When I Ran for President, It Messed With My Head - Andrew Yang

[Klaralven]

It’s your birthday. Imagine going into a room and finding dozens of people have gathered together to see you. They toast your arrival. There is much excitement. They ask you to give a speech. You are very flattered. You give a speech that speaks to how touched you are that they are there for you. You talk about the occasion that has brought you all together. You want it to be genuine. Not so short that it seems perfunctory, but not so long that it seems self-indulgent.

Your birthday speech goes great. People want to talk to you and congratulate you. You are happy to see them. You shake hands and greet the people you know. There are many people you don’t know, perhaps because your friends brought their friends. It’s that kind of party.

Now imagine if that happened to you every night. Not just every night but several times during the day as well. And in addition to it being your birthday every day, you periodically visit television sets to talk to a TV personality. The host greets you in the greenroom, and you find yourself studying a face that you have seen many times before. You are surrounded by people at all times. They theoretically work for you, but most of the time they are directing you, saying, “You have to be on the road in ten minutes” or “You have a call with this person in five.” And you are on the road four days a week away from your family. You get back to the hotel room, and your face is tired from smiling or making expressions.

That’s a bit of what it feels like, running for president. And it should worry us that all of our leaders are subject to it.

...

On the campaign trail, I could clearly see how politicians become susceptible to growing so out of touch. You spend time with dozens of people whose schedules and actions revolve around you. Everyone asks you what you think. You function on appearance; appearance becomes your role. Empathy becomes optional or even unhelpful. Leadership becomes the appearance of leadership.

The process through which we choose leaders neutralizes and reduces the capacities we want most in them. It’s cumulative as well; the longer you are in it, the more extreme the effects are likely to be over time.

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2021/10/03/andrew-yang-book-excerpt-campaigning-514967

[Ocelot II]

1. This is very interesting, very insightful.

I didn't think Yang should have been elected president because of his lack of experience in government, but I found him likable and "real." He gets it.

[fescuerescue]

2. That has a great deal of implications for politicians who have been active for decades

I don't think this is a partisan thing.

It must be quite the ego trip.

[soldierant]

23. It must have been overwhelming -

sarting by running for the highest possible office, voted for by the largest number of people, and having this happen all at oce.

I suspect politicials who start local and gradually move up are in a better position, watcing it escalate with the office being run for, to see through it.

[Klaralven]

25. Quite a few people run for Governor or Senator without previous elective experience

It must be essentially the same process, although on a smaller stage.

[soldierant]

26. I'm sure it is

But the smaller stage part, even if it's not that much smaller, wuld, I would expect, help neutralize the big stage effect.

[Klaralven]

29. The toadys that run national campaigns learn their craft at the state level.

[bluewater]

3. I hope he feels better soon and drops his third party nonsense.

[LisaM]

24. Unlikely. What he wants is influence, maybe power.

He wants his third party to be an endorser for either Republicans or Democrats. He obviously never really was a Democrat. He wants open primaries for one thing.

[Hortensis]

4. Easy to believe. Yang tried to elevate himself from basically unknown businessman

to viable presidential candidate in one rocket launch.

Biden, as an opposite example, by personality has always been very interested in and connected to the people around him, a people collector, but also even to those he'd never known before and won't see again. That's his nature.

And of course he's been in politics for decades before he first ran. While almost everyone Yang was able to meet or searched him out was a stranger, many people of stature around the nation were friends/acquaintances to Biden and knew him well, and vice versa. He sees people he's known for years wherever he goes, and he has several friends who've been with him for years who genuinely love him, and vice versa. They helped him through his hard times, including the presidential campaign.

[NNadir]

5. Excellent points. It gives insight to the value of experience. n/t.

[bluewater]

6. And then Yang chose to run for the 2nd most demanding job in the nation, Mayor of New York City

A bridge too far...

[LisaM]

9. Right?

I wish more people were on to him.

[LisaM]

8. Exactly.

Then he was suddenly everywhere being touted as a political expert.

He rubbed me the wrong way when he was running, and he still does.

I have a friend who has a very large dog (her third one). She's pretty, and she likes to take him for walks all over, and she wants people to think of her as the blonde with the big dog. Yet she also complains at times that she can't take her dog for a walk in peace.

[Hortensis]

15. That he considered himself qualified to be president, or didn't care

if he was, immediately identified him to me as incompetent in extremely fundamental ways. Wrong stuff.

I can see why you thought of your friend, but at least she doesn't having a big dog means she's qualified for great power.

[StarfishSaver]

7. Clearly

[quaint]

10. John Edwards syndrome?

[Ocelot II]

11. Edwards was always a con man. I don't think Yang is a phony like that, though

if he is serious about not turning into what he described in his article, he might want to stay out of politics.

[quaint]

13. He came to mind

...as an expert at turning support into worship.
I do agree he was part con man.

[spooky3]

17. I think a lot of Edwards supporters wished his wife

Rather than he were running. She was likely the author of most policy positions.

[quaint]

34. Oh yes!

[BlueSky3]

12. It's often called situational narcissism

If they weren’t over-the-top ego driven before they ran, they soon become that way.

I fear that his new interest in running from his new party will take away much-needed votes from Democrats.

[NotHardly]

14. I see he's still trying to be relevant ... ;/

[soryang]

16. Yang tries to exploit a "technocompetent" image that hasn't worked elsewhere

Perennial presidential candidate Ahn Chul-soo is a model of this in South Korea. Sensing voter disgust with the current political scene, Ahn hoped to take advantage of the image of the super competent technical manager in touch with state of the art management and business developments, and an "outsider" image. After serving in the National Assembly once, Ahn consistently failed to get elected to office.

Starting out as democrat, Ahn eventually became a known quantity, in reality, a self serving conservative who doesn't want to commit to the divisive issues of the day or pay his dues, as it were. He hasn't weaseled his way into the South Korean presidential race this season. Not yet, anyway. There is actually more room for this kind of politician in South Korea, yet it doesn't work there.

Ironically, a democratic candidate for president in South Korea now, Lee Jae-myung, has UBI as a major commitment in his campaign platform and he is dominating the democratic primaries, and ls so far ahead of his rival Lee Jae-myun, it is likely he won't have to face a run off vote to cinch the nomination. Unlike some of the other presidential hopefuls, Lee JM, has a working class background, is known as an effective former mayor and governor, who can work with business, and doesn't hesitate to endorse "leftist" reform policies.

[KPN]

18. Yang is one heck of an intelligent and thoughtful person.

He actually sees the forest for the trees.

[CloudWatcher]

19. All candidates for higher office

It's been pointed out many times, that all candidates for president are members in a self-selected group of mentally ill narcissists. Just imagine having the colossal ego to think that you're the best possible candidate among the millions of qualified citizens.

Until we get a better system, we should at least refuse to elect anyone without years of experience proving that they are more than just a good talker.

[Trueblue Texan]

22. I agree...

I think experience is important in most fields, but most especially in politics. Good character is also important. No one can deny McConnell is good at working the Senate to achieve his evil goals. If only he were of good character. MTG is neither good nor experienced and she's a dumpster fire to her constituents and her party.

[relayerbob]

28. I've always liked the concepts in Plato's republic

(Very paraphrased, and it has been a long time since reading it) People who want to be leaders at a young age are tested for suitability, and then only those who are propertly suited and trained in how to deal with all of this can run for office. The ultimate leaders have what they need provided by the state, and graft is impermissible. Furthermore, part of the testing is psychological, and if someone wants a position too much, they are disqualified from holding it. They have to truly want to be in it for the people and not for themselves.

[CloudWatcher]

32. Those who seek power are not worthy of that power

The intertubes are full of the Plato "quote" of "Those who seek power are not worthy of that power" ... but it appears to not be a direct quote. I did find this on reddit...

https://www.reddit.com/r/Plato/comments/7fzja3/comment/dqgdvuh/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3

makaliis

It may derive from the parts of the Republic in which it is argued that:

1. True philosophers (those who have beheld the good) are the most suited to ruling well.

2. Anyone who has seen the good (been outside the cave) would have no interest in ruling the prisoners inside the cave (who live pitiful lives).

3. Many enter public office with the aim of acquiring goods that they lack (specifically because they have not seen the good, but also in reference to material wealth).

Thus the best suited to rule are least likely to want to, and perhaps those less suited to rule will be more inclined to desire power due to their own shortcomings (of both kinds).

I first encountered this idea as a pre-teen reading some science-fiction short story where they had developed a draft for president ... because they noticed that the people who actually wanted the job were a danger to themselves and society. I thought it was Clark or Asimov but I've never been able to find the story again. Probably time to stop searching for it and go to Plato

[Trueblue Texan]

20. Well, I see his point, but I think there are some who...

...thrive in such an environment, whose best ideas may come from such an environment. There is no doubt there have been some exceptional leaders in the run for president in this nation. They're not always elected but being able to think on their feet under that kind of pressure seems good training for the job they are striving for. At the same time, those with neuroses like tfg could be driven further into mental illness by such unrelenting attention. It's an interesting hazard to consider in our elected officials.

[Thunderbeast]

21. SO MANY obstacles to finding good leaders.

The process distorts the messages. The media amplifies any trait or action that will draw viewers.

Do you think we can get Jimmy Carter to run again? 100 is the new 70!

[relayerbob]

27. Which is why Obama, especially, and also Biden

spent so much time getting away from the cameras and trying to meet regular folks.

This whole statement really makes me understand why I do't like him and would not want him to be President. "Birthday party?" Really? Life is what YOU make of it, dude.

Although I do agree that far too many politicians fall into that trap.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

30. I never took Yang to be a serious candidate

The 2020 primaries and the 2021 mayor primary proved me right

[brooklynite]

31. Somehow, this dilemma didn't affect other candidates...

Some candidates have rallies with huge audiences of fans who are already supporting him or her, and some candidates start out talking to small groups of voters with actual questions and concerns, and build their support that way.

[Boomerproud]

33. Obviously a well-written piece but I don't see any payoff with

solutions. I was impressed with Yang in the primaries but he has shown his true colors since, hence the negative comments.