Teens tell how to restore the presidency

My first repair to the presidency would be to try to remove President Clinton from office. I would offer resignation; if this was declined, then I would move to impeach him. The country could start fresh, Americans could move on, and we could focus our attention on what is important in the world -- poverty, wars and peace -- rather than sex, lies and President Clinton's numerous affairs.

After all, who's running the country if the President is committing adultery with all these women? If we are the most powerful nation in the world, when does Clinton have time to deal with our country's issues?

I believe that it would take many years to repair this esteemed office. First, I would institute a mandatory signing of a moral code. This moral code would state several things, all dealing with honor, truth, loyalty and trust. It would not be a legally binding statement; rather, it would be an honor code, such as the one used at colleges and universities. We expect college students to behave in a responsible, adult manner. Why shouldn't we expect the same behavior from our president?

The next repair I would make would be to get rid of electoral college voting. Since Clinton was voted into office by this supposed democratic system, I would make the next election truly by the people. I also would institute a new democratic procedure. The president may not take office unless he has won at least 51 percent of the popular vote by the American people. That way, Clinton would be the last president voted into the Oval office with the minority popular vote, which in Clinton's case was 43 percent.

When Lieutenant Kelly Flynn was accused of committing adultery and was thrown out of the air force, Clinton as commander-in-chief of the armed forces could have stepped in and stopped it. So when our President, our leader, our symbol of what our country stands for, commits adultery, why isn't he punished in the same way? After all, he is head of the entire armed forces. This is a double standard. My repair would be to make a policy stating that whatever rule applies to one applies to all, including our President!

The repairs that I feel are needed would be made to ensure that the President is not above the law. A president taking office must understand and publicly acknowledge the fact that the same rules that apply to the rest of Americans apply to him.

It could take quite a while before our country is healed again. The band-aids which Clinton has tried to apply to the situation haven't helped. The presidency needs a major home improvement, not a small remodeling job.

(11-05-98)

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