As parents, when we look down at our bundle of joys, we tend to hold high hopes for them. Sometimes is as modest as "as long as they're happy," but at some point what parent doesn't postulate that their child will go on to do bigger better things than them, or just big things?
It is where the old cliche of wanting your child to be a doctor or lawyer comes from. Smart. Employed. Making bank.
The more ambitious or politically minded may even postulate that one day their baby may even become President. And perhaps there are a few adolescents that have that very dreams for themselves.
But nowadays, and perhaps I should have realized this sooner, I really question this goal, realistic or overly hopeful as it may be. I mean, really, who in their right mind would really want to become President of the United States?
At first, it sounds like a fine job. Popular. Powerful. Someone who can effect change, make a historical difference.
But can he/she really? To a certain cultural extent perhaps, but let's actually consider what most people don't when it comes to being president.
First off, let's face the most obvious in considering the question, "would you really want your kid to become president?"
1. The road into politics is a sordid and scary path. Chances are, your kid is going to have to do something unsavory or slightly unethical or questionable at some point along the way to even get CLOSE to becoming President. And, this is perhaps the more important part, even if they don't, even if they manage to keep their proverbial nose clean, then it won't matter because as soon as they become important in an election, someone's going to lie about them. It won't matter that it is a lie because most people won't pay attention to or believe any retractions or evidence otherwise. (You can thank Lee Atlwalter for that.)
2. Regardless of how moral or not your child actually is, every single thing they do (on their way to and once becoming the President) will be scrutinized by the public eye, broadcast on the media and internet and debated heatedly (and also parodied). A private life will be difficult to keep, and probably very different from the one everyone believes they have regardless. Whether or not they wear a flag pin or remember a holiday or had a cold or choked on a chicken wing or scratched their butt in public or for dear lord--acted human!!! And, unlike celebrities who are also followed relentlessly and who can occasionally pull off a box office hit and make the majority happy, anything the President does will likely piss off nearly half of the country for some reason or another, whether they understand it or not. And no one will want to be him/her, not like they want to be rock stars or models. And he/she won't be paid nearly as well to boot. (Not that that justifies harassment, but perhaps it cools the sting.)
3. "So what, it's the price of power," you might say. But, How much power does he/she really have? Not much. Sure they can appoint judges that must be approved. Sure they can write and suggest bills like any other member of congress, but congress has to vote and before congress votes yes, they can't sign it. Sure they can veto, but how many vetos (which can be overridden by congress by the way) can they get by with before they are "abusing their power."
Freakanomics and this to-the-point fellow sum it up much better and clearer than I possibly could, but what it basically boils down to is, unless he/she has a congress full of like minded individuals, the President isn't going to be able to accomplish much, and what they do manage will take many many months of wading through pain, suffering, bargaining, and shit. Not to mention of course the scrutinizing eye of the media and the public who --at large-- believe that EVERYTHING in the country is the guy on top's fault. And don't even get me started on the economy, which doesn't change over night, even if the President bribes and bargains and prays every night in the holiest of temples to let it be so. Or you know, oversees a genius plan to fix it. Cause that needs to be approved of course and then slowly enacted. And then someone else will likely take credit.
So really, the power lies with Congress. And really, who bothers to vote for those people anyway? If you do, kudos. But the truth of the matter is that a GOOD election year for PRESIDENT, usually results in about approximately 50% of eligible voters actually dragging their sorry asses to the booths. (Holy Shitsnacks! 79.4 of eligible voters turned out in 1880! That's OVER 100 years ago!) So the President is elected by far less than half the country. And the people who pay enough attention to vote for congress members? Let's just say that 50% would be an f-ing miracle. (Hey, single digit percentages often vote for mayors!)
4. Ok, so the President needs to live a cardboard or dual life, spends most of his/her time on the job trying to convince other people to do theirs (Something that sounds exhausting), all while trying to convince the public that he/she has the power they think he/she does, while finding out everyday that they really, really don't and watching all their hopeful dreams and promises for the country go down the drain (and getting blamed for it). At least they're paid well right? At least they get to travel the world? At least they get a few weeks at Camp David. Sure, that's nice, but let's not forget that their salary will be public and scrutinized and argued over as well. And soon as they make that salary everyone will assume they don't remember what middle class or poor is. And Heaven forbid they take too much vacation or EVEN WORSE something MAJOR happens while they're enjoying a vacation. Because clearly, any American on vacation just simply doesn't care about their job or their country. Sure, that could be worth it.
5. Do you want your child to be assassinated? Probably not, and while the outcome isn't super likely there are probably people who legitmately want to kill the President for things he/she may or may not be able to control. And with the political enviroment being so hostile, can you imagine it in 35 years? If it continues to decline? Maybe it will get better, but will there ever become a day that say, your Baby-Turned-President is perhaps Party A (or whatever) and their body guard is Party B (or whatever) and suddenly decides that taking that bullet just isn't worth it? Would it ever really get that bad?
Do we really want to know?
Whether or not you should want your child to become president, at least in this day and age, should be clear.
In fact, for that matter, there are probably only two types of people still willing to do the job:
1. The jaded who are willing to take the sense of false glory (or false credit) in favor of any unpublicized perks, or obvious ones like just having their name in history books.
2. Those who, like the teenager who refuses to let go of Santa Claus, actually believe they can effect change, make a difference, and cut through all the shit because one iota of difference is worth it all.
Both outlooks are each a little sad in their own way (despite my own personal hope for type 2).
But hey, someone's got to do the job.
It is where the old cliche of wanting your child to be a doctor or lawyer comes from. Smart. Employed. Making bank.
The more ambitious or politically minded may even postulate that one day their baby may even become President. And perhaps there are a few adolescents that have that very dreams for themselves.
But nowadays, and perhaps I should have realized this sooner, I really question this goal, realistic or overly hopeful as it may be. I mean, really, who in their right mind would really want to become President of the United States?
At first, it sounds like a fine job. Popular. Powerful. Someone who can effect change, make a historical difference.
But can he/she really? To a certain cultural extent perhaps, but let's actually consider what most people don't when it comes to being president.
First off, let's face the most obvious in considering the question, "would you really want your kid to become president?"
1. The road into politics is a sordid and scary path. Chances are, your kid is going to have to do something unsavory or slightly unethical or questionable at some point along the way to even get CLOSE to becoming President. And, this is perhaps the more important part, even if they don't, even if they manage to keep their proverbial nose clean, then it won't matter because as soon as they become important in an election, someone's going to lie about them. It won't matter that it is a lie because most people won't pay attention to or believe any retractions or evidence otherwise. (You can thank Lee Atlwalter for that.)
2. Regardless of how moral or not your child actually is, every single thing they do (on their way to and once becoming the President) will be scrutinized by the public eye, broadcast on the media and internet and debated heatedly (and also parodied). A private life will be difficult to keep, and probably very different from the one everyone believes they have regardless. Whether or not they wear a flag pin or remember a holiday or had a cold or choked on a chicken wing or scratched their butt in public or for dear lord--acted human!!! And, unlike celebrities who are also followed relentlessly and who can occasionally pull off a box office hit and make the majority happy, anything the President does will likely piss off nearly half of the country for some reason or another, whether they understand it or not. And no one will want to be him/her, not like they want to be rock stars or models. And he/she won't be paid nearly as well to boot. (Not that that justifies harassment, but perhaps it cools the sting.)
3. "So what, it's the price of power," you might say. But, How much power does he/she really have? Not much. Sure they can appoint judges that must be approved. Sure they can write and suggest bills like any other member of congress, but congress has to vote and before congress votes yes, they can't sign it. Sure they can veto, but how many vetos (which can be overridden by congress by the way) can they get by with before they are "abusing their power."
Freakanomics and this to-the-point fellow sum it up much better and clearer than I possibly could, but what it basically boils down to is, unless he/she has a congress full of like minded individuals, the President isn't going to be able to accomplish much, and what they do manage will take many many months of wading through pain, suffering, bargaining, and shit. Not to mention of course the scrutinizing eye of the media and the public who --at large-- believe that EVERYTHING in the country is the guy on top's fault. And don't even get me started on the economy, which doesn't change over night, even if the President bribes and bargains and prays every night in the holiest of temples to let it be so. Or you know, oversees a genius plan to fix it. Cause that needs to be approved of course and then slowly enacted. And then someone else will likely take credit.
So really, the power lies with Congress. And really, who bothers to vote for those people anyway? If you do, kudos. But the truth of the matter is that a GOOD election year for PRESIDENT, usually results in about approximately 50% of eligible voters actually dragging their sorry asses to the booths. (Holy Shitsnacks! 79.4 of eligible voters turned out in 1880! That's OVER 100 years ago!) So the President is elected by far less than half the country. And the people who pay enough attention to vote for congress members? Let's just say that 50% would be an f-ing miracle. (Hey, single digit percentages often vote for mayors!)
4. Ok, so the President needs to live a cardboard or dual life, spends most of his/her time on the job trying to convince other people to do theirs (Something that sounds exhausting), all while trying to convince the public that he/she has the power they think he/she does, while finding out everyday that they really, really don't and watching all their hopeful dreams and promises for the country go down the drain (and getting blamed for it). At least they're paid well right? At least they get to travel the world? At least they get a few weeks at Camp David. Sure, that's nice, but let's not forget that their salary will be public and scrutinized and argued over as well. And soon as they make that salary everyone will assume they don't remember what middle class or poor is. And Heaven forbid they take too much vacation or EVEN WORSE something MAJOR happens while they're enjoying a vacation. Because clearly, any American on vacation just simply doesn't care about their job or their country. Sure, that could be worth it.
5. Do you want your child to be assassinated? Probably not, and while the outcome isn't super likely there are probably people who legitmately want to kill the President for things he/she may or may not be able to control. And with the political enviroment being so hostile, can you imagine it in 35 years? If it continues to decline? Maybe it will get better, but will there ever become a day that say, your Baby-Turned-President is perhaps Party A (or whatever) and their body guard is Party B (or whatever) and suddenly decides that taking that bullet just isn't worth it? Would it ever really get that bad?
Do we really want to know?
Whether or not you should want your child to become president, at least in this day and age, should be clear.
In fact, for that matter, there are probably only two types of people still willing to do the job:
1. The jaded who are willing to take the sense of false glory (or false credit) in favor of any unpublicized perks, or obvious ones like just having their name in history books.
2. Those who, like the teenager who refuses to let go of Santa Claus, actually believe they can effect change, make a difference, and cut through all the shit because one iota of difference is worth it all.
Both outlooks are each a little sad in their own way (despite my own personal hope for type 2).
But hey, someone's got to do the job.
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