> he doesn't have the power to create a database listing all American citizens, let alone the citizens of foreign countries
It's my understanding that the NSA did just that under Bush and Obama though. I might have only one side of the story, but in all countries where some part of the state surveillance apparatus was exposed, the law seems to be carefully crafted to look like it forbids mass surveillance while actually allowing the executive to implement it.
I‘d assume he doesn’t need to create those DBs, Facebook shares them with all agencies.
Does he not have that power, or does he not have the ability? Imo I think he has both.
It’s soft power vs. hard power. Everyone has an amount of measurable soft power and a measurable amount of hard power in different spheres. Soft power is how much everyone wants to agree with you, while hard power is how much everyone has to agree to you. Think of it as respect vs. on paper.
To lead effectively, you need both. It’s rare that leaders have both. Biden does not have the soft power to do such a thing.
Soft power vs hard power also is a part of every relationship, even with your grandma or friend.
Well, it depends how you measure.
Joe Biden has the power to start wars, to pardon people for US crimes, to have anyone disappeared and tortured indefinitely - but he doesn't have the power to create a database listing all American citizens, let alone the citizens of foreign countries.