Would You Ever Want to be in Their Shoes

[Gravekeeper]

If you read his autobiography on the subject, he makes it clear that he believes he did what God told him to do. Literally. That the Iraqi invasion, the WMDs and all that - these were the WILL OF JESUS. And that people who opposed him then and now are allied with....a former member of the angelic hierarchy.

....well, clinging to that sort of delusion certainly would keep the guilt at bay. >.>

[Mytical]

Yes, I would like to be president. I know, now everybody thinks I have gone crazy. Even if I managed to not change a dang thing (and I would fight the good fight, even if it was a losing one), here is something that you'd have to understand. Once you go through the four years as President...you get paid FOR LIFE. Every year you are alive, regardless, you get whatever it is that presidents get paid. Which I know is over 250k a year.

It wouldn't matter if I was ridiculed, or hated, or whatever. I could then retire, after four years. Don't get me wrong. As I said, I would fight every day to make things better. Even if that meant vetoing bills unless they were easy to understand by MOST people. Even if it meant the government got nothing accomplished. At least they won't have made it WORSE. If I didn't get reelected, so what?

[the_std]

But I know I won't win. And if I DID win...I'd work for the people, NOT for the government.

I'm sorry, but no you wouldn't. The American political system is now designed in such a way that you can't. The government can only work for itself and, if the people are helped in the process, it's considered a bonus.

[guywithashovel]

I'd never want to be in their shoes. Have you ever looked at before and after pics of presidents? It's not pretty.


^-.-^

One time I was watching a program where they were talking about this. They said that presidents usually age twice as fast as the average person (while they're in office). They showed several pictures of presidents before they took office and after they left office, and it was amazing. They looked at least a decade older, even the ones who only served four years.

If you look at pictures of W before he became president, he almost looks like a college student compared to how he looked when he left.

[Kaylyn]

I'm sorry, but no you wouldn't. The American political system is now designed in such a way that you can't. The government can only work for itself and, if the people are helped in the process, it's considered a bonus.

In that case, if such a situation came up where I was forced to do something that was not in the best interests of American citizens (at least, as far as the executive branch's power reaches, which I understand is checked and balanced by the legislative and judicial branches), then I would resign, stating very clearly in my resignation speech exactly what the reason is, and what forced me into feeling like I couldn't do my job properly.

I'm also curious as to exactly what you mean by this statement. Are you referring to the way the government checks and balances, or are you referring to something within the executive branch itself? Because I can understand having to work around Congress and the Supreme Court and accepting when they overturn a bill you vetoed or if the Court rules against it, but I'm having trouble understanding why the President would be forced to sign a bill he or she didn't feel was in the best interests of the citizens.

[Mytical]

Kaylyn as it is right now, special interests and money pretty much have a hammer lock on the government. They won't force anybody to do anything, but if those people want to get reelected they will 'play ball'. If somebody gets elected and votes their conscious, its not like a gun will be held to their head. Campaign funds just simply dry up, and then the 'spin' takes place. How not voting for a certain bill makes you a puppy killing pedophile (ok maybe not THAT bad, but I'm sure you get the point) or how voting for a bill means you are a secret muslim socialist communist (forget that it makes no sense..it doesn't have to).

Which leaves the person in a catch 22. If they deny it, then they are 'protesting too much, so it must be true', and if they don't 'see they are not denying it, so it must be true.'

Beyond that, however, is what is called political leverage. You trade your vote on somebody elses pet bill to get their vote on your pet bill. Etc.

Now the president is SUPPOSED to be above this. They are the ones who are supposed to keep the whole of America in mind. Do the least harm with the greatest benefit. Sure, not everybody is going to approve, can't make everybody happy, but their decisions are supposed to help the greatest majority. If that means voting against their own party, then so be it. If they don't get reelected, so be it, at least the least harm possible was done.

However, now the presidency is worse. It goes to the best salesman. The one that can convince the most people that he or she is not going to turn around and stab them in the back at the first chance. It is a cult of personality, not who is best for the job of being NEUTRAL.