The Presidential contenders are busily vying for our attention and have been for quite some time now. They are traveling the highways and byways of America and trying their darnedest to convince us they have our best interests and needs at heart. Perhaps some of them do—far be it from me to pass judgment—although I would argue that, for most, if not all, of these wannabe Presidents, the interests and needs of the American people don’t even run a close second to those of big business and special-interest groups.

I would love to see someone sitting in the Oval Office who really cares about you and me—someone who would fight tooth-and-nail to make this country a genuinely good place for all of us. This ideal President would do everything within his or her power to provide all Americans with healthcare. He or she would eradicate homelessness, provide for the destitute, and empower the powerless. This leader would also take the tax burden off the backs of the middleclass and put it where it belongs—on that small percentage (something like four percent) of the population that controls the majority of wealth in our country.

Of course, since I’m wishing here, let me add that while he or she was busy setting these things straight, this President would also abolish corporate welfare; do away with privatization of the military, allowing it once again to be self-sustaining; and take every step possible to make our elected officials accountable to the American people for their actions while in office.

Don’t get me wrong. This blog isn’t some political diatribe. After all, although I study the candidates and always vote, given it’s my civic duty, I have never considered myself a political person. That designation is reserved for my husband, who is an extremely political animal, as everyone who knows him will attest. However, I know the qualities I would like to see in the person elected to hold the highest office in our government—that person worthy enough to be called President of the United States of America—and those qualities are compassion, integrity, honesty, humility, and courage. And by courage, I mean the sheer guts it will take to stand up and fight to make this a better place to live for all of us.

Oh, well, it doesn’t hurt to dream, does it?