He's A Hunk

Believe it or not -- and I'd rather not -- we had a woman tell us that she had voted for "Mr. Physique" because, in her words, "He's a hunk." And while I heartily agreed with her assessment of the fellow, we no doubt meant different things. It's amazing that so little sincere thought went into exercising one of the greatest privileges that we have: voting for the candidates of our choice.

But she's not alone. Another acquaintance admitted to having voted for "Mr. Suave" because of the way Mrs. Suave dressed. There are consequences to such decidedly frivolous voting, and we're feeling some of them now.

If the "look good, dress sharp" technique has pulled some rotten apples from the barrel, what would be better? While it shouldn't be hard to generate a laundry list of candidate specifications, a few are particularly important to me. Given a choice -- which is not always available -- I will definitely defer to certain qualities.

THEY MUST PRACTICE WHOLESOME RESTRAINT. "Liberty," said Daniel Webster, "exists in proportion to wholesome restraint." Wholesome restraint -- in their personal lives, in the programs they espouse, and in their approach to government -- must be a touchstone for candidates. Beware of the leather-slapping gun slingers who promise "plenty of action" once elected; loose cannons provide that well enough. Better to have a person with WHOLESOME, studied restraint.

THEY MUST MAINTAIN HIGH MORAL STANDARDS. George Washington believed that "purity of morals is the only sure foundation of public happiness in any country." No matter how self-righteous they sound, candidates who push "rights" that will result in a lowering of moral standards will chip away at our foundations. Some are more subtle. With one hand they claim to be "personally opposed" to this or that, but with the other they hold an escape hatch: "but...." Better to focus on moral responsibilities and let the "rights" fall where they may.

THEY MUST AVOID DEBT AND TAXATION. Again, look to Washington: "There is no practice more dangerous than borrowing money." Jefferson's footnote on public debt is even stronger. "Taxation follows that, and in its train wretchedness and oppression." If a candidate's success in office will rely on debt and taxation, beware. More tax-inspired oppression may be on the radar screen.

Personal behavior and public trust can't be separated. If, for example, our president's hands have been soiled by personal indiscretions -- immorality, dishonesty, and a general lack of scruples -- then every place that government has felt his public touch will be marked by dirty fingerprints. An unprincipled, undisciplined electorate should not be surprised to find the destructive refrains of their own low expectations being replayed at the highest levels.

We can expect no more of government than we demand of ourselves and of the individuals that we elect. Better people -- not the promise of better programs -- make better government.

We had better avoid the "look good, dress sharp" selection mentality, no matter how appealing a candidate may be. It only produces "hunks."

Copyright 1998 James McAlister

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