The current trend of American politics is shifting towards leaders whose priorities over the well-being of an entire nation is questionable. These leaders, who are supposed to represent leadership, honor and responsibility have utterly failed to show anything other than incompetency. As we enter an era where political polarization has reached unprecedented heights, one can only presume a deteriorating society as both sides of the political spectrum set harmful precedents.
According to the United States Department of Justice, over 26 pardons and 126 commutations have been given within President Joe Biden’s term, one of them to his son Robert Hunter Biden for tax evasion of over 1.4 million dollars. While it can be argued that Biden did this out of fatherly love, the results of his actions indicate a clear message: the abuse of presidential power and an explicit attack on the authority of the Justice Department. Although presidents are given the unlimited right to give out pardons, Biden’s decision has set up a precedent allowing future presidents to use clemency for personal or political purposes.
On the other end of the spectrum, President-elect Donald Trump’s appointment of his cabinet members has drawn criticism, as doubts have arisen on whether the elected individuals possess the necessary qualifications to fulfill the responsibilities of their position. For instance, Trump is nominating Pete Hegseth, a former FOX news host as Secretary of Defense; someone who will ultimately manage all military departments. While it is common throughout history for elected presidents to pay back political favors—dating as early back as the 19th century with the spoils system during Andrew Jackson’s presidency—by prioritizing loyalty over merit and competence, this system will lead to corruption and inefficiency within government agencies.
As future voters, we should be concerned about the increasing trend of our leaders and their tendency to ignore the people’s welfare. Imagine this issue through a hypothetical situation with our student government, Associated Student Body (ASB). The ASB adviser chooses a freshman with no prior leadership experience to be ASB president simply because they were the adviser’s kid. In a similar scenario, the same ASB president violates a serious school regulation. However, the adviser does not enforce a punishment upon the student. If such decisions are accepted, we at The Hoofprint can only speculate on its detrimental impact on the Walnut High School community. This scenario parallels our current political state as leaders are incapable of making objective decisions without personal bias, presenting a major concern to the general population.
Our nation is built upon the pillars of democracy, yet the political climate of recent years have revealed the failures of our nation’s current leaders. At The Hoofprint, we emphasize the need to prioritize competency and accountability, ensuring that the citizens are in the best interest.
