Machiavelli and the President Lately, the president of the United States Bill
Clinton, has pursued some policies that have been very unpopular not only with
the general public but the electorate as well. Besides the whole Monica ordeal
he feels that these unpopular policies will effect the results of the next
election. The presidential advisors have formulated countless plans but no plan
has seemed to work. One idea would be to leave the unpopular policies as they
are because of the president and advisors belief that they are the best for the
country.
Another option would be to just present the unpopular policies in a new way
to maybe change public opinion on them. Still another would be to just ignore
the policies and concentrate on the election. No matter what option , if any,
should be chosen one must be thought up quick and it must not only address the
problem but solve it and fast. Since I have recently learned about Machiavelli
and his work titled The Prince I feel his opinions would help to influence some
decisions for the president and his advisors.
A first and very important view of Machiavelli would be his view of the
prince and his advisors. “It is an infallible rule that a prince who is not wise
himself cannot be well advised.”(p.117) As it is up to the prince to be well
advised it is also up to the president to be well advised as well. The
president’s advisors, as well as the president, are not sure what actions to
take, which in Machiavelli’s view would not be a good characteristic of a leader
and as a result would not help gain friendship of the people.
Good relationship with the people is one of his greatest points because
without the people there is no leader. The leader, the president, must have the
support of the people and if not he will not stay in power long. The president
is not doing a good job of this because of his very unpopular policies.
Machiavelli would never choose to just continue on the same path and peruse
unpopular policies. “It is necessary for a prince to possess the friendship;
otherwise he has no recourse in times of adversity.”(p.65)
In response to this he would abandon the unpopular policies and concentrate
on winning the election, keeping the people happy. Not only should the leader
concentrate on the present and the future but consider the past. “ The prince
ought to read history and study the actions of eminent men, examine the causes
of their victories and defeat in order to imitate the former and avoid the
latter.”(p.82) History is bound to repeat itself if not watched very carefully.
The leader must avoid repeating the blunders of the past and take note of the
victories preceding him. Another view that would help the president out in his
policies would be Machiavelli’s view on boldness. The leader is far better of to
be bold instead of cautious. If you expect for the worse and be prepared for bad
times even if its not the best strategy you will be better off in the long run.
“For if it happens that time and circumstances are favourable to one who acts
with caution and prudence he will be successful, but if time and circumstances
change he will be ruined, because he does not change his mode of procedure.”(p.
121) The leader must at all times be prepared for the worst so he does not get
caught off guard and make the people mad.
If these views of Machiavelli seem straight forward or to direct maybe Leo
Strauss or J.G.A. Pocock could explain these methods of leadership to the
president. Pocock would elaborate on the subject of historical awareness. He
could help the president understand that we have to look to our past to help
better ourselves for the future.
