What If You Were President?

A newspaper headline caught my eye: What If I Were President. . . Not everyone wishes to be the president of a corporation or college, much less a country. But this headline was referring to the United States. There was a response. Let me in brief share some of the “presidential” ideas that were published.

We'd all be in trouble . . . I'd become Undercover President . . . I'd focus on being a leader, not a reactor . . . I'd make Constitution Day {a significant proclamation of the Constitution} . . . I'd push for limitations of all branches of government and change the public school systems . . . I'd cut taxes and regulations which hurt jobs . . . I'd launch a full-throated campaign to repeal the so-called medical “catastrophic coverage” drug policy . . . I'd have live comedy tours for people to watch together . . . I'd take care of our military veterans and homeless people first . . ..

These are abbreviated but do give a gist of what was proposed. The task of the U.S. President is not only demanding but essential. Each of us could come up with a list and few would be identical. Personally, we shudder at the task implied or stated, as well as a Congress so divided on essential issues that to tackle subjects like excessive debt or high unemployment (including those who would rather live on welfare than work for a living) is nearly impossible.

Here are some unwritten suggestions that might be added to the list above: Reduce the size and perks of Congress [as well as terms} . . . Establish in advance minimal requirements for key Federal employees . . . Make transparency transparent . . . Shorten the campaign season from "running for office" to “walking” . . . Limit the amount that each Party could raise and spend . . . Encourage the media to be more objective than subjective . . . Reduce or eliminate Executive Orders that are later deemed unconstitutional or merely“political" . . . Add your own now.

Running a business, an educational institution, an ecclesiastical movement or a medical facility demands integrity, wisdom, common sense, morality, and ethics for its governing body, not to mention education, experience and tenure. It is not lenient nor should it be. Things do change, inventions keep coming, society has its ups and downs, but there are vital matters believe it or not that do not change (like mathematics and fundamental moral values). Unfortunately, there are those who aspire to uphold these essential values but then vacillate (waver, fluctuate), challenging others to intervene if they have the will to do so.  All the more reason to hold the bar high for those we elect to public office, whether President of the United States, or mayor of your community!