The Importance of a Person.

[sedoken]

Ok, so a couple weeks ago i was in the movie theater watching a preview for 2012 when the question came across my mind. Why, whenever there is some sort of crisis that threatens the lives of and unknown number of people in an unknown location, does the president become top priority?

I mean, given he is the President, but why does he get the right to be protected and we the people generally do not?

I don't want anyone to ask, "Well if he died, then who would run the country?" because that is a stupid question. Even if the president and his whole cabinet were to die, we could just as easily elect a new president, right?

[dusred]

Ok, so a couple weeks ago i was in the movie theater watching a preview for 2012

I'm sorry.

Quote »when the question came across my mind. Why, whenever there is some sort of crisis that threatens the lives of and unknown number of people in an unknown location, does the president become top priority? [/quote]He doesn't. That's just a movie.

[AZhitman]

I mean, given he is the President, but why does he get the right to be protected and we the people generally do not?

Ummm, if you had 20 Secret Service agents, and I had 20 Secret Service agents, and everyone we know had 20 Secret Service agents, we'd run out of Secret Service agents.

US Govt 101 - We put a lot of effort into electing a Prez. We look out for his well-being. More reading, less movies.

[sedoken]

well yeah i understand that part, but (correct me if i'm wrong,) what you are basically saying is because of the hassles it takes to elect him, his LIFE automatically becomes a higher priority than the rest of us.

I'm not sure if i know how to fully explain what i'm trying to get at here. i mean i understand he holds the highest government position, but it is not that specific individual is a necessity to the overall well being of mankind.

does that make sense?

[sedoken]

Or maybe another way to put it is, why should his elected position make his mortality more important than mine, or yours, or vise versa?

[sedoken]

He doesn't. That's just a movie.

not just in movies. an example is during the 9/11 attack they put him on air-force one and flew him to an undisclosed location.

[AZhitman]

It's not.

His POSITION is more important.

Always consider the alternative when you get stumped like that - and carry it out to the ridiculous:

"OK, let's prop this Prez guy up in a convertible, let Alfred drive him around downtown at night... Make sure he stands up and waves to the bums... Oh, and make sure he has his Rolex on, and a fat stack of bills in his pocket..."

[themadscientist]

I know a pres who could have done that. Of course, he is a evil bastard; kind of goes with the badass package.

[nissangirl74]

Or maybe another way to put it is, why should his elected position make his mortality more important than mine, or yours, or vise versa?

We the people decide the president's worth when we elect him. We protect him because he has promised to protect us.

I have heard this before, but I do not remember who the original author is. No copyright infringement is implied, I am sharing this for sharing purposes only.

Think of the president (any president) when you read this and the awesome responsibility he has taken on in order to try and make a difference in the lives of others. Regardless of whether you like him or not, it brings a moment of introspection to the table.

A man his worth-- is what he does,to improve the lot of man.No resting upon what he was--he helps now-- because he can.

A man his worth-- his helpful hands,these hands he no longer owns,extended to his brother man,he’s beyond just flesh and bones.

His actions will show his true worth,his honor tills a better land,A smile that seeds brand new birth,through action-- he’s the hope of man.

[Nismo_Freak]

It's the same reason why General's send off lesser ranking troops to fight the wars.

The General is there to assure that the goals of the battle are achieved at the lowest cost possible. Without the General there is significantly less cohesion. Without cohesion there is chaos, and with chaos there is significantly greater loss of man, material, and machine.

That's why the Private get's to storm the machine gun nest. Because his skill set is easily replaced.

We protect the President with the ideology that his skill sets will save more of the cannon fodder (civilians).