Question: What makes a great president?

Or any sort of leader... congressman/woman, mayor, governor. What qualities should we look for?

When I was a little kid, I remember telling my Grandpa Darwin that I thought he should be president. It must have been during the Carter administration and we were sitting there watching some news on TV. I admit, I idolized him. To me, Grandpa was one of the smartest, toughest guys on earth.

Almost thirty years later, I still remember what he said. "I wouldn't want to be president. You have no privacy, no time with your family..." and I think he continued, but my little blond-headed, six-year-old brain was already overloaded.

He didn't WANT to be president? Wow. I'm sure he was amused at the sight of my little blue eyes looking up at him, wide in astonishment. That was the answer I least expected from him.

He had that in common with George Washington. Did you know our first president used much of his personal wealth to finance the revolutionary war? Martha spent the war years supporting her husband, traveling much of the time to be with him where he commanded his troops, rallying other women to join in her efforts to sew the soldiers' shirts and blankets. None of it was a political ploy; they simply were putting country first.

Fast forward about 232 years. I've emailed my representative, senators, and presidential candidate of choice--some of whom will appear on the ballot in a few weeks--and told them they would not get my vote if they voted to spend my hard-earned tax dollars to bail out the incompetent and greedy bankers lobbying for $700 billion dollars. (And I'm so proud of the house democrats and republicans who voted against and defeated the bill today!)

Answer: The people who vote!

It's time to vote in some more senators and representatives (and a president) who have the same attitude of George Washington. They would serve because they believe in the well being of our country and they're willing to sacrifice for it.

No matter which side of the aisle you sit on, you can't help but be disgusted by how things are being run in Washington and your state capitols. It's easy to complain about the government, but the fact is that we are the government. It's not up to "them." It's up to us. I for one, am going to get off my duff.

You with me? Start calling and writing your elected officials, both federal and state. Look at their voting records before you go to your own ballot in a few weeks. Let them know you're going to hold them accountable.