TROPOphy Winner(s) of the Week: the Presidential Candidates

OK, so selecting all the presidential candidates might be somewhat of a cop-out.  We didn’t want to choose just one candidate, because we don’t want this blog to become too political.  While one candidate may have been the first candidate to call for change in their campaign, it seems almost all of the contestants left in the race have somehow adopted or integrated that theme into their campaigns.

This CNN video reminds us of the obvious: “change” is not a very original campaign slogan.  Especially after a two-term presidency, candidates will always offer a change from the previous eight years.

As mentioned, we’re going to refrain from endorsing a certain candidate or party and thus call all the presidential candidates to the stage to receive the TROPOphy.  We congratulate them on advocating for change in our government, change in our country, and change in our world.  But we’ve got more to say.

The Wikipedia entry about philia notes that, while he may not have invented the word, our man Aristotle is certainly the one who devoted the most time to fleshing out its definition.  Aristotle was very clear in his definitions of philia that this “love” had to be mutual.  Philia is a relationship, a give and take.  The lover expects the object of their affection to care for and respond to them.  To listen to them.

The Tropophiliacs — the lovers of not just plain old change, but a responsive, dynamic, flexible change — who do we think you should vote for?  That’s your call.  But we will suggest to you which type of candidate to vote for.  Look for a candidate who not only advocates change, but who advocates change based on the input of the American people.  Look for a change agent who listens before acting.  Look for a future president who evaluates his or her decisions and makes adjustments where necessary.  A president who won’t blindly stay the course and refuse to admit when he or she is wrong.  A president who seeks not just to change how we do health care or taxes or foreign policy, but who seeks to change how our nation’s capital operates completely.  A president who realizes he or she cannot make all the changes they want on their own, but who knows that to make real change in this country you have to harness the immense hunger for change among the American people.

Make sure when you vote in your primary and when you vote in November, you’re voting for the candidate who lives, breathes, and inspires you to change.  One man or woman cannot do it on their own.  If the next president can mobilize the American people to be an army of change agents, then that president will be a successful one indeed.

Image used under a Creative Commons license courtesy of Flickr user lakelandlocal.