We do not need a president...
The idea that a politician must be experienced and knowledgeable on many areas of social and international concern is a wonderful fantasy. But in politics, as in today's science, the enormity of all that needs to be understood dwarfs the actual (or possible) experience of any politician, worldwide. We do not need a president that pretends to 'know it all.' We need a president who sees him/herself as a channel for knowledge that resides in the people.
We do not need a president who is in bed with big oil, war industries or big pharma. (And being in bed with these forces does not mean that the politician 'understands' or can 'control' them, of course). We need a president who can work with outside talent to oppose these established, Washington hacks and practices, reducing the effects of their exploitation and damage until they can be brought under strict control - by the people of this nation. We need a president who can inspire and invite us to come forward to find collective solutions to our many problems.
We do not need a president who we would like to have a beer with. Having a beer with your friends in a local bar is only possible because someone else is keeping the infrastructure working - and this goes further than the guy who taps the kegs. We need a president who can work with local, national and international bodies and see these as positive resources in a common search for new energy directions - to keep the lights working and the beer flowing so that you can have a beer with your mates after a long day of working at your family-supporting job - which pays enough so that your partner can match her/his needs to work with what best allows his/her vital involvement in your children's lives.
We do not need a president who 'reflects our values' if our values are based in outdated, greedy, exploitive or perverse social customs that have long needed correction, redirection or extinction in our culture. The 'Old Boys' Club,' the newer 'Womens' Club,' racism, genderism, homophobia, sexual guilt and fear, anti-intellectualism, our culture's astounding lack of empathy for its own citizens, our collective (and individual) habits of greed and self-serving economics, etc. We simply need a president who can see past these forces and their manipulative agendas, and serve the aggregate whole of this country.
We do not need a president who flip-flops on issues entirely for voter approval. We do need a president who is ready to abandon personal positions and open into true receptivity when the informed Public has a better idea - on anything.
We do not need politicians who know how all of the sleaze works within the Washington power-shop, but we do need someone who is smart enough to recognize lies and manipulation as they occur and to use well-honed communications skills to move through the political minefield, while always keeping the public in mind.
And after all of the lobbyists and self-promoters have finally gone home for the night (throw them out of your bed, now!), we may occasionally need a well turned word or two from a president who invites and inspires us to come forward to give our country the best of our learning, creativity, understanding and ability to organize thoughts, processes and people to maximise our collective effectiveness, find and heal our hearts and fulfill our dreams.
We need a president who addresses each day, each meeting, each issue and each crisis with a very simple agenda: 1) Who are we? 2) What are we here to accomplish? and 3) How can we progress or succeed at this relationship or this mission?
Asking these questions in humility and with openness, the president that our country needs will then process whatever answers may arise in intuition or from others' input, using superb communication skills to evoke the very best from cabinet, staff, congress... and each and every one of us.
Now who could possibly fulfill such a clear but simple set of requirements...?
