Is anyone else getting sick of election news coverage? Campaigning seems to have become the primary purpose of elected officials, in all levels of government. Once in office, there is always another election coming up. I’ve begun to wonder if the purpose of politics these days is to move the population around in a board game. Monopoly comes to mind. Those who have the most money win the game. I don’t think that was the intention of our founding fathers.
George Washington was President for two terms. Many wanted him to run again, knowing he would win. Some would gladly have crowned him king. (Perhaps George saw the irony of fighting King George of England in order to become an independent nation and then be asked to be King George of America.) Our first president went home and served in other capacities because he wanted what was best for the country.
We hear a lot of that rhetoric daily, don’t we?
God set the standard for a good king in Deuteronomy 17:14-20. Consider how things would change if those standards applied to a president. Here are a few:
* The king (president) shall not cause the people to return to “Egypt” (run our nation the same way other nations run theirs)
* Nor shall the king (president) greatly increase silver and gold for himself (use the office to build personal wealth)
* The king (president) shall write for himself a copy of the law (constitution) in the presence of the Levitical priests (members of Congress) and shall read it all the days of his life and carefully observe all the words and statutes so that the king’s heart (or president’s) may not be lifted up above his countrymen, and he shall not turn aside – or to the left or right – of the commandment (constitution).
In the beginning of our country, the candidate with the most votes became president. The runner up became vice president. If those two men happened to be in different parties, they had to learn how to work together. I’m not sure when or why that practice was tossed aside, but I can guess. Stubborn pride and “party mentality” chokes cooperative effort, and the nation of the people, by the people and for the people will eventually perish.
Benjamin Franklin may have seen a glimpse of our future when he suggested a turkey be our national bird. They fly as little as possible, dig up dirt so they can eat grubs and make a lot of noise. They are also easily killed and make a fine feast for the hunter.
An eagle makes use of both wings and soars.