The breakfast cupboard was bare on this chilly Saturday as I was headed into my half day of work, so I decided to pick up a couple of chicken biscuits (a Southern delicacy) at the ol' Fil-A. As I was waiting to reach the drive-thru window, a USA Today newspaper box caught my attention with the refrain of today's front page: "Should the Constitution be changed for Arnold?"
No!*
*The U.S. Constitution, while exactly not sacred, is for all Americans and shouldn't be changed for one person.
However, maybe it's time to revisit the current requirements to run for the U.S. Presidency:
• Must be born a U.S. citizen, although I'm unsure if that means you could be born anywhere to U.S. parents or if you are born in the U.S. to parents from anywhere, or if you are born on U.S. territories. Chime in if you know.
• Must be at least 35 years old.
• Must not be convicted of anything too heinous.
• Although not a written rule, you have to be a typically middle-aged or much older white guy. Of these three rules, this one should and will change in what many hope is the near future. I hope so, too, just so it can hurry up and happen and there won't be so much whining about it. There are qualified men and women of many colors and stripes who would make fine presidents.
Like it or not, the world has gotten smaller with the Internet, with flights from here to practically anywhere (from which you can ride a bus, camel or bicycle to somewhere else). Good or bad, we're becoming a global economy. Immigration to the United States has woven more into the rich fabric that is our culture. Maybe it's time to let those who choose to make this country their home aspire for the ultimate political office.
But rewriting the rule to let a person from anywhere run for U.S. president at any time would diminsh my rights. If I still have to be at least 35 years old to run, then any non-naturalized U.S. citizen must live in this country exclusively for 35 years before he or she is eligible to seek the office.
And by golly, if the rule is rewritten, let's not make it in the context of an Ex-Terminator presidential run. Let's look at the bigger picture, as I hope lawmakers will do if they consider proposing such a measure. I'm just guessing here, but knowing myself, someone who grows up somewhere often has some kind of loyalty for that place. Sometimes it's a loyal loathing, sure, but take me for example. I was born in Virginia and lived there for 10 years, after which we moved to Texas. I've lived in a few different parts of Texas, but this place feels pretty much like home. But when I return to many parts of Virginia, it also feels like home.
My point is, the original intent of the rules would seem to foster an inbred loyalty to the United States by allowing only natives to run. Although Arnold is for sure more American than he is Austrian, we have to think about the future and what it might mean for national security. Not only in post-terrorism times, but the fact that we are part of a global market means purely American interests should be the top of the agenda for any U.S. president. It would be not be in our best interests if our leader is dreaming about long summers spent growing up in Haiti deciding to send them 500 tons of grain rather than feed poor on our very own streets (although there is nothing inherently wrong with a U.S. president from Haiti at some point in the future).
Let's embrace our growing diversity. Let's consider a look at the longstanding rules governing who can run for president. But let us not be hasty, and let us make sure any change is for the greater good, not one person.
I like your thought about living in this country for at least 35 years (that is, if the rule needs to be changed). I wonder if he'll get his way.
I am of two minds. On one hand, I am sick of immigrants coming into the US and not bothering to learn (or at least speak) English. If I moved to Germany, I would basically HAVE to learn German, because they do not accomodate English speakers. On the other hand, if someone has lived here for years and can really do the job well, then having him for a president might be in the best interest of the country. That's a toughie.
t-bone--this means you and i agree politically for once! what a nice feeling! :) and, as i have ah-nold the governator running my state (and driving up tuition costs and red tape, etc.) i can say he really ought not run the country. for shame, really, seeing as mrs. schwargenegger is a kennedy.
i back ya here
I am a complete international nobody, and belong nowhere, and therefore expect no one to respect my political opinions. But I will share them (for your rare reading pleasure) anyway. Please remember that this is all my opinion, and thereby means absolutely nothing. I feel that any decision that may affect the world as a whole (such as the president of the US) should be considered in a way that would create the most peaceful global atmosphere possible. The world should be thought of as a single entity, and not as warring particles. I am aware that it consists of opposing extremists, but believe that there are those capable of mediating such passionate minds. I know this is all not very patriotic of me, and that's because I'm not. To any country really. I also know that I am terribly naive, but I live in hope. We are all human, and the president of such an incredibly powerful nation should remember this. To summarize this incredibly long (sorry) comment, the best person for the job, from a global perspective, may not be an American-born white man. With great power comes great responsibility, right?
You are now free to mock my idealism. Which, by the way, does certainly NOT imply that Arnold's the guy. That would just be scary, and who the hell would take America seriously anymore?
I think being born in the US is the number one requirement for becoming the President. No ifs, ands or buts. Or Arnolds.
It only makes sense. I even have a hard time with the fact that he's a Govenor.
Some things should be sacred. (very few are these days)
In addition to the "middle aged or much older white guy" requirement, one must also have an "Anglo-Saxon" sounding last name... ie. Jones, Smith, etc. etc.
you don't have to be 'born' on US soil to be a citizen, if your parents are citizens, then you are at birth (ie: military family living overseas, if they had a child while there, they would still be considered a US citizen)
While I'm not worried about Arnie...what I find interesting is how much we seem to be willing to change the constitution these days, however, if it is truly for 'all Americans' as you stated, I would like to see one change made, and not in the direction our current president thinks it should be.