As a response to the US generated thread about the Monarchy in the UK;
Is the Presidency obsolete? It seems to an outsider from the UK that the USA is actually governed by a coalition of media owners, bankers, arms manufacturers, very rich people and right wing Christian pressure groups. Presidents seem to be elected by unreliable voting systems, and are effectively emasculated (by the vested interests detailed above) within a year of taking office, so what's the point of having one? Why not just let those with real power get on with it?

I'm sure that there are some in the USA that might consider these questions impertinent and none of my business, but I thought I'd ask anyway...
Tim