ELECTIONS in the United States are great equalizers, when there is an epic struggle to convince voters that the candidates are one of 'them'. The presidential election season in 2024 is no different.
If the US Constitution is amended to stipulate that when the White House falls vacant every four years, new applicants for tenancy should be at least millionaires, it would lend a sense of realism to American presidential elections. Candidates for the most powerful political office in the world would not then have to engage in ridiculous antics such as serving French fries at a McDonald's drive-in counter to identify themselves with ordinary voters, as Republican Donald Trump did in late October.
Candidates competing to occupy the White House, especially from the Republican Party, are more often than not multimillionaires, if not billionaires. Trump is only the latest example. Previous Grand Old Party nominees John McCain of the Anheuser-Busch beer conglomerate family, the Bush household and their vice president Dick Cheney—with vast oil industry connections, and film actor Ronald Reagan were all infinitely wealthy.
Long gone are the days when Abraham Lincoln, the first Republican chief executive who was not a millionaire, could rise from a humble log cabin to presidency.
In the third millennium, Democrats are not very different. There was a time when presidential nominees from the Democratic Party were more aam aadmi, as Indians would say. Their lives and fortunes were more like the millions who vote for them. Democrat Harry Truman was the poorest president in US history.
In 1949, the US Congress had to double Truman's salary so he could make both ends meet in the White House. The US presidency became a pensionable job only in 1958—because Truman, by then a retiree, was slipping into penury.
この記事は The New Indian Express の November 04, 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は The New Indian Express の November 04, 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
India's PC market at all-time high in third quarter of 2024
India's traditional PC market, which includes desktops, notebooks, and workstations, achieved an all-time high of 4.49 million units shipped in the third quarter of 2024 (3Q24), reflecting a modest 0.1% year-over-year (YoY) growth, according to data from IDC.
AI will positively influence sustainability goals
About 96% of Indian executives believe that artificial intelligence (AI) can positively impact their sustainability goals.
Investing in differentiated connectivity can boost telcos' revenue: Ericsson
Recently, telecom equipment maker Ericsson suggested in one of its reports that Indian telecom service providers invest in differentiated connectivity as consumers are willing to pay extra for it.
TOP 5 TECH TRENDS TO WATCH IN 2025
ROM the emergence of smaller GenAI language models and AI agents to semiconductors and spacetech, Capgemini's tech trends for 2024 received a lot of attention.
Perfect Liverpool on top of CL, Dortmund also among winners
LIVERPOOL are the only team with a perfect record in this season's Champions League after beating title-holders Real Madrid 2-0 in their heavyweight clash on Wednesday, with last season's runners-up Borussia Dortmund among the night's other winners.
MOP Vaishnav win 20th consecutive title
MOP Vaishnav College secured the 20th consecutive rolling trophy with their stellar performance by winning the women's overall title at the 56th Dr Sir A Lakshmanaswamy Mudaliar athletics meet organised by the University of Madras at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai.
Rohit & Co call on Oz PM ahead of practice tie
AUSTRALIAN Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday hosted a reception for the travelling Indian cricket team ahead of their two-day pink-ball practice match against PM's XI here from November 30.
India in line to host 'very major event in 2025, says top FIDE official Sutovsky
THE world governing body for chess (FIDE) could be set to host a 'very major event' in India in 2025.
MIND AT REST, EYES ON NEXT MOVE
With three games of the chess World Championship done, some themes are emerging from the tournament. A look...
PCB does not want Hybrid CT; ICC board to meet today
A day before an all-important ICC board meeting scheduled to be held virtually to finalize the schedule of the 2025 Champions Trophy, the Pakistan Cricket Board on Thursday afternoon has conveyed to the world governing body that the hybrid model is not acceptable to it.