Winner’s bucket list

Here are five suggestions for what our new President has to do during his or her five-year term.

1) Don’t be ambitious but be ambitious

The late former President Roh Moo-hyun once observed, “The fact that I became president,” when asked what he thought was his biggest presidential achievement.

Roh didn’t elaborate but it was presumed among those who were present that there were few big changes a President could achieve due to a gossamer of checks and balances from interest groups by the time an issue arrived at his desk for a final decision.

This is worthwhile advice for our president-elect for a humbling and modest start for their next five years in office.

From previous presidents, we know that the presidency is a job where few dare offer advice, which forces an incumbent to become a solitary counsel to themselves.

But modesty should serve as an invigorating impetus, not a factor of deterrence, for the new president. He or she should aim high and reach out further for the sake of our national prosperity and harmony.  A leader without ambition is not a leader.

2) Invite also-rans for lunch

It’s important for the new president to be gracious to the vanquished.

The winner’s graciousness is not just for the sake of appearances but in the interests of developing political substance.

Upon taking office, a president should stop being partisan because he or she takes an oath to serve all people, irrespective of their political tendency.

Besides, it is pivotal to enlist the help of those who represented other parts of the political spectrum.  Now, your critics are the new leader’s constituents.

When U.S. President Barack Obama won his second term in November, one of the first things he did was invite Mitt Romney, the Republican candidate, for lunch at the White House.

Such a gesture helped improve Obama’s presidential image as a humble, considerate leader with nonpartisan appeal.

If the Republicans didn’t want any part in the Democratic president’s public relations blitz, the public would have appreciated it.

The political capital of highest value for a leader is support from the public. If they have this, it can help overcome big challenges.

It works in U.S. politics so why shouldn’t it work for us, too?

3) Appoint an opposition PM

One of the big mistakes commonly committed by the presidents is they think their election victory gives them absolute power. It doesn’t. What they get is a mandate, a conditional right to govern the nation on behalf of the people. This is a clear difference between the kings of olden times and our presidents.

A good way to ensure the sober use of this mandate is to share it with the opposition by, perhaps, appointing an opposition prime minister or one recommended by it, and giving him or her real powers.

Remember Obama appointed Hillary Clinton as secretary of state after their bitter fight for the party ticket. Secretary Clinton has performed a supreme job, devoting herself to resolving troubles around the world for U.S. interests.

They did, so can we. For detractors who object against two examples relating to Obama on nationalistic grounds, there is no shame in learning from the experiences of others.

This power-sharing formula will be taken as a goodwill gesture by the public, helping the new leader gain more political capital in the form of public support.

We know what happens to leaders who fall to the strong temptation of surrounding themselves only with sycophants. They end up as a president for a select few.

A leader should always be reminded that absolute power tends to corrupt. An opposition prime minister with real power can be an antidote to the intoxication of too much power.

By the same logic, it can’t be overstated that a leader should try and be blind to hometown associations, school ties and other personal connections.

The incumbent President Lee Myung-bak has given too many plum jobs to associates, inviting a great deal of criticism and loss of credibility, according to his critics, although he has achieved his share of jobs well done.

By extension, the new president may seriously consider forcing the retirement of his top lieutenants and keep them away at least during the initial stages of governance. Those who have made contributions to the election of their candidate would do a great service to him or her by going into semi-retirement.

4) Make one personal wish

The President is an institution that will not allow personal matters to interfere. This institutional requirement doesn’t always jibe with the president as a person.  So make one personal wish and we the people will grant it as long as it is within moral, legal and reasonable standards.

Don’t forget that this is number four in a list of five points that make up the basis of the job’s priorities.

5) Enjoy your job

Again, you belong more to us, the nation, than to yourself as our leader.

We need a leader who is optimistic, full of spirit and, last but not least, loves his job.  We need such a leader at a time when our nation as a whole is about to enter another era. <The Korea Times/Oh Young-jin>