Preparing the Politician

We made it through the last election cycle, I think, finally. The balance of power has shifted just a bit.  Yet, it is in no way clear what will happen.  The three preceding sentences could have been written in many years past.  So, we at least biennially get the new crop.  Not chemically enhanced, genetically engineered, nor fertilized, much less vaccinated, this crop is much the same as always.  In the parley of cookery, we call the outcome pot luck. 

We’re at that time of the season to discuss what’s for dinner.  Our chefs are local and we trust their excellence.  Let’s suppose this time we’re preparing a (nice juicy) politician as the main course.  This happens you know.  When families get together, politics may not come from the kitchen but sit there at the table, offering food for dispute, often helping with indigestion. 

Let’s make a top ten list of these political birds and what we want to see.  And let’s try to do it without politics.  Maybe that’s like ordering fries without salt, but today we try for nutrition first of all.  As usual, let’s do it by the numbers, talking both to the cook and the politician.

10.  Ability to raise funds. If you can't raise a nickel, you'll have none to spend to promote your candidacy.  On the other hand if raising money is your only skill, you are unsuitable, as then everything is money.

9.  A very thick skin. Criticize, criticize, let nothing done escape the eyes.  Whatever you've done has a negative spin, and your opponent will attack.  You live under siege.  Does the “drumstick” kick back?

8.  General knowledge of history. As the great philosopher George Santayana instructs us, if we don't “remember history we are condemned to repeat it.”  Lately, we've seen too many repeats.  Indeed, too many politicians, many who rely only on talking points, seem to know abysmally little history. 

7.  Ability to win or lose gracefully. Once in the election loop, your chance of losing is substantial.  Can you lose?  But also, can you humbly win without the proverbial finger point in the opponent's eye?  In the current year most losers do lose well. Not all.

6.  Understanding of people’s needs.  Do you understand the needs of people, not just their desires? Do you understand how business functions? Do you conflate your ideology with what people need?  Better not or you’ll be well overdone.

5.  Record of ability to work with others.  Show me, show me, show me how you have worked with others on projects. Too many new elected haven’t really worked on anything with anyone, except to get elected. 

4.  Knowledge of political process. You really should know how to make a bill and engineer its way through the political process. How to gain support?  Too many not hold the line to do it my way only.  Compromise is nearly dead.

3.  Strong consideration for public good. Language used indicates this as a principle consideration. Do you have a balanced understanding of what public good actually is?  It transcends just regulations, laws, and rules.  We are moving away from the measurable toward the emotional.

2.  Record of tangible accomplishments. Not theory, not ideology, not speeches, not books, not op-eds, but something actually done. No record implies we expect little, or less, or nothing at all.

And the number one criteria for preparing the juiciest politician comes off with the final product cooked and served. It can be hard to detect before the election, though always claimed at the top.

1.  Love and care for people and country. Something not quite measurable but the discriminating voter feels. Not enough of such folks ever run for office. If the politician doesn’t love people and country, other factors motivate action and service – many undesirable.