Opinion: When will the United States elect a president who is worth celebrating?
Today we celebrate 44 men. It’s Presidents’ Day.
Not that long ago Abraham Lincoln and George Washington were honored separately on their February birthdays. Instead of squabbling over which, if any, presidents were worthy of having a federal holiday dedicated in their honor, one day – the third Monday of February – is set aside to recognize all of the presidents of the United States.
This being a presidential election year Lake Tahoe News believes it is more important than other years to pause and reflect about these men who some say are the most important leader in the world.
Mount Rushmore immortalizes four presidents. Are any others worthy of such recognition? Photo/LTN
What are the qualities we like in a leader?
Put aside party affiliation. Put aside gender. Put aside race. Put aside religion. Now answer that question.
It’s time for a frank discussion about what leadership means. It’s time to set priorities for this country. How are we supposed to pick a person to lead us if collectively we don’t know where we want to be led?
Is picking the lesser of two evils really the choice we should be left with? In a country of millions are the people vying for the Republican nomination and the current president really the best either party can come up with?
How can we have hope when the powers that be rely on individuals and the “wisdom” of those who have led us into this oblivion? How can we believe in candidates who can’t figure out what they stand for, equate homosexuality to bestiality or think cheating on a dying wife can be explained away?
Simply put, being president is a job. We, the people, are the bosses of the president. But instead it feels more like they are the boss of us – telling us what we need and want. Until the people take control, tell the president, Congress and other people in power what we want, we will be taken on a ride we may not want to be on.
We are the bosses of all politicians. One way to evaluate them is how we vote. But why wait every two, four or six years for that to happen. Performance evaluations are the norm in most lines of work. They should be told what is working and what isn’t. But we have to tell them, not them telling us.
We all have choices. We can sit back and complain. We can point fingers. We can say one person alone cannot make a difference.
Or, we can make our opinions known, we can take responsibility, and we can be a voice for the change we want in our communities, our states, and our country.
While it will always make sense to have one day to collectively celebrate the presidents of the United States, Lake Tahoe News would like to think all who have held and will hold that office would be worthy of having their individual day to be recognized. Maybe in 2017 after the 2016 election we can start on that path.
Excellent Article, this means the same for your City Council, Your City Mgr. and Nancy Kerry.
But why do we have to wait until 2016 ??
We have an election for President coming up this year, THROW THIS BUM OUT,
O.M.G. MEANS = OBAMA MUST GO
Excellent article Kae. Very well put.
Seems impossible to find truly great man to run for President the way the system is now. The incumbent has NO leadership qualities whatsoever, and the Republican challenger? Well out of all those millions we’re about to nominate the guy who invented Obamacare! There are no good choices this year, as there were none in 2008. Odd, isn’t it?
I have a feeling that if we could be around during Washington’s or Lincoln’s time in office or during the the time after they just left office we may have not had the same opinion of them as we hear espoused in our history books. By no means am I belittling these administrations, but I’m pretty sure time has a way of softening and obscuring, sometimes enhancing and embellishing the historical remembrance of people and events. A perfect example would be our founding fathers. We are told how great and honorable these men were, yet many of them were by today’s standards would be considered morally bankrupt (owning slaves, the belief that only white male land owners had rights, and so on). Sometimes even the most horrible people have achieved great things, and history has a way of stripping away the negatives and viewing leaders and events through rose colored glasses.
On the other hand, one thing time does is let us look at a bigger picture and let us see how leaders actions effect us in the long term. Sometimes what seems to viewed as a positive in the moment may have detrimental effects on us in the long term, and visa versa!
1. Don’t hold your breath.
2. The more you try to change politics
the more it stays the same.
3. You can’t override human nature.
Does the US President really have much control anyway? President Eisenhower commented in his last speech: A vital element in keeping the peace is our military establishment. Our arms must be mighty, ready for instant action, so that no potential aggressor may be tempted to risk his own destruction.
Our military organization today bears little relation to that known by any of my predecessors in peacetime, or indeed by the fighting men of World War II or Korea.
Until the latest of our world conflicts, the United States had no armaments industry. American makers of plowshares could, with time and as required, make swords as well. But now we can no longer risk emergency improvisation of national defense; we have been compelled to create a permanent armaments industry of vast proportions. Added to this, three and a half million men and women are directly engaged in the defense establishment. We annually spend on military security more than the net income of all United States corporations.
This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience. The total influence — economic, political, even spiritual — is felt in every city, every State house, every office of the Federal government. We recognize the imperative need for this development. Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications. Our toil, resources and livelihood are all involved; so is the very structure of our society.
In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the militaryindustrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.
We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together.
OH MY GOD!! We the people are no longer just people. We now have Corporations that are people. When the people people acted in the State of Wisconsin the corpeople were concerned. As a result the Koch brothers energi$ed the pols adnausem. Now it has been factually reported that 1/2 foreclosure funds the banks have to pay the people people will
help balance the budget. This is the same budget that gave the corpeople a $1 mil7 tax break. Then the Gov. attacked the people people just as he is doing now.Time will tell if the people people or the corpeople will win the recall election.
I agree with biggerpicture.
But while history plays its role in determining who enhanced us and who not, we have to take Kae’s words to heart that we must learn as much as we can about the candidates from lots of independent sources and make the best informed decision.
It seems to me after watching 50 yars of presidential elections, the candidates’ ability to misinform and disinform us has grown more sophisticated. The Great United States of America loses in the process.
God bless America!
Earl; regarding your point number 3: THAT is why the founding fathers gave us our Constitution. They understood human nature all too well and made good rules to prevent men from doing what is their nature to do.
Unfortunately, we’ve had a few administrations now that have managed to sidestep that Constitution in spite the LAW.
And that is why it’s so important to have a President with integrity. The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
Dog our local roads are hell.Fire just hasn’t start coming up yet!
Does any one remember how Ronald Regan and Daddy Bush had their private army
import Crack Cocaine and sell it to the Crips street gang in Los Angles, who’s distribution was all across America
Yes Chief, and I also remember the San Jose Mercury News being discredited on their bogus story.
4 More years please.
Wow, now That is some opinion piece! Speaking for myself and my family, we have celebrated President Obama, and I hope he has 4 more years! None of the upcoming extremists qualify.
LOL! Anybody who thinks Mitt Romney is an extremist is sorely out of touch with reality, IMHO.
America – is on the brink of for-never.
FORGET HOPE AND CHANGE, that was a sweet lie easy for the ignorance to grasp.
America is in a battle for the soul of tomorrow.
GBA
America – is on the brink of for-never.
FORGET HOPE AND CHANGE, that was a sweet lie easy for the ignorant to grasp.
America is in a battle for the soul of tomorrow.
GBA
When we stop selling our votes
The latest figures, taking into account the new raise, show that:
• The debt ceiling has been raised 103 times since 1944
• It has been raised 51 times by Republicans, 52 times by Democrats
• Ronald Reagan increased the debt ceiling by 23 times, followed by Lyndon B Johnson with 13 times, Bill Clinton by 12 times and Jimmy Carter by 9 times
Date. Debt ceiling, $bn GDP, $bn Debt ceiling as % of GDP Year end debt, $bn Party
SOURCES: BEA, WHITE HOUSE, US TREASURY
1 June 26, 1944. 49 101 48 51 Dem
2 February 20, 1945. 65 127 51 58 Dem
3 March 29, 1946. 125 162 77 79 Dem
4 April 12, 1947. 210 199 106 143 Dem
5 June 10, 1948. 260 220 118 204 Dem
6 April 4, 1949. 300 223 135 260 Dem
7 June 27, 1950. 275 222 124 271 Dem
8 August 29, 1958. 281 380 74 271 Rep
9 July 1, 1959. 281 415 68 274 Rep
10 July 10, 1960. 278 437 64 273 Rep
11 July 2, 1961. 275 461 60 272 Dem
12 February 27, 1962. 280 467 60 280 Dem
13 September 3, 1962. 288 467 62 280 Dem
14 July 1, 1963. 295 507 58 287 Dem
15 July 1, 1964. 293 526 56 291 Dem
16 July 1, 1965. 298 545 55 293 Dem
17 March 14, 1966. 300 586 51 303 Dem
18 July 2, 1966. 308 586 53 303 Dem
19 April 2, 1967. 305 618 49 310 Dem
20 June 26, 1967. 300 618 49 310 Dem
21 May 30, 1967. 307 618 50 310 Dem
22 July 2, 1967. 309 618 50 310 Dem
23 August 28, 1967. 309 618 50 310 Dem
24 November 27, 1967. 315 618 51 310 Dem
25 July 1, 1968. 309 664 47 316 Dem
26 June 30, 1968. 324 664 49 316 Dem
27 June 25, 1969. 328 719 46 322 Rep
28 June 25, 1970. 330 788 42 328 Rep
29 March 3, 1971. 336 832 40 340 Rep
30 July 1, 1971. 358 832 43 340 Rep
31 July 2, 1972. 365 910 40 369 Rep
32 April 8, 1973. 377 984 38 366 Rep
33 July 1, 1974. 395 1,038 38 381 Rep
34 March 18, 1975. 430 1,127 38 408 Rep
35 March 16, 1976. 450 1,238 36 436 Rep
36 July 2, 1976. 450 1,238 36 436 Rep
37 October 28, 1976. 465 1,238 38 436 Rep
38 July 2, 1977. 465 1,382 34 466 Dem
39 December 4, 1977. 476 1,382 34 466 Dem
40 July 1, 1978. 495 1,500 33 484 Dem
41 February 20, 1979. 577 1,638 35 542 Dem
42 July 1, 1979. 577 1,638 35 542 Dem
43 November 15, 1979. 595 1,638 36 542 Dem
44 March 16, 1980. 627 1,825 34 629 Dem
45 July 1, 1980. 636 1,825 35 629 Dem
46 October 2, 1980. 682 1,825 37 629 Dem
47 April 2, 1981. 700 2,030 34 706 Rep
48 October 2, 1981. 400 2,030 20 706 Rep
49 October 5, 1981. 752 2,030 37 706 Rep
50 March 28, 1982. 752 2,294 33 777 Rep
51 August 2, 1982. 400 2,294 17 777 Rep
52 August 4, 1982. 798 2,294 35 777 Rep
53 April 2, 1983. 400 2,562 16 829 Rep
54 April 3, 1983. 830 2,562 32 829 Rep
55 September 30, 1983. 879 2,562 34 829 Rep
56 May 31, 1984. 879 2,788 32 909 Rep
57 June 7, 1984. 879 2,788 32 909 Rep
58 June 29, 1984. 925 2,788 33 909 Rep
59 December 20, 1984. 935 2,788 34 909 Rep
60 February 8, 1985. 985 3,127 32 995 Rep
61 October 1, 1985. 1,000 3,127 32 995 Rep
62 October 1, 1985. 1,080 3,127 35 995 Rep
63 June 29, 1986. 1,143 3,253 35 1,137 Rep
64 October 1, 1986. 1,290 3,253 40 1,137 Rep
65 May 27, 1987. 1,389 3,535 39 1,372 Rep
66 November 22, 1987. 1,490 3,535 42 1,372 Rep
67 May 26, 1988. 1,520 3,931 39 1,565 Rep
68 July 7, 1988. 1,573 3,931 40 1,565 Rep
69 October 14, 1988. 1,824 3,931 46 1,565 Rep
70 November 15, 1989. 1,904 4,218 45 1,817 Rep
71 December 13, 1989. 2,079 4,218 49 1,817 Rep
72 August 22, 1990. 2,111 4,460 47 2,121 Rep
73 October 22, 1990. 2,300 4,460 52 2,121 Rep
74 May 16, 1991. 2,320 4,736 49 2,346 Rep
75 July 31, 1991. 2,320 4,736 49 2,346 Rep
76 August 11, 1991. 2,352 4,736 50 2,346 Rep
77 September 30, 1991. 2,800 4,736 59 2,346 Rep
78 August 8, 1993. 2,870 5,482 52 2,868 Dem
79 November 9, 1993. 3,123 5,482 57 2,868 Dem
80 August 10, 1994. 3,195 5,800 55 3,206 Dem
81 October 3, 1994. 3,195 5,800 55 3,206 Dem
82 October 10, 1994. 3,195 5,800 55 3,206 Dem
83 October 20, 1994. 3,195 5,800 55 3,206 Dem
84 October 26, 1994. 3,195 5,800 55 3,206 Dem
85 October 29, 1994. 3,230 5,800 56 3,206 Dem
86 November 6, 1994. 4,145 5,800 71 3,206 Dem
87 April 7, 1997. 4,370 6,667 66 4,351 Dem
88 August 11, 1997. 4,900 6,667 73 4,351 Dem
89 February 9, 2000. 4,900 7,838 63 5,181 Dem
90 March 13, 2000. 4,900 7,838 63 5,181 Rep
91 March 30, 2000. 5,500 7,838 70 5,181 Rep
92 August 6, 2001. 5,950 7,838 76 5,369 Rep
93 June 29, 2006. 6,400 10,642 60 6,198 Rep
94 May 28, 2007. 7,384 11,142 66 6,760 Rep
95 November 20, 2008. 8,184 11,868 69 7,355 Rep
96 March 21, 2010. 8,965 13,399 67 8,451 Dem
97 September 30, 2011. 9,815 14,062 70 8,951 Dem
98 July 31, 2012. 10,615 14,369 74 9,986 Dem
99 October 4, 2012. 11,315 14,369 79 9,986 Dem
100 February 18, 2013. 12,104 14,119 86 11,876 Dem
101 December 29, 2013. 12,394 14,119 88 11,876 Dem
102 February 13, 2014. 14,294 14,660 98 13,529 Dem
103 August 2, 2011. 14,694 15,102 97 14,342 Dem
Is there really a better Party?
However many leadership qualities there are in determining who will lead us, the get compromised by the power-bases of Washington, D.C. & New York – co=opted by monied interests as if that is the only true calling. Unfortunately, it’s become true.
In the book ‘Collapse’, Jared Diamond ( a Pulitzer Prize winning author) talks about what happened to 5 other civilizations (different times, different locales)- the common thread of their demise was “when the leadership insulated themselves from the consequences of their actions” – does this ring true or ring hollow in contemporary America (?).
You decide…
To answer the question: How do we get a better President?
The system we have today favors the person from one of two parties who raises the most money (94% of the time the Republican or Democrat who raises the most money wins). Our election process has become a corporate auction in which two groups vie for power by collecting money from Corporations and in return make laws which favor these same Corporations so that they will once more get money to stay in power during the next election. Our government is run by the Corporations for the Corporations benefit. Until this system is changed we will continue to be offered two flavors of Corporate flunkies.
Ask yourself who benefits from what the Democrats want to do? Ask the same about the Republicans? In the end Wall Street wins either way no matter whether we bail them out, reduce their taxes, remove the laws they don’t like or add laws that favor them? Every other issue brought up is a distraction as we are electing a party and not in independent decision maker. Do you really think we will make the extreme changes either party is taunting?
Our system needs to be changed? Like Jesus, anyone who would actually change our approach to Government wouldn’t be allowed in the front door by the Philistines of BOTH parties that are running things today!
Vote early, vote often!
-Local Yokle