Originally Posted by writerguy731:Just for fun (not because I hold any strong opinion either way), let's see if I can come up with some points on the other side of the ledger. (Note: It would be too easy to read hints of U.S. presidential politics into comments in this thread. I will not be going there.)
Would Spock make a good President? I find myself, now that it has been presented to me, thinking about this.
Look at it like this... while we love Spock, and he has a great love of non-violence and logic - non-violence and logic describes millions if not billions of Vulcans. And among those, surely there are Vulcans with far, far more experience in government, politics, social work and bureacracy than a Starfleet science officer.
Not only that, when we last left Spock (to my knowledge), he was in the middle of quite a heated pet project that would - if not kill him - at the least require all of his attention. How do you make the leap from there to UFP President?
Also, and I hate to say it, but... the last time I watched Reunification, I found myself with a bit of sinking feeling, especially when I remembered the TNG episode with Sarek. Here was Sarek, a Vulcan filled with remorse and regret, succumbing to a deadly (and possibly hereditary, I'll remind you!) disease in which he loses control of everything that, as a Vulcan, he holds dear - namely self-control. As I watch Reunification, it's as though there are shades of that episode everywhere - here is a half-human, half-Vulcan man with a troubled past, faced with a living, talking reminder of his father's not only passing, but humiliating passing at that (humiliating for a Vulcan anyway). And this man is embroiled in a battle which is totally illogical, and refuses to be swayed by logical argument. Spock (to me) seems as though he is losing control, projecting his anger, frustration and impotence into at best a lost cause, and at worst a suicide mission.
Meaning, to me, it sounds like Spock is already starting to exhibit symptoms of his father's illness. And if that's the case, should we elect a psychologically, emotionally, and perhaps physically ill/unstable man President? My instinct says no.
So, after further thought, though I love Spock... I don't know. I can't see him as UFP President in STO. Or just Star Trek.
1. As a half-Vulcan, Spock is unlikely to make decisions based on emotion, and would normally require the information provided to him to be of demonstrably high quality. He could still be wrong, but so could anyone else.
2. Spock is also half-human, and can tap into the strengths of that species as well. This gives him a remarkably broad perspective from which to decide how to execute the laws of the Federation.
3. Regarding the possibility that Spock may some day be diagnosed as suffering from Bendii Syndrome, should we reject him for something that might never happen to him? But let's say he did discover himself in the early stages of this disease -- he would simply resign the Presidency at that time before his self-control began to slip. This would, of course, be only logical.
4. Although Spock enjoyed a long and distinguished career in Starfleet in the Science division, he has since accumulated a great deal of political experience as a full Ambassador in the Federation's diplomatic corps. It should also be noted that Ambassador Spock's diplomatic experience uniquely includes forming valuable relationships with forward-looking members of one of the Federation's most powerful neighbor states.
5. Any concerns that members of the former Romulan Star Empire's council may have had years ago in regard to Ambassador Spock's willingness to listen to alternative voices within the Empire would surely be considered minor relative to the improvement in relations following the unfortunate events of the Shinzon Incident some years ago. Certainly they did not prevent Captain Jean-Luc Picard, former commanding officer of the U.S.S. Enterprise, from being appointed Federation Ambassador to Romulus. [According to the storyline from the previous Star Trek Online developer, Perpetual Entertainment -- this may no longer be true.] Why then would Ambassador Spock be held in less esteem?
6. Spock's exemplary service record in Starfleet's Science division in no way bars him from also serving with distinction in diplomatic and political fields. His own father, the highly respected Ambassador Sarek, was an astrophysicist before joining the Federation diplomatic corps.
In summary, as a highly decorated Starfleet officer and a distinguished public servant, former Ambassador Spock has established an unmatchable set of credentials. His extensive experience with the Federation's member states and many of its neighbors, both friendly and otherwise, gives Spock a direct personal understanding of galactic affairs second to none. And as for his trustworthiness to faithfully execute the laws of the Federation, Spock's probity and sense of honor are legendary.
Vote Spock in 2400! :)
