Qualified to be President

[Kishkumen]

I read an article a while back that I may try to track down. It was about education, but I think it has broader application. The gist was that "consumerism" has had a detrimental impact on our educational system. That's what we've done with government in general, I think. Our view of government has been reduced to a trip to Walmart. We pay our taxes in exchange for goods and services. Only, unlike Walmart, we require government to give us what we demand or we attack it.

What is completely lost is the concept of what it means to be a citizen. Citizenship is a kind of compact between citizen and government that involves more than just paying money. Maybe that's how civic virtue fits in. Regardless, it's pretty clear that the framers assumed the existence of obligations that we no longer acknowledge.

I would love to read that. I have been thinking along similar lines for some time, but I have never taken the time to put those thoughts in any kind of order.

[Gunnar]

Excellent and thoughtful thread! I sorrowfully deplore that fact that so many politicians possess very many of the qualifications enumerated in the OP. I wish there were some effective way to legally disqualify candidates lacking most, if not all, of these qualifications from ever running for office.

[Some Schmo]

Excellent and thoughtful thread! I sorrowfully deplore that fact that so many politicians possess very many of the qualifications enumerated in the OP. I wish there were some effective way to legally disqualify candidates lacking most, if not all, of these qualifications from ever running for office.

While I completely agree with Kish's list, it strikes me as impossible to actually enlist a person of this character, because if they had it, they likely would also have the sense never to get involved in politics.

[Gunnar]

Excellent and thoughtful thread! I sorrowfully deplore that fact that so many politicians possess very many of the qualifications enumerated in the OP. I wish there were some effective way to legally disqualify candidates lacking most, if not all, of these qualifications from ever running for office.

While I completely agree with Kish's list, it strikes me as impossible to actually enlist a person of this character, because if they had it, they likely would also have the sense never to get involved in politics.

I fear you are right above that. I have heard it said that the worst choice for president is someone who aspires to the job. I think it was Arthur C. Clarke who envisioned a future in which aspiration to be president was an unwaivable disqualification for the job. The President was drafted by a computer algorithm from a pool of people with demonstrated ability, honesty, intelligence and leadership qualities, who had no record of ever having expressed a desire for the position. The selectee was required to serve a fixed term after which their performance was evaluated. If they performed badly or dishonorably, they were punished by having to serve a second involuntary term.