A Quesiton For All Candidates: Who's Inspired You

I've been thinking about this for some time.

Most, if not all of the candidates will have at least one person whom
has inspired/influenced them sociopolitically, so who have you been
inspired/influenced by and why?

[edit on 3/23/2007 by iori_komei]

For me there are a few.

Che Guevara,
To some the reasons may be obvious as to how he has influenced me,
but the truth is I held many of the sociopolitical beliefs I hold now before
I really even knew who he was, though I have developed others that
have been somewhat influenced by him.

He is one of the people whom has isnpired me because he not only went
against a system that made the rich even richer and left everyone else
with very little if anything, but he did it pretty sufficiently.
He was a true visionary and revolutionsit, who was not perfect, but was
still a great person, and one who died, considering the situation he was
in, an honourable death.


Hugo Chávez,
I say him, not because he is a Socialist, but because he truly is an
inspirational person.
Hugo Chavez, in a way really does represent an aspect of the American
Dream, that is he was born into a poor family, yet he has achieved the
highest office in his country, which like the United States is the office of
the President. Because of that I have been inspired to try and do things,
that before I would never have even thought about, simply because I
was not born into an obscenely rich family, or in the 'right place'.

I share many of the same beliefs as he does, though obviously not all.

He is one of the few world leaders to actually stand up and openly crit-
icize Bush (thought the devil remark at the U.N was a bit much), and
that takes some cojones.


Apart from them, my sociopolitcal views have not really been influ-
enced by anyone else, and are for the most part my own, developed
independantly of any kind of hero-worship.

This is tough! I will go at this from a different perpective. The inspirations I have are from individuals who have been responsible for the many problems that exist today. Their criminal activity is what has inspired me to see that change is necessary and worthwhile. I would include criminals like George Bush Sr., Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and I will also reach back and name a few old names that are even more responsible for the problems in this world. Paul Warburg, J.P. Morgan, Woodrow Wilson, the Rockefeller racket er....family, and other greed driven, power hungry, suppressionist that has played a role in establishing the economic and political elite that exists today with the intent of destroying anything but themselves. They inspire me to fight for the chance to hold them each accountable for their actions and work for a world that is fair and provides genuine opportunity to everyone!

Well the answer can only be Ronald Reagan from a small town to Hollywood and then the White house. Reagan rise from humble begins inspired me more then his political views .
Cheers xpert11.

I'll throw a political joke, also, and answer for Hillary Clinton. We all know from her rooftop adventures, she was inspired by Eleanor Roosevelt. Especially when she tried to conjure her spirit up. Still can't believe we footed the bill on that one. What with all them high priced spectralizers and all.

As for me, my influence would have to be Edgar Allen Poe. Even though I'm no writer, per se; I do rather enjoy his jabs at political-socio-theologi-time reference. I.E., _"The Pit and the Pendulum"_. Where the clear general breakdown is given.

But, I don't know about that Hillary. I'm about 40% sure if she's elected, I'm leaving. Canada or S. America one. Not sure just yet.

I'm inspired by everyone I meet. Admittedly, sometimes I'm inspired to thank the gods that I'm not THAT much of an idiot, but I find inspiring things in everyone.

As I have often said in the past, the members here teach me many things and have inspired me to do some fairly rigorous fact-checking and to examine my own motives. They've inspired me to look for interesting and unusual things, and to expand my knowledge of many topics by presenting things I think are odd or unbelievable that challenge me to step up to the plate and learn something new.


[edit on 25-3-2007 by Byrd]

Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill - For his charisma, wit, and wisdom, the ability to keep Britain united during WWII, and for the best joke I've ever heard. If I am even half as good a statesmen someday, as he was, I would die a happy man.

Doctor Bill Cosby - For teaching me that anyone can rise above their circumstances, rags to riches, and to use his waning fame to bring truth to the black community that they too, need not give in to negative expectations. I have lived my life after his example, to grow up and out of the ghetto, to keep a warm and clean sense of humor about it, and to bring truth to the world in whatever way I can.

Ross Perot - Though his dropping out of the race and thus losing his momentum cost him the presidential race, he tought me that, for the first time, there really could be a 3rd party candidate that was not only a reasonable compromise between Democrat and Republican, between Conservative and Liberal, but also between the Blue and the White Collars. Perot is a great businessman, and had a great idea to reform the way Washington does business. He tought me that regardless of the moral imperative, you cannot have a healthy government on an ailing budget.

George Samuel Clason - author of "The Richest Man in Babylon". Perhaps the greatest non-religious text ever written, and over 80 years old, but using techniques thousands of years old. In simple truth and proofs, it shows that even the poorest amongst us can rise to great riches within a free market economy. All it takes is discipline, time, and budgeting. Thanks to his books, I've taken a pittance of a salary and provided a fine life for my wife and soon to be child.

Robert A. Heinlein = Author of "Starship Troopers" and many many other books. Considered one of the founding grandfathers of science fiction. A visionary. Most importantly though, was his idea that if America is to survive as a nation, in lieu of some other nation ruling Earth, we must control the theatre of space. In every major era, the country that controlled the theatre won. On land, it was Rome. On Sea it was Spain. In Air it became America. Whomever controls space will control the entire future expansion of mankind, and the conditions under which they will live. For this reason, we must renew our drive and determination on this front. Further, Heinlein understood the power of the vote in a way that few people ever do. He was the first person to introduce me to the concept of a truly responsible voter.

Dr. Huey Percy Newton : To me, if must have taken a lot of guts to stand up for what you believe in. To actually mobilize a possible armed resistance movement and to enforce your rights, especially when many Black people and ethnic minority groups in the United States of America were being killed for this. In fact, many people he knew were and to carry on with it even after the F.B.I. had illegally tried to bring you down.

Noam Chomsky: Although I do not agree with a lot of what he has said, I like the fact he says it. I also learned a lot about the history of the United States of America due to this man. Things such as Nicaragua and what happened there are not often spoken of in Western Media and he has allowed me to formulate my own ideas on Foreign Policy thanks to his books.

Adam Smith: For doing what he thought was honestly right. The man spoke of charity, of helping raise the poor out of the gutter and instead of sitting on his money and living the possible high life he donated it. Even in secret, so people did not know. This speaks a lot to me and shows that there are several decent human beings in the World.

There are a lot more. Churchill, Marx, Weber, I can go on for days. Those are the ones I can pull out of the top of my head.

I am inspired by many people in my political views. I believe that the true path to peace in the world is not through more boarders more devisions but through less, through the joining together of people under one cause.

Mahatma Gandhi For his vision of peace through non violence.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Because equality is a great dream and one that is attainable.

Diana, Princess of Wales For her great work to help children of the world.

Henry Dunant The 1864 Geneva Convention was based on Dunant's ideas

Aung San Suu Kyi For her non-violent struggle for democracy and human rights.

There are so many people that want to bring peace to this world. It is those people that inspire me everyday.

They taught me about duty, loyalty, integrity, truth.

Nan was a war bride. Grandad went to war before we did, in the British forces. He transfered later. They taught me the above, also tolerance and strength.

The biggest influences in my life. Nan is still here. GD died 5 years ago but he's still here. His influence is still in me. I thank him almost daily when I deal with issues.

This isn't gratuitous BS. I could have said Tesla, FDR, Bob's your uncle, anything. This is the truth. My grandparents gave me SO much. Other have as well but not to the extent that these two fine people did.

My biggest inspiraton has been a few people.

Dr. Martin Luther King JR for liberating the African Americans so that we can talk to many people that we couldn't before and that so people can be a lot less racial to other people who they didn't know that they were biased to.

I am inspired by Maclom X who made a nation more aware of the Islam religion and also in how he was escaping the black panthers. It was odd how they monitored his every move as if he was against their policies for some reason.

Tupac, for spreading the word of the illuminati, in his songs, in his lyrics, for being a rebal, and for saying that his message will stay with rap forever. There aren't too many political rappers out there and I know some people who will say if you ask a mason about tupac they will say that they hate him.

Richard Nixon, he inspired me about what not to be like when I grew up. His most infamous lines were "I am not a crook." You could say GWB inspired me on what not to be like even.

I also like Condolizza Rice for being a women Secretary of State, Barack Obama, for the fact that he has an audicaty of hope and he is running for President, Gerald Ford inspired me for fixing the problems of the vietnam war and so did Ronald Regan, by ending the cold war.

George H Bush did many great things, but he uninspired me by talking about the new world order (in his speech in 1991).

Ann Coulter inspires me; she's a great man. She has completely changed my views on gays in the military- i think it would be a great idea for her to lace up her boots and walk her murderous talk... on that subject, that would serve to bring me around on yet another issue: The International Criminal Court.

I only wish I could be a bit like Aaron Burr. It's always been a fantasy of mine to shoot Alexander Hamilton for creating the first American party by corrupt means, trying to play king-maker through political intrigue, trying to take America to war with two empires at once for his own personal glory and political gain (not to mention using the army as a cudgel politically), etc.

[./Man of the Year knock-off]

To be more serious, I think that you can learn something from almost any life spent in public service- any leader, however great, will provide both inspirational and cautionary examples. I don't put anyone up on a pedestal as the kind of leader I want to be and box myself into their entire platform.

I like to think I'd have the sense of compassion and the political courage that Hoover showed as head of the American Relief Administration after WWI responded to criticism of his decision to provide food aid to Soviet Russia saying, "20 million people are starving. Whatever their politics, they shall be fed!". But then I certainly hope I wouldn't fall asleep at the wheel during an economic crisis, which he arguably did.


Philosophically, Henry David Thoreau has been important to me- when i was in highschool, his book Walden- primarily the chapter on economy actually- really opened my eyes to the idea that life as we know it is not mandatory and that if society is no good to its constituents then it is the impersonal structure of our society, and not people, that needs to be conformed.

I've got to give a nod to "Cap the Knife" for his understanding of how an American military must operate and on a more dated note, for opening my eyes to the planning and vigilance that must go into a nation's geopolitical outlook.

I could drop names for an hour and a half easy, and somewhere half way down the list I'd have at least a third of the readers checking Wikipedia on every name- but I'll spare that because I'm not the men I speak of.

What is crucial is that our leaders have a realistic understanding of their own principles, and while we begin to learn from those who went before, we must also be prepared to judge and invent for ourselves, because the wise old men were mortal too, and they aren't here to ask anymore.

The principles I have selected from my understanding of history, philosophy, politics, etc are united by the single theme that government and society are created by and exist for the benefit of people. A politician must have the courage to risk his position to fulfill its requirements, like Hoover, must not be willing to harm society for the sake of his own advancement, as Coulter and other demagogues do, must not make the machine an end unto itself, as I believe Hamilton did, but must wield the machine in a way that serves and is agreeable to the people as Weinberger advocated with his tests for the deployment of military forces. They should emphasize the liberty of the people, as Thoreau practiced in his own life.

When you get right down to it, I gotta agree with Stephen Colbert on who the heroes are.

Who specifically inspired me?

Well, that one's a toughy. I'm going to have to start with my creator, since without Him, of course, I couldn't be here.

Next in line is my dad. He's been the inspirational driving force behind me since I was very young; always pushing me to be the best person that I can be. He's instilled a sense of moral values in me that goes unmatched in today's society. He's given me what no other human can; the understanding that I'm to do the best that I can in all that I do, so that when the time of reckoning comes, I'll have no regrets.

All of my countless friends, both in real life, and here at ATS. Without every single one of you all, I'd be a lot dumber than I currently am, and well frankly, I'd be a much more boring person in general. The people that I interact with everywhere teach me things that I never would have learned any other way. For that, no one will ever know how much I appreciate it. To me, this is but one more way for me to become a better person; to listen to my friends, and anyone else that wants to bend my ear.

And quite honestly, that's one of the single greatest qualities of a good leader; the willingness to listen to those that made them who they are. Without We the People, those we elect would just be another one of us peons. When they fail to listen to those that they are supposed to represent, they lose the loyalty of every single person that voted for them. This is why I listen so keenly to everyone that talks to me, here at ATS and in real life. Everyone has a good idea. It's just a matter of finding it and helping them to bring it to life.

But I've gotten really sidetracked here.... back to our regularly scheduled programming... erm, I mean, opinionating...

There's Gene Roddenberry, and we all know why he's so important. He created the universe that spawned one of the most unforgettable creatures: the Borg!! Many thanks go to him, since without him, well, you all know why he's so important. We miss you Gene!! Rest well.

For my political interests, I'm going to have to mention my Uncle Lon. He's been a political man for as long as I've known him, and we've had some heated debates about the rights of the elite few, and what should be done about them. Suffice it to say they were VERY interesting. He drove me into this arena that I find myself spending more and more of my time in.

Bruce Lee, for also inspiring me to become the best person that I can become. He, as well as my dad, trained me to take something from everything and formulate a new, better understanding of the whole.

Each one of these individuals, in their own little way, created the person that is me. If there was one thing that I thought summed me up the most, it'd be the ability that I have to take the best of all possible situations, and make something that fits everyone equally. I'm a great mediator, and can settle almost any dispute where each side gets something that they think is important.

Which brings me to my main philosophy: Life is a series of compromises. Will you make the right ones or the wrong ones? In my view, there are no right or wrong ones, as all of the ones that you choose are right for you at that moment, and they will forever change who you are. Each one shapes you in a way that nothing else can. So, when change comes, embrace it like an old friend, because one day, when you least expect it, everything you've learned will be needed at once.

TheBorg

I realized I forgot to add three other of the more inspirational people to me.


Michio Kaku,
Basically because he has successfully made science exciting to people.
Secondly because
he is not afraid to talk to what society (well, even I do) consider to be conspiracy nuts,
that being regularly talking on Coast to Coast.


Stephen Hawking,
He has single handedly changed modern science immensely, becoming the Einstein of the late twentieth century.
He has continued his career even though he is almost totally paralyzed, a situation other
people would more or less stop doing anything in, and continues to be a spokesman for
science and threats to the survival of the species.


Emperor Shōwa,
More commonly known as Emperor Hirohito, the previous Emperor of Japan.
He cared for his people and country, and was very diplomatic and brave since,
many leaders of defeated countries tend to chose death rather than negotiating and defeat,
in his relations with the United States and Allied countries after WWII.