I have been privileged to live long enough to have watched them all in action and how society responded to their time in office. And lately my work has had me immersed in reviewing newspapers from the era in which one of them served in office. This has caused me to reflect on what I have observed over the decades as these men have come and gone
What I have learned:
Besides the political power they wield in lawmaking and policy making, either directly or through political appointments, they have immense empowering influence in society at large. The people in society who share the president’s own personal moral and ethical standards feel more empowered and free to act upon those standards while he (or she, someday) is in office, whether or not those standards are legal.
A president who is unfaithful to his or her spouse creates a climate where those inclined to be similarly unfaithful, feel freer to do so.
Similarly, when we have had a president who is racist or bigoted, or who values civil rights, or who values power over honesty, or who values environmental protection, or who values accumulation of private wealth, or who values personal involvment in charitable work, or who values fiscal responsibility, or who demeans men or demeans women, or who is inclined to bully, or who values and respects thoughtful negotiation, etc. etc. we have seen increases of actions based upon those values within our society, as people who are inclined towards those values feel empowered to act upon them.
Therefore, I reject the idea that citizens should vote for a president simply based upon a candidate’s stated political policies alone, or how those policies will further his or her own personal wants or needs. It is foolhardy to fail to consider any candidate’s personal moral and ethical standards and values because, inevitably, those moral or ethical standards will be magnified and fostered in your own community, schools, neighborhoods, in the media, and in the nation as a whole as people who hold similar values feel empowered to act upon them.
It is not just political platforms that we must be aware of. The moral and ethical assumptions and values of the president wield immense influence upon the sense of empowerment of those in your own community who share them.
Therefore, I reject the idea that citizens should vote for a president simply based upon a candidate’s stated political policies alone, or how those policies will further his or her own personal wants or needs. It is foolhardy to fail to consider any candidate’s personal moral and ethical standards and values because, inevitably, those moral or ethical standards will be magnified and fostered in your own community, schools, neighborhoods, in the media, and in the nation as a whole as people who hold similar values feel empowered to act upon them.
It is not just political platforms that we must be aware of. The moral and ethical assumptions and values of the president wield immense influence upon the sense of empowerment of those in your own community who share them.
1 comment:
I totally agree with you! I have advised students to vote for an honest, moral person, regardless of political party. I think people with good values will make good decisions, in the best interest of our nation and uphold civil society.
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