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Do you think you have what it takes to be a mayor, senator, governor or president?
Any? All?
The question has NOTHING to do with electability, and answers like “Yes. I would appoint X Vice President, and then resign,” can be shortened to “No”.
Especially since the president doesn’t appoint Vice Presidents.Yes, but I would not do it because they really have to be available 24/7 for emergencies,
That said, I have been an elected Town Council member, Board of Finance Member and Planning and Zoning Commissioner. I was asked to run for State Senator, but in CT, that is a part-time position requiring full time work and would have taken away from my family and law practiceI would never make it as a politician. Same problem I had when I wanted to be a lawyer. Same problem when I tried to play poker. When I lie, it is too obvious. And being a politician involves a great deal of lying, bluffing, distorting truth, etc.
Just as someone who has an inclination to spill blood should consider a career as a Shochet, someone who has an inclination to lie and cheat should but those traits to good use, and become a politician.
There are quite a number of frum elected officials in Rockland, 4 on the county level, 4 on the town level and 10 on the village level
I wouldn’t, because then people would be bound not to be my close friends, since אל תתחבר לרשות
Just as someone who has an inclination to spill blood should consider a career as a Shochet, someone who has an inclination to lie and cheat should but those traits to good use, and become a politician.
Being a shochet is holy and admirable, even when spilling blood, lying, bluffing, cheating and distorting the truth is loathsome and dishonorable, and even being a politician does not excuse those repugnant behaviors.
That said, akuperma is correct in describing politicians.
אל תוועד לרשות**
A politician has to stretch the truth which I am reluctant to do.
It does not mean that being a politician requires to do despicable behaviors, but one would definitely come up with cases where one need to meet despicable people, not disclose full truth, etc.
Mordechai decreased his rank in Sanhedrin due to his political activities and was only respected by “rov”, that 51%?
Yosef being a leader was niftar before any of the other shevatim having to worry about the needs of all.
I am glad everyone here are too truthful to take the job! (or at least those who said so).
On the other hand, sometimes you need to do something on behalf of the tzibur (Mordechai being an example).
At the end of Hagigah, there is a statement that Gehinom does not burn Talmidei Chachamim. The question is – what are they doing in Gehinom in the first place? some explain that they are there to help others, which does not seem to fully rhyme with an unqualified statement of the Gemorah. [I did not have time to look it up “thanks” to daf Yomi, if someone did – please post!]
I think here is the connection: A story goes about a group of Rabonim riding a train in Poland in 1920s. They would come out at the stations to meet local Jews who came to greet them. (elderly) Chofetz Chaim stayed inside. (a youngster) R Meir Shapiro (Daf Yomi connection) asked him why he is not coming out. Ch Ch said – it is asur because it is gaavah. R Shapiro asked – and what is the punishment for gaava? Ch Ch thundered: GEHINOM. Oh, said R Shapiro, and is this too much of a punishment to withhold a pleasure of seeing a tzaddik from thousand of Yidden who came to the train!? Ch chaim agreed and started coming out for the rest of the trip. I think they both relied on this Hagigah Gemora that they’ll not get burned. And this also rhymes with the explanation above – that they get to Gehinom because they were doing something for others and, in the process, did something not fully proper.
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