What is Up with These Presidential Czars's?

When I read or hear the word czar I think of king or ruler. It reminds me of the Russian czars in the early 1900's who were cruel, oppressive and not liked by the population. Their actions led to revolution and overthrow of the reign of czars. All my thoughts are negative when I think of czar. Now our government has thirteen or more czars overseeing many parts of American life and business. There is a car, technology, energy, healthcare, housing, mortgage and other czars that total to thirteen or more. Now a pay czar is being considered.

In the presidential cabinet there are only fifteen members. It appears that soon the president will have more czars than cabinet members. Cabinet members must be approved by Congress before they can advise the president. Czars are just appointed by the president with no approval necessary by the Congress. In my opinion it appears that the president is bypassing Congress and the Constitution.

I made a Google search and used the new Bing search on presidential czars. I got very little information. I want to know what do these czars get paid and are they paid with taxpayer's money? Another burning question is, how much power do these presidential appointed czars have? With fifteen cabinet members why are all these czars necessary?

What really bothers me is the lack of approval by Congress. Where is the checks and balance in the czar framework? I thought a president was elected, not a king. Tom Daschle was recommended for Human Services secretary. During his Senate approval his tax problem surfaced and was forced to bow out. If he had been appointed to the health czar post he would be on his way to leading health care reform. It appears that the president has found a way to bypass Congress approval.

Other parties have expressed concern about this issue. Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va sent a letter to the president on February 23^rd.(link). Other examples of czar concern can be found very easily. Therefore, it is not just me that has concern.

In conclusion, in addition to this czar controversy, I see the government bailout banks, auto makers, record deficits and my own personal erosion of net worth. All of these make me very concerned about the well being of our country. Is this nation going down the right path?