Respect the Position

More times than I care to admit, I was given a pep talk at work regarding my attitude. I was born and raised in the Bronx. That is not a birthright to blurt out any thought that goes through my head – at least not in the rest of the world. But if/when I hear something that doesn’t make sense or I am  assigned something that I am certain will not work, I speak up. Even as I am thinking it, a little voice inside my head says, “Are you sure you want to say this?” And already it’s out.

A very respected and capable man I once reported to sat me down and tried his best to convince me of the error of my ways. “I know you feel very strongly – but you must respect the position, even if you don’t like the person.”  These words rung in my head like a bell alerting the masses to church service. Respect the position! Respect the position!

It finally dawned on me what was wrong with this sentence:  Am I the only person who must respect the position? Doesn’t the person IN the position have to respect the position?

I have returned to that dilemma repeatedly. The higher up the food chain a person is, the more respected (or should I say importance) the position commands. The person in that position must live up to the promise. Not pretend. Not fake it. Not say one thing and do another. Put one foot in front of the other and walk the walk; talk the talk. Positions of authority hold with them the expectation of doing the right thing every time they speak; every time they act. That is what commands respect.

The most important thing in this election is not defeating Donald Trump. The most important thing in this election is that we the people end up with a leader: a true representative of the United States that can clearly and concisely assess situations both at home and abroad; that can meet with other heads of state and arrive at resolutions to issues that arise. We need a hero.

This is not a wish. This is a REQUIREMENT. The President of the United States represents each one of us. I’m asking every member of We the People: If it were you running for office and so many people had doubts about your ability, would your retort be that you are the only person who can defeat Donald Trump? And if that is the litmus, “if” you defeat Trump is your job done?

Donald Trump is a candidate running for office. Any candidate that throws his/her hat in the ring is expected to demonstrate what they intend to do to lead our country; to ensure the safety of our nation; to preserve our freedom. That’s the job requirements. Nowhere in the job description does it say: Defeat your opposing candidate. So much importance is upon defeating the campaign opponent that the plot has been lost.

I would love to have such desirable choices of candidates running that it was difficult to decide. But it has clearly turned out to be just the opposite.

Donald Trump stated when he ran in 2015 that he intended to drain the swamp. Is this what he meant? It has now become so clear that the goal of this election is winning; keeping our party candidate in office so that “the party” has power. Keeping our party in control so that other members of that party retain their position? Is it about politicians keeping their jobs and not about keeping our country great?

To all the politicians:  In case you have forgotten, you don’t work for the party. You work for the people. Act like it!

And as a side note:  Since both candidates have prior histories in office, let me say this:  Don’t lay out a plan for what you intend to accomplish; not pull it off and then campaign requesting four more years to finish the job. Think of it as a project schedule. You have four years to accomplish what you promised to achieve. Do it or step aside.