The Ideal President Would...

[SoonerTexan]

I've actually thought about this before, but I don't know how one person could make everything I want happen. Some are conflicting...how do you keep social programs going while trying to balance the budget? A money tree?

I do have one, though. I'd like to see a strong initiative to make domestic adoption a simple, affordable, and compassionate process for both prospective parents and birth mothers. I am pro-life and feel domestic adoption is an underused option that is way too expensive and complicated considering how many prospective adoptive parents seem to be unable to adopt a child. Seems like a great initiative for a first lady.

[Vishenka69]

Be an atheist. The idea of praying before a conflicting decision (i.e. invading another country) makes me highly uncomfortable. Along the same line, don't the see point of being sworn in on a Bible with the person pastor present. A definitive separation of church and state would end many of the current debates (abortion, gay marriage, etc.).

[bokelley]

Be an atheist. The idea of praying before a conflicting decision (i.e. invading another country) makes me highly uncomfortable. Along the same line, don't the see point of being sworn in on a Bible with the person pastor present. A definitive separation of church and state would end many of the current debates (abortion, gay marriage, etc.).

Plus 1 on this!!

[SoonerTexan]

The idea of praying before a conflicting decision (i.e. invading another country) makes me highly uncomfortable.

Conversely, the idea of the most powerful man in the world making a decision like that not feeling like he will answer to a higher power for it someday scares the pants off me

[diggitydot]

Conversely, the idea of the most powerful man in the world making a decision like that not feeling like he will answer to a higher power for it someday scares the pants off me

It is entirely possible to be an ethical, moral person without the influence of religion or some sort of deity.

[MsSassyBaskets]

It is entirely possible to be an ethical, moral person without the influence of religion or some sort of deity.

This. I've been avoiding this debate because honestly, I'm basically a socialist who doesn't like to argue. But I have to throw my two cents in on this one topic. I don't care whether our president is personally an atheist, Christian, Muslim, Jew, Buddhist, Sikh, Hindu, Shinto, etc. etc. etc. I do care that all of our elected officials recognize a VERY strict separation of church and state--something I don't believe we have right now. I want decisions to be made on the basis of science, data and evidence, and a thorough examination of what is ethical, humane and right for the country and the world.

[Liisi]

I don't care whether our president is personally an atheist, Christian, Muslim, Jew, Buddhist, Sikh, Hindu, Shinto, etc. etc. etc. I do care that all of our elected officials recognize a VERY strict separation of church and state--something I don't believe we have right now. I want decisions to be made on the basis of science, data and evidence, and a thorough examination of what is ethical, humane and right for the country and the world.

YES. Well put.

[niener]

This. I've been avoiding this debate because honestly, I'm basically a socialist who doesn't like to argue. But I have to throw my two cents in on this one topic. I don't care whether our president is personally an atheist, Christian, Muslim, Jew, Buddhist, Sikh, Hindu, Shinto, etc. etc. etc. I do care that all of our elected officials recognize a VERY strict separation of church and state--something I don't believe we have right now. I want decisions to be made on the basis of science, data and evidence, and a thorough examination of what is ethical, humane and right for the country and the world.

This times a thousand

[Thirteen]

I do believe that there should be separation of church and state, and I am a practicing Christian.

Our country is not a Theocracy.


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[Vishenka69]

But he does have to answer to a higher power - his electorate.

[SoonerTexan]

I have more thoughts on the subject but I will keep them to myself. Previous experience has taught me that debates involving religion do not go well most of the time in this forum and I just don't want to go there, especially if it will derail a thread that I think is very thought provoking and has good ideas.

My only objective was to provide a lighthearted response to a post I found (honestly only a little but nonetheless) offensive as a person who does pray. I certainly did not intend to imply that those who are not religious cannot make moral and good decisions. Though consider what the original post implies about anyone with a religious background and their ability to make the same decisions.

[diggitydot]

My only objective was to provide a lighthearted response to a post I found (honestly only a little but nonetheless) offensive as a person who does pray. I certainly did not intend to imply that those who are not religious cannot make moral and good decisions. Though consider what the original post implies about anyone with a religious background and their ability to make the same decisions.

I have no problem with anyone being religious or non-religious and how it may color their decision-making processes. It's no one else's business. Period. It becomes tiring when people MAKE it the business of others. Belief systems are an intensely personal thing and should probably be treated as such. My grandfather's favorite saying about religion is that it's akin to your private parts; while it's great that you like yours, most people will appreciate it if you avoid fannying it about to the general public.

Whether intentional or not, the implication was that you do not trust the judgment of someone who doesn't pray or believe in an acceptable deity who may "punish" them for making a bad decision, which is likely just as offensive to agnostics and atheists as the comments that you found offensive.

Since the dawn of mankind, religion has been used as an excuse for wars and discrimination. I am sympathetic to keeping it out of politics for this very reason. However, in its best forms, religions encourage and practice peaceful love. It's a weird dichotomy that has been used (and abused) for eons to subjugate and manipulate.

[SoonerTexan]

I agree that my post was in poor taste and implied something I truly didn't mean to imply. I think I made that clear in my last post.

[diggitydot]

I think I made that clear in my last post.

Absolutely agree.

[scrub-jay]

I know this is cheating, but...my ideal election season would drop all the negative campaigning crap.