Why The President Of The United States Is The Most Dangerous Man On The Planet

A system that endows one man with the fate of all humanity

(Public domain)

During election season, thousands of words are used to describe presidential candidates. People pick over their qualifications, their past experiences, their records, and their personal lives. Most people don’t think about the fact that they are choosing who will inherit the power to destroy the planet.

In the United States, the president has the sole authority to command a nuclear strike. That includes a defensive retaliation and a nuclear first strike. The president does not need to consult with others, they don’t need to inform Congress, and they can act within minutes. The American president has the keys to planetary annihilation in their pocket at all times. This is a fact that most people conveniently forget.

Necessity of Sole Authority

Beginning with President Eisenhower, the power of the atomic bomb was placed firmly in the hand of the president. During the Korean War, General MacArthur petitioned the president for authorization to use nuclear weapons against the Chinese. Eisenhower refused. By the end of his presidency in 1960, the dangerous twists and turns of the Cold War made most people realize that the United…