Presidential Bling

For some reason people are surprised by the wealth of our new Presidential candidates. Mitt Romney will be, if elected, the second wealthiest President in history.

This is not new. George Washington was worth over 500 million dollars and other presidents, like Frisky Jack himself (I don't know if anyone has ever called JFK "Frisky Jack" before, but...they really should) were worth closer to a billion.

Wealth is a consummate part of our political system. It's simply unavoidable. A poor man could possibly be your High School's Prom King, he knows everyone and therefore personality, looks and who he's dating could influence nearly everyone at the school. At the national level, with over 250 million potential voters needing to be reached and influenced, a poor man would fail, unless of course he was backed by a rich men.

Very rarely do rich men actually use their own money to campaign, but other rich people are simply more likely to invest in someone who has proven they know how to run a business (or marketing campaign) which is really what pre-election hysteria actually comes down to.

There is also the matter of psychology. Americans don't truly want an everyman. Very few of us want the responsibilities of a King, which is what we relate the President to actually being. However this is not the case, and this is where Voter Responsibility comes into question.

We are not electing a ruler. We are electing a leader. This is a man who has a say in National Politics as opposed to the say. He (and one day she) is not better than us, nor were they born with some ingrained ability or right to rule. They are simply people, who being raised with, by or as a part of the Wealthy have this sense of "Right." They believe that we, the People, do not know how to rule ourselves, and so it is their Duty to govern us.

Sadly, this is becoming more and more true. Ask your average college kid about politics. He'll (again, ladies too) tell you he either doesn't care, or he'll get into an ideological debate with you about abortion or the Death Penalty.

Most Americans simply don't have the background knowledge to actually get involved in politics. They don't understand the National (certainly not the Global) Financial Climate. They don't care.

Most Americans don't know what lowering or raising taxes does outside of what it says on their pay-stubs. Most Americans dislike or distrust Police Officers and don't pull over for Ambulances until they're being robbed or have been injured.

A higher standard of living eventually becomes an easier standard of living. And with ease comes laziness, and laziness will eventually lead to ignorance, of the blissful nature.

We are treading a dangerous path and treating it like the sidewalk to school holding our mother's hand.

But cycles happen. Trends rise and fall. Every trough has it's upside, hopefully we're nearing an apex point and we'll all be able to breath easy and love life.

Here's to hoping.