Can We Have A Frugal President?

August 25, 2008 · Filed Under ·  

Secure your cats and cover your children’s eyes, my Dad is back! He is not a newcomer to my blog, as this post would attest, My Old Man: Frugal, Cheap, or Just Strange?. So with no further-ado, I once again present my Dad!

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We are being blitzed by the media coverage of the upcoming presidential election. Details of the contenders voting records, religious beliefs, family life, health records, tax records, and even personality traits ate under the public microscope.

Based on past elections these criteria do not guarantee an effective comander-in-chief. One personal trait that might have more validity in choosing a national leader is how careful he or she is in conserving their personal resources. This would provide a leader more experience in making “prudent” economic decisions. We often hear of how the government wastes tax payer money. Blame is often laid at the feet of politicians who seemingly lack the skills to make good decisions with our hard earned tax money. By choosing our leaders based on their frugality we might eliminate $600 hammers and million dollar bridges that lead to nowhere.

Perhaps the most significant opportunity any president has is the opportunity to set the tone for the entire nation. This often overshadows many decisions they make or bills they sign. One would not expect a president to walk around the White House turning off the lights; however, the knowledge that frugality was one of the criterion that got them elected would go a long way in promoting frugality among the American people.

For any person who has lived their entire life in an affluent family it would be difficult to relate to buying a fuel efficient car or turning the thermostat down to 68 degrees on cold winter day. In poor or middle class families these decisions are usually the norm.

Do you think it would be possible for a wealthy person to be a frugal president? Looking forward to your comments!

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Comments

4 Responses to “Can We Have A Frugal President?”

  1. Jennifer on August 25th, 2008 2:39 pm

    I don’t think being wealthy and being frugal are mutually exclusive. A lot of rich people got that way by being careful with their money.

  2. Manny on August 25th, 2008 2:50 pm

    I think it would be possible for a wealthy person to be a frugal president. While voting records, religious beliefs, family life, health records and tax records have not always been 100% for choosing a leader I don’t think that a president who turns down the White House thermostat is going to improve the situation. Some of the smartest most inovative leaders of our time have been less than frugal. What if Bill Gates took the money he used to start up MIcrosoft and put it in a savings account. I’d have to write you a letter instead of email I guess. If we voted in a frugal leader who wanted to save our tax dollars instead of using it to stimulate the economy or create jobs our economy would come crashing down. That’s not to say that we should buy stupid things but there should be a balance. Overlooking the important leadership qualitites of an individual for them being frugal is not the way to go. I don’t care if the president is frugal or not, I want him to protect my country, let me keep as much of my money as psossible and if that means paying 600.00 for a hammer than so be it. By the way when I was a kid I thought you were strange, as I got older cheap and now frugal. I now also run around the house turning lights off. I guess I’m getting old too.

  3. Stephanie on August 25th, 2008 7:01 pm

    Hmmm I wonder if the country would let the president be frugal even if he were inclined to be? Seems everyone is vying for the government to spend lots of money, just on their particular interests.

  4. Dick, aka "Dad" on August 26th, 2008 9:33 am

    Comment to Manny– You are very perceptive in saying that turning down the thermostat would not improve the situation. That was meant as a small example. You missed the point of my blog WHICH WAS, WHAT LEADERS DO AND SAY GOES A LONG WAY TO PROMOTE THAT CONCEPT WITH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. However; if the person turning down the thermostat would follow through and veto pork-barrel bills that WOULD improve the situation. All of our recent presidents have been less than frugal though not necessarily smart or innovative.. Due to their wealth they have been out of touch with working Americans and think record deficits are a GOOD thing. The word on the street is that Bill Gates did invest his money and borrowed MONEY to start Microsoft. By the way, when you were a kid I was strange, now am more strange, and more frugal. Keep turning off the lights!

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