Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

We have heard it from celebrity and average American citizen alike, despite the occupant of the Oval Office and who he may be.

Whether it has been Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, William Jefferson Clinton, George Walker Bush or Barack Obama, you can always find those voices who articulate their disagreement or disappointment of the leader of the free world with the line: "I didn`t vote for him. He`s NOT my president!"

In a discussion yesterday concerning the economic crisis of the country, I heard it again. "How do you think President Obama is handling the current economic crisis?" The response was swift, abrupt and non-negotiable: "I don`t know", came the reply, "I didn`t vote for him. He`s NOT my president".

The fact is, while the guy we supported in the campaign may not be in office, OUR president is.

Despite being elected twice, you could hardly find someone on the street who would admit they had voted for George Bush. As President Bush`s poll numbers and popularity ratings slid, so too did the backbone of the backbenchers who had supported him. Even a Republican Congress distanced themselves when the heat became too much. And still, George Bush stayed the course. When the issue of the economy or the war became the topic of conversation, you would hear the line again and again: "I didn`t vote for him. He`s NOT my president". Hollywood, where artists and actors, producers and directors have (under Bush) become suddenly politically astute, said it over and over..."He`s NOT my president". Some of the Hollywood elite even promised in 2004 that if Bush was reelected, they would leave the country. (I am still waiting for the exodus)

Barack Obama, despite his popularity on the campaign trail is not immune to this line. I have heard it from black and white, Democrat and Republican alike.

Reality check!

While you may not have voted for Barack Obama, and while he may not be your choice for the presidency, HE IS  the 44th President of the United States. The institution of the presidency is more important than the personality that occupies it. Our electoral process and our institutions of government represent ALL of the people. As we know throughout our history, there have always been the disenfranchised and those whose special interests were not entertained. However, if you approach our governmental institutions with the belief that less government means more power to WE THE PEOPLE, then we recognize what  the responsibilities of government are and are not.

We have the duty of citizenship to support our president when he is right and to call him on the carpet when he`s wrong. Much of our diagreement will be found in OUR perceptions of how things should be done, if you happen to be one of those Americans who are fortunate enough to know what they believe or actually have a formed opinion. When it comes to placing the interests of the country above self-interests, it becomes clear that for the benefit of the United States, our support of our President is essential. This does not mean we have to agree with every decision. We can even oppose the President when we think he`s wrong. But to say "I didn`t vote for him. He`s NOT my president", does a disservice to both the country and to our own citizenship.

The line, as innocent as it may be, only fuels disunity and discontent. We can not expect our congressional representatives to work in a bi-partisan way with The White House and then turn around and suggest "He`s not my president".

Barack Obama IS the President of the United States. His election has inspired and motivated countless young Americans across the country. While I will continue to disagree with the President on his economic policies, and I will be following his handling of National Security issues closely, I will also proudly admit to anyone, anywhere: "No, I did not vote for Barack Obama. But he IS my president".

I voted for George W. Bush. Twice. He too was my president. Every Chief Executive since George Washington represented and represents still, an institution and an opportunity to make America better. The Presidency is a symbol of American acheivement and the center of where history can be written with the great potential of our time.

We have had presidents who could not put a coherent sentence together and who governed with the help of their liquor cabinet. We have had presidents who have emerged from the backwoods and those who sprouted from Ivy League stock. Our nation has elected men who have committed adultery and others who had their human frailty on display for the entire nation and the world to witness.

And still, they have all served our nation as the President of the United States. I claim them each, with all of their flaws and greatness, as my presidents.

When 2012 rolls around and the time for Barack Obama to seek reelection arrives, I will judge his first term in an objective and critical manner. I will put the loyalty of my station as American citizen ahead of my political affiliation and I will choose the candidate who has done or will do the best job for the country. If my party does not step up to the plate with a candidate who I think will serve the country above themselves, then I will cross party lines. It is nothing more than duty to country.

I voted for John McCain because I believed he was more experienced and more prepared for the challenges we face. I still believe that.  But on election night, the country delivered the election to his Democratic rival, and now we get on with the business of governing.

Barack Obama was not my candidate, but HE IS my president. As an American, I am proud of my country, her institutions and her opportunities. It`s all about America and how we choose to approach citizenship and fulfill our duties to our country. Freedom and citizenship can be hardwork and sacrifice. And it should be. Without hardwork and sacrifice, how can it be appreciated?



Will Griffith
www.griffithcorp.com



-------------------------

Will Griffith
INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS TRIBUNAL

Very well said, Will.


-------------------------

M Hall
Website Critique Community
International Society of Curmudgeons

It`s a really interesting proposition, and calls up the increasing references to Thomas Jefferson and his thoughts on governance.

When we go to work for an employer, particularly a corporation, would we say, "He`s not MY boss?" "He`s not my CEO?"

The owners, president, or chief executive officer of a company is the boss. They`re charged with the overall running of the company. The GOAL of that company is to make profits, remain fiscally stable, and stay competitive.

Each person who works for the company CHOOSES to work for that company! At any time, anyone is free to resign, quit, walk away, and either find a different job, or start their own company.

But in a country, that`s not possible.

The electoral process begins with a voluntary handing over of control and authority to elected representatives for the purpose of governing. The assumption during the forming of the nation is that those representatives will relate to the electorate, and have the nation`s best interests at heart.

Back when the United States was formed, landowners had the right to vote. It was because they had an equity stake in the country.

What happens when life-time politicians no longer have an equity stake in the country they represent? What happens when politicians are too stupid to understand that their source of power and money is the nation`s income producers?

Do we really have "no choice" when it comes to handing over control and authority to leaders who do NOT have our best interests at heart?

A nation`s leaders govern through and by the consent of the people.

What happens when half the population no longer gives their consent?

"He`s not MY president. I didn`t vote for him." That`s an interesting line. I voted for Al Gore in the 2000 election, and I was angry at the outcome. I voted for Al Gore. The majority of the nation voted for Al Gore, but the Supreme Court and the Electoral College overrode the US populous and chose George Bush for president. At that moment, George Bush was my president. He wasn`t democratically elected, and the election put a negative spotlight on the Electoral College system. Nobody votes for the president. They simply suggest to a politician who they would vote for in the event the popular vote was worth a damn. Unfortunately, it`s a bit of a sham. There are two elections in national history where the will of the people was overridden by the will of the EC. "He`s not my president. I didn`t vote for him." If that were true, I`ve had no presidents. George Bush was my president. I voted for him the 2nd time, ironically. I believed him the lesser of two evils in an election where no choice was a good one. I voted for Obama. Until the EC is disbanded, I won`t believe my vote matters. I vote so that our voter statistics are higher. It embarrasses me when all these other democracies have higher turnout. I`m happy to let my opinion be on record, even though in the end it`ll be a few politicians making the real election.

-------------------------

Making limitless possibilities much more limited.

Mr. Landes and gentlemen:

When half of a country no longer gives their consent, there is division and disenchantment. If an elected leader does not have OUR best interests at heart, we first have to define whether we mean `our best interests` as individuals or `our best interests` as a country. If we mean OUR best interests as a country, then we have the constitution with which to measure the leadership or lack of it from a president. If he is outside of the boundries set forth by the Constitution and he finds himself outside of the law (as in Nixon`s case) there are remedies available up to and including impeachment. All of this you already know.

When we elect the president to a four-year term, we do so knowing full well that the responsibility of checks and balances rests upon our conscience. President Obama, for example, enjoys a honeymoon with Congress because of the Democratic majority in both houses. But this will not last long. The Republicans will offer alternatives to the Obama trend when the midterms take shape in 2010. I predict you will see the Republicans regain control of the Senate, and perhaps even sweep the House. This will be a direct result of two things:
1) President Obama has overexposed himself too early. His celebrity status will eventually fade and he`ll find the `rock-star` quality of his campaign period will have diminished. And so will his influence.

2) Because the President is governing so far from the left, and not from the center like Clinton, he will find the country senses things are off-balance and the people will put them in check by taking the midterm elections further right.

My support of the Presidency is oddly separated from what I think politically. Politically, the American people will give the politicians all the room they want to prove themselves unworthy to represent the national interest. I have more faith in the people of the country, despite the period of stagnation and blindness, than I do in the politicians.

To be certain Craig, your points are sound and valid from the perspective from which you present them.

I like to think of the American people as shareholders with the investment and votes to fire the CEO or an executive when they are not performing the duties for which they were hired. And, when a president does not perform (enter Jimmy Carter and George H.W. Bush) they are sent packing and denied a second term.

Whatever the case and whatever our respective positions, Mr. Hall, Mr. Fackrell and Mr Landes, I think we all agree that we love our country, respect her history and want the very best for her future.

Will Griffith



-------------------------

Will Griffith
INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS TRIBUNAL

Well outlined Mr. Fackrell. Indeed, our constitutional republic is so unique in so many ways. I need say nothing more since you did an excellent job in your last post.

Matt, again thanks you for your input and to Mr. Landes and Mr. Hall as always.

I appreciate hearing from all of you...always.

Will Griffith
www.griffithcorp.com



-------------------------

Will Griffith
INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS TRIBUNAL

Mark,
To say that the people who don`t like what`s going on have the option to leave is a bit disingenuous. It`s not true, when you`re talking about very large numbers. It also speaks to the issue of home and costs.

But a larger concern is the whole checks and balances process built into the Constitution. Never before have we seen all three branches of the government aligned in such a strongly liberal or progressive ideology.

Not only do we have life-time politicians, we also have "gerrymandering" where congressional districts are redrawn based on how many votes they`ll get. The Electoral College continues to be a major issue, with zero debate as to how to fix it.

But underneath everything rests the core principle of an educated voting population. No organization can function when the members of that organization don`t understand any of the processes involved.

From what I`ve seen, the system of checks and balances often fails between the executive and legislative, when a president is aligned with congress, which seems to happen for half of any given president`s term. The judicial branch seems very diligent, however. The Supreme Court does take a stand when the Constitution is being challenged.

-------------------------

Making limitless possibilities much more limited.