (R) signed 481, which is 5.6% during this period.
Hoover, FDR, and Truman had large economic and security issues causing great concern. Some will argue the validity of their intervention with EOs and justify them with language in the US Constitution. I disagree with their arguments and conclusions.
During the years 1929 - 2012, Democrats signed 67% of the EOs and Republicans 33%. If FDR is normed with Hoover and Truman, Democrats signed 53% of EOs while Republicans signed 47%.
Removing The Great Depression, WWII, Korea, and the remainder of Ike's years in the WH, the numbers look a bit different. A total of 2703 EOs were signed.
Ronald Reagan (R) is the number one signer of EOs at 380 or 14%. He broke the USSR through a technology race.
The second place holder is Bill Clinton (D) at 363 EOs or 13%. He is considered by some to have flaunted his executive power in the face of the Constitution.
The third place holder is Richard Nixon (R) at 345 or 12%.
Then we have LBJ (D) at 323 EOs or 11.9%.
If we assume linear relationships between the years, EOs signed, and numbers of wars and recessions/depressions, the numbers provide me with some interesting stuff.
From 1789 - 1929, they averaged 36 EOs/year and experienced war every 15.5 years and economic distress every 4.24 years.
From 1929 - 2012, they averaged 103 EOs signed and experienced war every 8.3 years and economic woes every 5.9 years.
If we throw out the period of the heaviest users of EOs and review only 1961 - 2012, they averaged 53 EOs/year and experienced war every 6.4 years and economic burps every 6.4 years.
If we consider the normal circumstances to be the years from 1789 - 1929, assuming linear relationships, the number of EOs signed from 1929 - 2012 should have been 3016. The number of EOs signed from 1961-2012, should have been 1853. Yet they signed 8538 and 2703, respectively.
The frequency of economic downturns is not significantly different. When viewed from the numbers of wars, war is coming 2 - 3 times more frequently but that is not alarmingly more frequent.
A review of some of the titles of EOs did not yield anything of relevance either. FDR issued 42% of his EOs between 1933 - 35. Many had nothing to do with The Great Depression, it appears.
Obama's track record is 1.6% at most, which is not a bad record. However, a review of the titles reveals some actions taken many including me disagree with, which should be the real point and not the numbers. And yet Republicans have done similarly.
Because of that, I would prefer weighty matters be taken before Congress by both parties. The WH has been evenly split between the number of Republicans and Democrats holding the office. Therefore, both parties need accountability leveraged by Congress.
If we are going to make "much ado" about something, let's get the information accurately cited first.
There are some discrepancies in the numbers at the federal archives website, which were not investigated because they were not that relevant overall.
This is not an endorsement for President Obama's re-election bid. We are diametrically opposed on many issues and he does not seem to truly understand the American mindset.
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