If I Ran For Office

First, it's not going to happen. I have absolutely no plans to ever run for office because I think I would really, really hate it. I just want to make that clear. But if I were going to run for office, this is how I would want to do it:

I would make only one promise, which would be to decide issues based on what I genuinely believed to be the right thing to do established by the values I hold. I would do my best to outline those values from the start, beginning with (but not limited to) tolerance, equality and the protection of the American people. And I would acknowledge that there are situations in which those values may be at odds and I will not find a perfect outcome.

I would admit from the beginning that I am not an infinite source of knowledge and therefore am not well informed on every issue that comes across the desk of a government official, nor do I have experience in dealing with all of them. But I would commit to learning as much as I could about each issue in order to make informed decisions and surrounding myself with people who can counter my weaknesses.

If people wanted to give me money to help me campaign I would gladly accept it with the disclaimer that your donation does not buy my allegiance. If you would like to support me because you believe that I am the best candidate available and our values align then that’s wonderful. Whether or not I lean the way you want on any given issue would have everything to do with those values and nothing to do with your money.

My decisions would also have nothing to do with toeing the line in a two-party system that's frankly become a complete circus.

I would come up with plans for how to tackle the major issues facing whatever political world I was entering. And I would admit that it was quite possible that I would change my mind.  Not because of pressure from any group but because sometimes situations change and because I refuse to ever stop learning. I might change my mind but I will not change my values.

I would not lie.

And you know what? I’d never get elected. Because this isn’t the way that American politics works but MAN…I WISH IT WERE.


(elections are coming up, don't forget to vote!)