How to choose a US president

The greatest enemy of the ideal good is the lesser evil.

This is the adage American electorate will bear in mind when they enter the voting booths in November. At that time, they will probably have two or three candidates to choose from. They are the ones with serious chances of winning after the longest campaign in American history.

All of the choices, however, will have different political agenda. One choice would be a reform candidate, a non-traditional politician, a Christian, a preacher, a human rights activist or an environmentalist.

Another choice would be senators and congressmen from varying backgrounds and perhaps a sitting president to complete the spectrum of options.

But how will the Americans choose a president in November? Will it be easy for them at this point in time that the United States of America is facing an economic debacle?

As good citizens, Americans would choose a president based on what they know about a candidate, rather than their personal connections to him. They should know him also to be one of the most patriotic, humble and honest public servant, able to make hard choices even against his own family and class interests, according to Antonio G.M. La Vina, JSD, of the University of the Philippines.

Quoting him further, La Vina said: “Our future leaders should be transformational leaders who bring about change in individuals, institutions and the country to build a just, humane, prosperous and genuinely democratic (American) society.”

Prior to the May 2010 presidential elections in the Philippines, the Movement for Good Governance has endorsed criteria that would enable the electorate to select transformational leaders. The movement has also recommended a score card to use to evaluate the candidates for president. It said transformational leaders promote the moral values of integrity, social responsibility, and love of country through their practice of effective, empowering and ethical leadership.

To support this, the movement said an effective leader should be competent, decisive and proactive and has the track record, as well as the ability to steer the ship of government for it to arrive at its destination of a prosperous and just society.

This is America, not the Philippines. But the above-mentioned criteria could be used as guide in choosing the next president. While the White House is patiently waiting for its new tenant, only the November election results will have the final say.

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