Why I Don't Care Which Candidate You'd Rather Have a Beer With (And You Shouldn't Either) | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics

Why I Don't Care Which Candidate You'd Rather Have a Beer With (And You Shouldn't Either)

Vote for who you want to make policy, not jokes.

5
Why I Don't Care Which Candidate You'd Rather Have a Beer With (And You Shouldn't Either)
Pete Souza

Do you want the job of president? Do you want the pressure? Do you want the tension? Do you want the continuous attention on your life? Do you want to make decisions that could cause a war? Do you want to make decisions that hold people’s lives in your hands? Do you want to make decisions that can decide who gets a job? Do you want to navigate interactions with world leaders on a daily basis? Do you feel prepared for that?

That type of job is what I’m preparing for, I’ve spent three years studying political science, American History, and Communications in an attempt to be ready to be the best city council member, or state senator, or congresswoman I can be. I don’t want to be president right now. I’m not ready. I don’t have the experience, I don’t have the education, I don’t have the capabilities yet. Maybe someday, but the day will come after concerted effort and education and hard work. I don’t want someone “just like me” in the office of the President right now, and I’m a political scientist.

Yet, that’s a quality Americans are looking for in their president. They want someone “just like them.” They want someone "normal." They want someone they can drink a beer with.

There’s a fine line here. It is a completely valid desire to want someone that is in tune with your day-to-day life. In order to represent us, our president has to understand us and the problems we face. We should vote for someone who is empathetic to our concerns. This means they have to be sympathetic to groups outside of their own, they have to seek opinions from people who are dissimilar to them, and they should probably know what the price of milk is; please vote according to that.

Please don’t vote according to the fact that the candidate seems “normal.” Don’t vote for someone because they seem fun to hang out with. You are voting for a leader, a policy maker, a face for the nation; you are not voting for a friend. Vote for the person you can picture in the oval office, not in a bar. If that’s the same person, great; if not, then vote for the presidential one and befriend the other one.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

182303
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

9103
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

453812
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

24076
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments