We The People Politics

In America, we are led to believe that those with the most experience are the ones that are most likely to do the best for us. It makes sense really…If you have a lot of experience, when something big comes along you know how to handle it. However, the last time I checked, we have a cabinet in the White House to offer advice to the president so that he knows what to do. The saying “a good leader surrounds himself with experts in each field” comes to mind when I think about the argument of experience is best.

The most important aspect of being a good president is the determination to get the job done. The Secretary of Defense and chiefs of staff are going to tell the president what’s what when it comes to war. The Secretary of State and his staff are going to tell the president what’s what when it comes to foreign policy. The reason the president has advisers is to be there to give him counsel when the time comes for him to make a decision.

But when it comes down to it, he needs to have the courage to make the decision. The president needs to be a strong individual that can take the information and advice provided to him and do something about it. If it is suggested that the United States send in jets to bomb a country, then the president needs to make the final decision. He needs to take the information provided from his advisers and make his decision.

The argument by the McCain campaign that Barack Obama does not have the experience to be the president is a bit ridiculous. I agree, Barack Obama has not been in public office for very long and I think that he has some learning to do. But, that does not mean that the man does not understand the policies of the nation. If he is strong enough to get the job done and is smart enough to find people to advise him, he is all the better prepared.

It does not take a seventy one year old war-veteran to be president. Yes, John McCain has considerable experience; however, the big question that we need to ask ourselves is: what do we need? Do we need an older man who has spent so many years in public office that he is stuck to the old ways (he has aligned himself with a lot of Bush’s policies which are typical of a GOP candidate). Or, do we need someone new?

President Washington served as the general of the Continental Army at the age of 43. Thomas Jefferson wrote our Declaration of Independence at the age of 33. Barack Obama is 46 years old. The point I am making is that two of this nation’s greatest Founding Fathers did some great things before they hit the age of Senator Obama.

It does not take the oldest of people to make a change in the nation. What it takes is someone with the drive to get that job done. I think the argument that experience is everything is a ridiculous one posed by the McCain campaign. The last time I checked, Senator Obama, although younger, is collected enough not to flip out on fellow Senators. Do we want a hot headed, experienced man in office?

So, I pose a question to my fellow Americans: Is experience really the most important aspect when deciding on whom to vote for?