We looked at how people in the U.S. feel about their country and its institutions, according to NPR polling. In 2003, 70% said they’re “extremely proud” to be American.
By 2023, it was down to 39%.
— from a podcast article on NPR.org, July 2, 2024
When I was about five years old, my mom sat me on her knee and attempted to give me some encouragement about my future.
“Louis, you can grow up to be anything you want. Even President of the United States.
“Your father works for the Post Office, and that’s a fine job. But you can set your sights higher than that…”
The obvious message was, “I hope you don’t end up like your father, working for the Post Office.”
At the time, I wanted to be a cowboy. ‘President of the United States’ didn’t strike me as nearly as much fun as roping cattle and having gun fights with outlaws.
Of course, I never did become a cowboy. And anyway, I don’t think my mom would have wanted that kind of life for me.
She also urged me to attend an Ivy League college. A lot of U.S. presidents attended Ivy League colleges. But my dad recommended the local community college, which was a lot cheaper. And, as he pointed out, our two most famous presidents — Washington and Lincoln — didn’t even go to college, but still made it onto the $1 and $5 bills. You can’t shoot much higher than that.
But right about now, I wish I’d taken my mom’s advice about becoming President.
Apparently, if you’re President of the United States, you can do whatever you want — even commit crimes of violence — so long as it’s part of your ‘official duties’. That’s what I’ve been reading lately, regarding a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision. Seems it’s written into the Constitution. They can’t touch you, while you’re President. And maybe not afterwards as well.
Not even a cowboy can get away with that kind of thing. And definitely not a journalist.
But that’s not the main reason I regret not becoming President.
And don’t go thinking that it’s all about money. You can make a lot more money in real estate than you can being President. Donald Trump didn’t get rich by being President. And the richest men in America made their money in the tech industry; I’m talking about Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates.
You can also make a lot of money playing baseball, or basketball. Also, acting in movies.
Regardless, my mom suggested I might want to be President. She never suggested I might want to be a billionaire, or professional athlete, or movie star. (Perhaps my potential was already obvious at age five?) So I’m assuming, in my mother’s estimation, becoming President is a step down from those other careers.
I have to agree with that assessment, after what happened at the June 27 debate between President Biden and former President Trump. I don’t think either of those men are qualified for a Post Office job.
I can definitely speak more coherently that Joe Biden.
And I can tell better lies than Donald Trump. I think Daily Post readers will back me up on that claim.
And I have more education than Washington and Lincoln. (At the rate inflation is going, we’re going to eventually need to start printing $1,000 bills, and I’m quite willing to volunteer my face.)
But the real reason why I should have become President…
…it would have made my mom proud.
She’s a great lady, and she deserves a son she can brag about.
And considering the current competition, maybe it’s still a possibility?
Underrated writer Louis Cannon grew up in the vast American West, although his ex-wife, given the slightest opportunity, will deny that he ever grew up at all.