The field of candidates for the 2008 presidential election falls far short of the qualities that the President of the United States should possess. Recent presidents and current candidates alike all have been lacking in some key areas that we the voters should no longer excuse. This is no way an endorsement of any candidate, but rather a common-sense list of some necessary attributes an American president should always possess.
The leader of any country, and especially the U.S., should be a cultured person who strives to understand the mystery of the many cultures around the world. A large part of understanding and coexisting cultures is speaking the language. The president does not need to learn every language in the world, but two or three languages spoken with clarity would really go a long way in repairing our broken world image.
Selfless servitude jumps out as another necessity for an ideal contender. Someone who voluntarily and regularly participates in community service (without bringing their entire press posse for positive publicity), or voluntarily served in our country’s military or makes another selfless contribution to society would be a welcome change.
Typically, community service events and a candidate’s military service record turn into ways for them to gain political ground. Rarely, if ever, do candidates appear genuine or caring when it comes to serving their country and helping average people.
This lack of sincerity leads right into the next point that anyone running for arguably the most powerful job in the world should have – basic honesty. Honesty not only includes truthfulness, but also a non-scripted approach when it comes to giving speeches and answering questions.
Every speech given by political people seems watered down with absolutes, extremes, and charged rhetoric meant to distract the voter from the real issues. Is it too much to ask for candidates who write their own speeches?
Finally, he or she should be independent. That does not mean they cannot come from a political party, but party insiders and corporate puppets have no place running this country. They have too many interests and agendas not in the best interest of any American anywhere on the political spectrum.
These qualities are in no way ubiquitous, but seem like common sense when choosing the leader of nearly 300 million people. If we as voters continue to settle for the lesser of two evils, America will eventually be reduced to a second-rate country. In 2008, why shouldn’t we (Democrats, Republicans, and Independents alike) have some common values we are all unwilling to compromise?
