World's Poorest President

[AcetheSuperVillain]

From BBC news:

Jose Mujica: The world's 'poorest' president http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-20243493

basically, the guy donates 90% of his salary to charity and chooses to live in a hut on his wife's farmland.

"I'm called 'the poorest president', but I don't feel poor. Poor people are those who only work to try to keep an expensive lifestyle, and always want more and more," he says.

"This is a matter of freedom. If you don't have many possessions then you don't need to work all your life like a slave to sustain them, and therefore you have more time for yourself," he says.

"I may seem a mad and eccentric old man. But this is a free choice."

Mujica accuses most world leaders of having a "blind obsession to achieve growth with consumption, as if the contrary would mean the end of the world".

So what do you think of this guy? Do you wish your own leaders would think the same?

As for me, I agree with his sentiment that scrambling for wealth will not lead to a happy life. As a leader, I think it's a good example to set. But at the same time, I think we in America expect leaders (be they in government, business or military) to be driven by higher than average ambition that allows them to do a better than average job. Hearing about Mujica's lifestyle makes him sound like he wouldn't care enough to do a good job.

That said, Mujica lives on an average Uruguayan's salary. A USA leader living in a normal USA house on normal USA income (about 50,000$/year) would probably seem alright.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the President of Uruguay:

[Korriken]

"This is a matter of freedom. If you don't have many possessions then you don't need to work all your life like a slave to sustain them, and therefore you have more time for yourself," he says.

Probably one of the smartest politicians i've ever seen. He seems like a true statesman, unlike other politicians in the world who leverage their position to accumulate wealth and ever increasing power.

[Idiot-Finder]

That's pretty nice of him.

[Thecrazyman]

At 11/14/12 11:07 PM, Korriken wrote: "This is a matter of freedom. If you don't have many possessions then you don't need to work all your life like a slave to sustain them, and therefore you have more time for yourself," he says.

Probably one of the smartest politicians i've ever seen. He seems like a true statesman, unlike other politicians in the world who leverage their position to accumulate wealth and ever increasing power.

Poorest President or no, I think so as long as he's happy, his people are happy and he's doing his job as President of Uruguay very well to the point where he and his people remain happy then yes, I be happy myself.

This is one of those things to prove that one doesn't have to be rich in order to run and become elected President of the United States, it's sadly unfortunate that a lot of people think that way and sooner or later, they'll be proven wrong.

What if one poor person becomes President of the United States oneself to the point where oneself dose the job just right, sure one would need some degree of money but not over millions of dollars just to run a campaign.

In fact I alone would run campaigns on forums like newgrounds, Xbox Live, Playstation Network even to make the run for the 2020 Presidency, sure people will say I'm too young but I'm here to prove why Age & Maturity just don't mix.

In either case, this is proof that one doesn't have to be rich to become President of the United States, if President Jose Mujica was still poor before he was elected President and actually won because the people of Uruguay voted for him and are happy for him for running the country of Uruguay well, I can do the same within the United States and so can anyone else.

[Warforger]

At 11/15/12 12:08 AM, Thecrazyman wrote: This is one of those things to prove that one doesn't have to be rich in order to run and become elected President of the United States, it's sadly unfortunate that a lot of people think that way and sooner or later, they'll be proven wrong.

You do realize how much money it takes to campaign right? It takes ALOT of money. As in Billions at this point. It's even estimated to go into Trillions, which is fucking insane, you might as well organize campaign donors to pay off the debt.

In fact I alone would run campaigns on forums like newgrounds, Xbox Live, Playstation Network even to make the run for the 2020 Presidency, sure people will say I'm too young but I'm here to prove why Age & Maturity just don't mix.

Except you need to be 35 to run for President.

[leanlifter1]

The value of a truly great leader of a country and no they are not all refers to as President like some arrogant minded Americans may think would be gauged by how much they give back to there communities. If was President I would give the less fortunate street people shelter even in my own dam ass mansion as it is not right to horde that much wealth. If I was the leader of a country I would help those that are in most need first and then after they are ok then I would think about what I was going to do with the greedy scum sucking leeches of society that assume they are entitled to much more than they are worth. You can never truly enjoy luxuries of life such as High Speed Internet and computing until you have spent true time with absolutely nothing but the cloths on your back and this is called true freedom. I envy this leader if he is truly legit but I have my doubts.

[leanlifter1]

Also a true American President would be wearing second hand jeans and a ripped Tee shirt because he is helping his people more than himself all his people and that goes for his millions of people below the poverty line that live in his cities. There is no reason why the President and Prim minister have to waste money on $5000 custom cut suites as that money can go along way to helping people in need all over.

[BumFodder]

At 11/15/12 12:31 AM, Warforger wrote:

At 11/15/12 12:08 AM, Thecrazyman wrote: This is one of those things to prove that one doesn't have to be rich in order to run and become elected President of the United States, it's sadly unfortunate that a lot of people think that way and sooner or later, they'll be proven wrong.

You do realize how much money it takes to campaign right? It takes ALOT of money. As in Billions at this point. It's even estimated to go into Trillions, which is fucking insane, you might as well organize campaign donors to pay off the debt.

Yeah but most of that is donated, and to be honest the reason the person who wins usually gets more money is more of a case of jumping on the bandwagon and then donating rather than the money being the reason they won.

[AcetheSuperVillain]

At 11/15/12 02:11 PM, WhitePowerUSA wrote: You do realize America is a capitalist country, right? Those things you are talking about are not things American believed in. If you ran on that kind of platform in America you would be laughed out of any chance at holding office.

I wonder if that would be true. Surely, the people in charge of the Republican and Democratic parties would not give such a person the time of day, but would the American people accept it?

After all, capitalism has served us well for 150+ years, but what we truly stand for is liberty, equality and security. We would never uphold capitalism simply for the sake of capitalism; we uphold capitalism because it (usually) best enables us to uphold America's true values.

After all, wouldn't anyone consider it the height of stupidity to throw away one's life, liberty or happiness for wealth? Is it not just as foolish for leaders to throw away their own people's lives, liberties and happiness in exchange for making their people wealthy?

[CaptainCornhole]

At 11/15/12 12:08 AM, Thecrazyman wrote: What if one poor person becomes President of the United States oneself to the point where oneself dose the job just right, sure one would need some degree of money but not over millions of dollars just to run a campaign.

In fact I alone would run campaigns on forums like newgrounds, Xbox Live, Playstation Network even to make the run for the 2020 Presidency, sure people will say I'm too young but I'm here to prove why Age & Maturity just don't mix.

I would disagree with you to a certain extent cause both parties are so well invested in their candidates you would need a substantial sum of dough to have a viable campaign.

That said, I was just thinking about this the other day. Like a true grass roots campaign, how awesome would it be if america elected some average middle class american instead of some socialite or political ass hat.

[Cootie]

I think he is a wonderful man. He should serve as an example to our candidates who take countless "donations" (bribes) from corporations. Maybe one day such a person will lead in America.

[Ericho]

I was going to say that the poorest national leader was someone who was in a really poor country like Zimbabwe, but that's never the case. Those countries are so poor because the President takes all the money. This guy is a true hero. Pity he isn't more well known worldwide or his country for that matter.

[AcetheSuperVillain]

At 11/18/12 10:30 AM, Ericho wrote: I was going to say that the poorest national leader was someone who was in a really poor country like Zimbabwe, but that's never the case. Those countries are so poor because the President takes all the money. This guy is a true hero. Pity he isn't more well known worldwide or his country for that matter.

If only we could turn him into a meme...

[Ericho]

At 11/18/12 10:30 AM, Ericho wrote: If only we could turn him into a meme...

Eh, that's sheer fire way to not turn something into a meme. If you want something to become a meme, you should say it's not a meme.

Yeah, society's weird like that.

[AntiHero]

I think so long as he does his job as President then there's no issue. He isn't really hurting anyone by doing this and as far as I can tell he seems to love his country and its people, try suggesting not only the American president but any American politician to donate 90% of their salary and live on the salary of an average American.

[Revo357912]

Another thing worth mentioning is that not many people want to kill the president of Uruguay as, say, the president of the United States, so living in a hut on an open farmland is also acceptable because of that.

[leanlifter1]

At 12/3/12 12:29 AM, Revo357912 wrote: Another thing worth mentioning is that not many people want to kill the president of Uruguay as, say, the president of the United States, so living in a hut on an open farmland is also acceptable because of that.

Wouldn't say people want to kill the pres of the US as most people know another one will just continue the agenda. The presidency in America can learn allot about sacrifice from the countries that they have been fucking up the ass for the last century.