Why I Won't Run for Office
I don't particular care for politics. The arena can get particularly brutal. Take this article about Senator Barack Obama. Now that he is considering running for president, all gloves are off. His entire life is being scrutinized with a microscope. Everything he's ever said or done will come under question. Who of us is squeaky clean?
In my life I have done things (especially before coming to Jesus) that are incriminating and embarrassing. Since becoming a Christian, I have almost 30 years of public speaking, every week, sometimes 2 or 3 times a week. That amounts to roughly 4,000 sermons, and teachings. There is enough fodder available to fire a pretty big cannon. Every idle word will be brought to bear. Snippets will be taken out of context to create whatever evil monster my critics may want to convey.
I wonder why some people would care to enter the public arena. Knowing that their lives will be exposed, warts and all. And think of the effect it has on your children or spouse. Whatever your feelings about Obama, Clinton, Guiliani, or fill in the blank, you have to at least give them credit for having tough skin.
What about it? Do you think our way of selecting leaders is fair? Can you suggest a better way? Why do you think people run for public office? I'd be interested in getting your thoughts.
In my life I have done things (especially before coming to Jesus) that are incriminating and embarrassing. Since becoming a Christian, I have almost 30 years of public speaking, every week, sometimes 2 or 3 times a week. That amounts to roughly 4,000 sermons, and teachings. There is enough fodder available to fire a pretty big cannon. Every idle word will be brought to bear. Snippets will be taken out of context to create whatever evil monster my critics may want to convey.
I wonder why some people would care to enter the public arena. Knowing that their lives will be exposed, warts and all. And think of the effect it has on your children or spouse. Whatever your feelings about Obama, Clinton, Guiliani, or fill in the blank, you have to at least give them credit for having tough skin.
What about it? Do you think our way of selecting leaders is fair? Can you suggest a better way? Why do you think people run for public office? I'd be interested in getting your thoughts.
posted by jawbone at
10:02 AM
4 Comments:
If you want to run for office you have to know that's what you want to do very early in life. Probably even as a child. Anything you have ever done, somebody will find out about it. So if you ever stole a piece of candy from the corner store, don't run for office.
Dustin
By
Anonymous, at 10:43 AM
I think that, while this certainly does not apply across the board, some politicians come from influential and/or well-known families and are used to a higher level of pressure and scrutiny. Also, it seems that in order to be willing to do this, politicians must have either a moral/ethical motivation or a personal/professional motivation that is so much more compelling than the fear of public opinion that it makes it worthwhile.
Natalie
By
Anonymous, at 12:35 PM
I think our election process is fair. Information both good and bad will always be revealed. This is a risk that all canidates take when they run for office.
I belive people run for office because they really think they can make a difference. It starts out this way but after a few years the motivation changes to power, greed, influence and statis.
As a US citizen its our responsibility to vote for the best canidate available.
Bill L.
By
Anonymous, at 5:50 PM
It's usually the candidate with the most money that wins come election time. This is grossly unfair to the "underdog" who often times is the best candidate.
Power and money get you elected. If you have enough spin doctors and are willing to forego ethics, integrity and honesty, your past doesn't matter.
By
Anonymous, at 8:49 AM
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