Can Metaphysics Give Us The Next President?
In response to Kathleen Parker’s column in the Washington Post of April 5th 2019
I love Kathleen Parker’s enticing query: Is there a philosopher-king candidate for president in 2020 who can inspire us, unite us and guide us with enlightened virtue?
She describes a Plato hypothesis of a perfectly “just” leader who is perceived as “unjust” by ignorant citizens and a “unjust” leader who is viewed as “just”. Here she reminds us that President Trump’s political base views his actions as “just.”
Kathleen juxtaposes an imagined just and wise philosopher-king next to President Trump and asked: “Are we now ready for one?”
The problem as I see it is that we Democrats have proven true President Lincoln’s axiom: “You can fool some of the people all the time and all of the people some of the time.” As a case study, take President Obama. Barrack talked like a just and wise philosopher -king but can we say he delivered what he promised? For example: “That all Americans should have the same kind of health care as a Member of Congress.”
In this election cycle we have a number of good Democrats running and one who sounds a lot like Barrack Obama even using some of Barrack’s words, phrases and inflections in his delivery.
For goodness sake let’s stop looking for the perfect philosopher-king. And we don’t need someone who has an answer to every question. We don’t need a “Watson.” My view? What we need is someone who is just, honest, enlightened-a “hybrid” of LBJ and Bill Clinton. Someone with damn-well proven leadership skills and a record of getting things done. Someone who can forge deals with congress like LBJ and someone with a heart, mind and charisma like Bill.
The last thing we need is need a philosopher who fools enough people to win election but can’t get squat done. Yes, we need someone who holds democracy and individual freedoms dear, has a sense of history, appreciates our allies and recognizes subtle threats yet, moreover, one with the skills of LBJ and the charisma of Clinton who can save our planet, advance the lives of working families and give hope for a better life to all children regardless of where they are born or to whom.
Oh yes, someone who can make us smile and gives us hope and cause to dream and work for a brighter future.
Don Siegelman
Governor of Alabama, 1999–2003
Lt. Governor, 1995–1999
Attorney General, 1987–1991
Secretary of State 1979–1987
