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Should I Run for President??
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- čas přidán 28. 08. 2024
- I think there is something important inside the fact that "generic democrat" does better against Trump than any actual Democrat that. The thing about being a real person existing in the real world is that people get to build themselves up by tearing you down. We have a media environment now that is so competitive and so valuable (both in dollars and in status) that an content that can get made will absolutely get made. That's just not good for people polling better than "just some guy."
I promise you, the moment I started running for office, lots of people would start to like me less because I would be examined from an entirely different (and far less flattering) kind of apparatus. Luckily for all of us, I have no interest in that both because I am far too busy doing things I am very excited about and because it sounds absolutely miserable.
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Yes! But No! But Yes, Yes! But also Nooooooooo!!!!
EXACTLY
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I agree with this
But also yes 🙌🏼
But maybe nes, possibly yo
Remember, you're not just voting for a president. You're voting for their administration, their cabinet, and the judges they'll nominate for life.
Yep, plus they aren’t even the only person you vote for, there’s two names in every ticket
this 100%
which is exactly why Hank is a good vote tbh. him not wanting the position doesnt make him any less of a better candidate than what we got rn
I think we in wisconsin have made it pretty clear to good ol joe that we'll vote for him as soon as he stops funding the murder of children. It's been 9 months though. Ball's been in his court for a long time, I think he lost it.
Yeah and I would want to vote for hank green compared to trump and Biden who are too fucking old
Thank you for not running for president. Thank you for explaining why you are not qualified to run for president. Thank you for reminding us that there are qualifications to be president. Thank you for reminding us that a presidential candidate should have the relevant qualifications.
I am so tired, Hank. 😞
It is a tiring moment...
Maybe Hank shouldn’t run for president but I’ve seen his stances on a lot of issues and they’re REALLY good. It’s an amazing mix of pragmatic, evidence based while at the same time progressive and idealistic.
Granted it may be easier to have the “right” beliefs when you’re not trying to get elected or pass legislation but I think our government would benefit from having more people with Hank’s views in office
Id much rather someone be legislatively incompetent and politically competent than the reverse. The prior runs its wheels for term then ends with all the major problems still existant. I suppose you can argue that politics is really up the public, but then politicians are not actually politicians.
Unless you've been president, nobody has experience. Why does everyone keep saying it?
The people that want to lead shouldn't, and the people that don't want to lead probably should be considered. Hank, if you fell into it, you'd do just fine. Some will say better than fine, and some will say worse.
On one hand, you make some great points. On the other hand, I'm extremely confident based on your personality and work ethic that if we all threw you into the presidency against your will, that you'd be sufficiently terrified of your status to try as hard as you can to become an expert at it just to avoid screwing up terribly, and that would likely put you by default in like the top fifteen presidents ever, before you even made a single policy.
I get the sentiment, but “good people who were presidents” and “good presidents” aren’t the same thing, and I don’t think gumption and good will can substitute experience.
@@terdragontra8900 maybe, but I argue that your observation suffers from an extremely lacking sample size
@@terdragontra8900 I don't think all the experience in the world can substitute for being a good person, either.
Literally the plot of "Designated Survivor", he would struggle horribly, but it just may work
The may have been the baddest thing I've ever heard bro wow
Hank unironically pivoting from "I don't want to be president" to "I do want to be the world's leading sock salesman" is such a perfect illustration of why I love nerdfighteria.
Love this comment ❤
For a split second I thought he was going to pivot to like "that's why I want to be a State Representative in ". It would have been a sellout, but it would have been a good pitch.
I've long held that anyone who wants to be President of the US should be immediately disqualified, because that is a mark of insanity.
Reminds me of the quote from Catch-22 :)
Orr was crazy and could be grounded. All he had to do was ask; and as soon as he did, he would no longer be crazy and would have to fly more missions. Orr would be crazy to fly more missions and sane if he didn't, but if he was sane he had to fly them. If he flew them he was crazy and didn't have to; but if he didn't want to he was sane and had to.
My husband forbid me from politics as a condition of our marriage. I'm just insane enough to think id make good president.
Divergent?
100000% agree. Anyone who wants that power should not have it lol
So we end up with a hitchhiker trilogy scenario, where a man ruling the universe just sits in a hut, removed from all worldly concerns, swinging the whole world about while sitting cozy with a cat by the fire and not a care in the world
I wouldn't wish the presidency on anyone I like. It sounds like it would kill your mental health and happiness.
you have to already be pretty mentally ill to think you are good enough to be in charge of 300 million people
and, potentially, the person themselves
Destiny is surely worth more than your health, no?
@@OsirusHandlesince destiny doesn’t exist, only humans with varying amounts of drive, resources, and ability… Yeah. Yes. Definitely.
The problem with the presidency is that the people who are capable of doing it well have too much sense to want the job.
Here's an addendum to that... What if you ran for local office, then state office, THEN President?
The kind of person who understands they don't know enough to run is exactly the kind of person I want running, because they will surround themselves with people who do have the knowledge and actually listen to them.
I somewhat agree. That's a bit of a double-edged sword since you're then almost entirely reliant on other people to make the right decisions about certain things. Yes, you can absolutely be discriminatory about who to trust and understand their motivations. But with the sheer volume of people required for an administration, there's no way you're going to completely avoid letting a few important decision fall into the hands of someone who has nefarious intentions.
All that being said, I'm sure even that is already so much better than what we currently have that it would be like night and day.
Technocracy
@@Tawleynwhat's the alternative? someone who thinks they know everything?
@@ADarnSmore "Everything" is a bit of a loaded term there, don't you think? No, I don't mean the alternative is to know "everything." There's a reason why a politician's experience used to be important.
Precisely this.
Like I recognise they would never get enough votes and like Tawleyn said it wouldn't be a foolproof way to avoid corruption and bad politics so it's always a half joke, but boy does it seem like it would at least be some amount better than what we have now.
What I want from a president:
- Good communicator
- Able to inspire people with hope vs fear
- Knows enough to know they don’t know everything
- Willing to admit they don’t know everything, out loud
- Forever curious
- Good judgement in asking the right experts for a given topic
So ya, I’d vote for you.
Oh, and functional empathy
+ OVERQUALIFIED in comparison.
I would like to steal Hank to be the president of my country.
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And that is what got us Trump. 😔
Not those qualities, but the just the wrong qualities.
Also, look up parasocial relationship
@@brokenrecord3523 I know what a parasocial relationship is, but not sure how it relates?
And what do you mean by that is what got us Trump? He’s the opposite of most of the things I listed.
First time I listened through I misheard Hank sign off “John, I’ll see you in office” and I went “wait … WHAT??”
But why is he not seeing John in July? Are we going monthly on videos now?
@@SirakeJohn is taking July off. He talked about it in his last video.
@@rosemaryklauscher9389 thankyou, I missed that one
You've got years to build experience before you're the ripe age for running for presidential primary
Fun fact. Obama had basically no experience when he ran for president. This video is just a bad take.
The only thing my mom ever said to me about choosing a US president was “I just want somebody who is better than me”
That’s a high bar to clear
If Hank Green wouldn’t want to be in charge of the US government, maybe it’s the US government that is the problem
Currently the US president has more power than any one person should have. It is too much power and responsibility. Hopefully the US will eventually see this and either remove powers from the presidency and disperse those powers to other government entities as appropriate or separate the presidency into multiple offices thus dividing the power and responsibility among multiple elected officials instead of a single one.
Well, if. Trump gets in, they absolutely won’t…. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_2025
@@peterwein1716This is, and I’m trying not to be rude, an absolutely terrible idea. It also doesn’t even make sense in the context of the American government. If you did divide up the power of the president you’d need to create a separate branch of government for each new position you create. Otherwise you’d change nothing at all, because the president is the head of the executive branch and all who work within it will have to carry out the president’s lawful orders. So you’d be in the same situation with a couple of extra steps.
Also, ignoring the supreme court’s insane ruling on immunity, the president does not possess an inordinate amount of power compared to other countries and their executive bodies. Every democratic country requires a strong executive who can quickly respond to new situations while Congress or parliament convenes and argues.
Exactly. We need someone like him to take it over because they would finally bring sense into it. The whole system is nonsensical right now.
We need someone who hasn't been benefiting from the corruption
If Hank Green doesn't want to be in charge of the US government, he is EXACTLY who should be in charge of the US government.
“A great man doesn’t seek to lead. He’s called to it. And he answers. And if your answer is no, you’ll still be the only thing I ever needed you to be." -Leto Atreides
The rest of that story pretty strongly suggests that we should treat "great men who are called to lead" with more that a little bit of skepticism.
Yeah, after that Paul Atreides becomes emperor and kills 61 billion people. So maybe not the best example😬
@@siddharthbhatia8815 Maybe I do not want him to become president
@@siddharthbhatia8815 Didn't he also set humanity on the "golden path" through his actions? or was that strictly his son?
Leto here for good time, not long time.
My thoughts seeing the title "Nooo Hank you don't need to start EVERY new thing"
the 'days since' website would have had a melt down😂
Your comment reminds me of a scene from The Simpsons where Marge tells Homer (paraphrasing) "you don't have to do every single thing just because it is offered to you" 😂
@Alfonso162008 oh that quote fits perfectly!
Common sense: random people shouldn't be in positions of power just because they're popular. They should be qualified.
What's funny is that Kamala isn't even popular, and nobody knows what good she has done.
Imagine having an educated, charming, survivor educator who pushes positivity and deep thinking as a public figure.
Sounds like a dream compared to the situation we have now. But… it’s understandable why it’s not the most practical. This public figure would also have to lead the armed forces, and go up against people who care nothing of the truth, and use lies and slander routinely
It would be amazing
We already do, in so many ways. Hank and John are very public figures, they're just not politicians. The good that they're doing is tangible and meaningful, and the nuance and critical thinking skills they teach is important. If Hank Green were to become a politician, his job would be significantly changed - he could no longer be the educator you see him as now. Better to vote in your local elections, and get involved. Change isn't fast, but if voters make it clear that something's not working, elected official risk losing if they don't listen, and that's powerful.
I was pushing for Green/Green 2016. Like many others in the comments, I feel very "yes, but no, you would probably hate it"
We will continue supporting your sock campaigns!
i kinda feel like they should be running against each-other
I just want people to know that I would also not be /good/ at it.
@vlogbrothers I believe in you!
No but I actually would. Still, I'd like you to not age 50 years in 4 like most presidents.
@@vlogbrothers Honestly Hank, I think that while being president is a complex job, a lot of it does have to deal with not necessarily knowing everything yourself, but surrounding yourself with the best people who do know what they're doing and can help inform you. I think part of the reason why Trump got next to nothing done was simply because he didn't want to hire people who knew what they were doing, he wanted "yes men" who wanted to do what he wanted. I still don't think someone who hasn't previously had a position in government would necessarily do as good of a job/be as efficient as someone who's been in some sort of government position prior, but I think that they could get some good stuff done if they really wanted.
@@P-Mouse There you go. We could finally stop voting for the lesser evil and instead debate endlessly about who would be the greater good! Wouldn't that be a nice change.
I still think it’s so cool that Hank’s hair is just curly now
Me too
@@vlogbrothersdid the little nodules on the base of the hair grow after cancer? God or anyone who can forbid it, but if you beat cancer multiple times could you get an Afro like me? I’m from Cameroon, so interested in this and very little about details when I look. Thanks for the curiosity
@@You_work_tomorrow There is a video about it on Scishow but long story short they aren't sure exactly why it happens because there hasn't been much study done on the topic. Hair can do all sorts of weirdness after chemo.
Hey remember that time when cancer scared the straight right out yo head
Today marks the day that this has aged remarkably
it aged remarkably in 9 days? 😂😂 time moves fast this side of politics
Aged even better!
Hank Green for president of the national department of socks!
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I believe that would be secretary of socks, but YES
@@turdl38 S.O.S. I like it.
@@turdl38 Sockretary?
Running a country like a business means we're all employees instead of the owners.
Unless the business is worker owned of course;)
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It’s also economically illiterate: businesses do not forge their own currency, and thus they can go broke. Governments with monetary sovereignty can never go broke.
And doesn't it feel like that's how we're treated?
oh damn this is a great line
So, Hank, I live in the same state as you, and let's just say I used to hold a non-elected position in state government. People around me were constantly asking me to run for the elected position at the top of the department. Don't get me wrong, it felt good for people to see me as someone competent to do the job, but I don't want it. I don't want to be in a popularity contest. I'm an introvert. I'm also chronically ill with Ankylosing Spondylitis snd stress flares my disease.
If I can, I'll guide quiety from the inside, but no running for me.
I'm not Hank Green, but I kinda understand this.
The best person to be elected is often the one who doesn't want it. And the worst people are who really really want it. Unfortunate paradox.
I always get a little nervous when I'm reminded I live in the same state (previously city) as Hank. Like, "Oh no, what if _the_ Hank Green sees me stuffing my face with Taco Bell in the Albertson's parking lot"
I would honestly rather risk someone who doesn't have any experience over someone like Trump
(Trump also did not have experience)
Weirdly enough, he was somehow president for four years without getting any experience in how to govern.
@@vlogbrothers well yeah he spent most of it in bed watching TV or on the golf course.
Trump was the no experience candidate. He was the one that convinced me never to take that path again.
also hank has SO MUCH experience
Okay but hear me out…
Hank Green: Sockretary of State.
YES.
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++😂🙃🤣++
I am extremely not a fan of puns, but this is so good
Starting in local governance is how you GET experience though.
Right! Yes!! 100%. I just don't want to!!
@@vlogbrothers starting to think maybe you should get experience in montana democratic politics
@@bluetannery1527 but he doesn't want to! And that's fair!
@@vlogbrothersWhy don't you want to? Like safer life? Don't want to put yourself in situations in which you'll have to pick some over others? If all seek easy life, times when it's bad won't improve.
@@vlogbrothers I tried to work in local government in a very leftist town and it was STILL a nightmare!
Before I start, I should say I agree with this sentiment. That said, I do think that more people should try to get into politics, especially by running for smaller offices. Or by trying to become a representative. Part of the problem is definitely that there isn't a lot of choices, and that a lot of the choices are bad choices. We need more people to be willing to step up and be serious about becoming a public servant, even if they don't necessarily want that power. Otherwise, I think we'll continue dealing with a lot of people who just want to be in politics for the power and attention it provides.
Aw the 'John, see you in August' hit differently
Hank, if you ever change your mind about running for office, you would be excellent. Your humility and willingness to learn from others would serve you well - your constituents would be lucky to have you.
maybe start with the local school board? Relevant and needed to bulwark the banning books crowd
I agree. If there was ever anyone who would simply ignore special interests, it's Hank. He wouldn't even fight with them, just look at them and say "naw". 😂
@@wildflower1397lmao true
I have high respect for both politicians and lawyers because everyone hates them for doing a difficult job that has to be done, and if done properly will make a lot of people hate you. The rest of us get to pretend everything is simpler than it is and blame the people who handle the inherent complexity for the fact that the complexity exists.
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Agree...but also a lot of politicians and lawyers really do suck, so it would be great if that happened less.
@@vlogbrothers as a lawyer, that hurts my feelings, Hank! lol jk, but I do think being a lawyer is no different than, say, being a web developer or something. You have a skill and you can use it for good things or for bad things. There are tons of lawyers who are just out there protecting the rights of people all over the world.
Exactly why my aunt persuaded my cousin against running for a local office.
exactly! whatever you say about trump/biden, no one could do it better!
This is the kind of video a lot of people need as a reality check. Too many people want someone just because they like them or they are smart with a good personality. It takes a lot more than that to handle the running of the country well: experience, knowledge, strategy, political savvy, good politics, and a lot more. It's not just about sounding good, it's about being effective.
I DO believe in Hank Green’s ability to find people who do know how to do the job and uniting them in a good vision for the country
Same.
Have you seen the glassdoor reviews of complexly when Hank was the CEO?
Hi Hank, I work in local government and I couldn’t agree more that things are complex and never quite as one sided as they seem. I hope everyone looks into the candidates for their state legislature and considers supporting the people who align with their values. Your time and money mean a lot to these smaller campaigns. And while I agree you probably shouldn’t run for president, Hank, you would be a great Montana state legislator! DFTBA
Honestly, taking the time to research every single person on my ballot (as well as i can - BOY some of those people don't even have facebook pages) is honestly the only marginally enjoyable part of elections. I get to learn a little more about the small local positions and what people hope to do with them.
@@amberbydreamsart5467 I love it!! I always offer to help friends who might be a bit less up to date on local issues. Some organizations (like the teachers union) also will make a sample ballot with their recommended candidates.
And spending a term as a state congressman can give him useful experience to one day, for example, running for federal office. ;)
Me too! I’ve always been an advocate for voting in local elections but now I’m a really big advocate for it because it determines how hard the next couple of years of my life are going to be.
@@EducatedNation2 yeah i think people often don’t realize that the more localized an election the more impact it has on your everyday life.
As Robert Caro said
Power doesn't corrupt, it reveals
So much this.
Empathize and humanize all you want, but the sad reality is that a lot of people aren't good people.
I genuinely think you would be a far superior option to our current candidates…. Experience or not, you are intelligent, wise, well spoken, and empathetic. And another perk is that you are neither senile or a felon!
The people who are dumb think they are capable, and the actually smart people think they know nothing. Nobody who deserves to be president also thinks they should be president. They’re too humble.
"It is a well-known fact that those people who must want to rule people are, ipso facto, those least suited to do it.
... Anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job.”
― Douglas Adams, _The Restaurant at the End of the Universe_
@@zekeoman1 It's truly perplexing how unfit for power anyone who wants power is. When I saw the title of this video I immediately knew the answer was no. Hank isn't interested in that, and we all know it. But who the hell is both interested in being president, and fit for it? No one. And yet we need a president... Right?
No one who wants the role deserves it, and no one who deserves it wants it
And that's the great American Paradox!
Big disagree and "deserve" is subjective.
@@forkyforkoh wow, I never realized Plato was talking about America! /s
I would gladly have accepted Bernie as both wanting and deserving it. I struggle to find more than extremely minor complaints about anything he's done.
And no, I'm not going to not vote because Bernie lost. I'm annoyed he lost and I honestly think the 2020 loss was largely due to the democratic party (especially the powerful high up figures like Obama and the Clinton's) fearing him more than they feared a Trump victory. It definitely seemed suspicious when he did pretty well early on and suddenly lots of top candidates just dropped out after a few early primaries... regardless, I'm getting conspiratorial and on a completely unrelated tangent anyway.
Yes! We should have a draft with some sort of selection process. Perhaps one 6 year term and massive bonus to make up for it being involuntary
unrelated to the topic, but this color of shirt looks great on you! very summer-y
reminds me of the professor from the movie Atlantis!
Did it? I don't remember, I couldn't stop looking at his curly hair.
Thank you! Like all of my best shirts, someone else bought it.
You'll never have nice shirts if people keep buying them from you! Not everything has to be a business, Hank.
I think this is an extremely important time for more politicians to come to power that come from a background of caring about people and what people know. You are a genuine person and I personally would love to see you in local office
Nerdfighteria America > Christian Nationalism
no one would vote for a bunch of dorks like you
Sadly I don't think the math works out like that🫠
It’s not about math it’s about doing the right thing for the right reasons!!!!!!
Well...yes...
@vlogbrothers please run for predident once you get experience 🤣
I think Hank is already something much better than a president, a humanitarian. And also a socks salesman.
Bernie had both experience and a vision. I often ponder what the world would have looked like right now had Bernie become the democratic nominee in 2016.
A wasteland.
Especially because he was considered old back then but younger then than those running now...
This always hits me so hard. He had such a following in 2016, until Super PACs chose Hillary, and...here we are today, still feeling the effects of that monumentally short-sighted decision.
@@lekeAchgeketum I'm not even an American and it hits me hard as well.
My thought is Bernie is too genuine for being the Democrat head. Same with trump but he managed to get past what the Republicans threw at him.
I would vote for this man purely based on my belief in his morality. I believe he would base his decisions around what he views would help the most people, which is more than I can say for anyone in office the past decade. You not wanting to run reinforces to me that you'd do a damn good job and learn to compensate for any shortcomings. I'm not saying run, but I'm saying it shouldn't be a surprise that people would vote for you. The current political landscape is just a wasteland of people lying to our faces and filling their pockets while they slow roast us to serve to the CEOs. I cannot even begin to describe how little I trust the people in charge of my country
It is important to remember that politics are governance are different things. That's a problem, because we elect people based on their skill at politics, but then we live in the environment created by their governance.
You are very good at understanding and explaining conplex systems. This is relevant to both politics and governance, and is something many politicians do poorly, which is probably why you look like a good candidate.
I do encourage you to run for Governor should the opportunity arise. If nothing else, it would be an excellent learning experience, and you would really enjoy that.
I'd be way more excited to hear that Hank ran for his local school board. There are so many local elected offices where people can make a real difference, but we tend to only focus on the big, flashy ones.
Yeah no I’d rather see him in small government.
It's a bad idea for anyone with no experience in politics to run for any major office. Good intentions are not enough. Better to train up some nice 17-year olds in political science or law and get them into local government and have them work their way up.
For what it's worth, I think you're EXACTLY the type of leader that the founders would want for our country. Washington himself was a reluctant leader who didn't want to do it, and reluctant leaders make the best leaders.
I've been in a hiring role for tech for decades and voting is essentially hiring, and what I've learned is that the skills can be taught, so you don't hire for them, you hire for communication and morality.
And that's why I'd vote for you - because you and your brother have made it your mission to help as many people as possible. Be it with education like crash course or PIH or other charity work, you have had many, many, many opportunities where you COULD have done something to make a lot of money for yourself, and instead have always looked at how you could make a lot of money to help other people instead, and you surround yourself with the best talent you can find and honestly try and learn as much as you can from the people around you.
You can learn government processes, but you can't learn morality or selflessness.
Cheers
exactly
You can learn morality and selflessness, but it’s certainly much, much harder. I think you’re right that Hank could learn, and I would definitely vote for him, but running means going through all sorts of lies and slanders. And he might not even succeed cuz people aren’t the smartest.
Not all reluctant ppl are the best... Cmon think for a moment
We are not born with morality or selflessness or any other trait, all of that is a combination of nature and nurture (imo it’s overwhelmingly about who you were taught to be).
Governing an entire country is something that is quite hard, and for a job like president of the US, that’s not something you can afford to do on the job. I agree that Hank is a great guy, but part of the problem with modern politics is that we vote for who we like instead of who will be good at the job.
While true that Hank might not be the best qualified, it is also true that so long as people who could make a difference decide to abstain from the process, nothing will change. If everyone were to wait until they were ready, nobody could run at all.
The most important quality in a leader is humility, and the ability to listen to the right people, at the right times. The president, after all, has a literal army of people to manage their duties, and a monstrosity of state apparatus and bureaucracy with all of the experience and knowledge they may lack.
After that, it's their ability to communicate and rally the people to actually create a specific narrative and direction for the country. The president, despite the Supreme Courts best efforts, is not in fact a dictator. They are an overseer and executive - not a micromanager. Hank's experience doing what he does is probably more relevant than you think - juggling a large number of organizations and individuals, while gaining the kind of generalist knowledge that lets you make good decisions about who and what to trust.
There are certainly more experienced people who would be better suited, but the best option is also the one who can actually win and do any good at all. None of them matter if they have no chance. Idealistically, he is correct, of course. There should be a process, and a career, and reputation and experience and relationships, blah blah blah. Yet, I think he would also do better than basically anybody else who is in serious contention.
His current mission is very important, obviously. And maybe he can do more good there than in politics. Yet I am left with the question... Who, then?
A great man doesn't seek to lead. He's called to it. And he answers. And if your answer is no, you'll still be the only thing I ever needed you to be.
We love you, Hank!
Everything you just said, I have been saying for YEEEEEEEARS about Trump. Being from the south, I heard a lot of "I like Trump. He tells it like it is" (when he was first running). And forgetting the last 8 years, forgetting all the sociopolitical implications that come with him--HE HAD NO EXPERIENCE.. Now, fast forward to present time, now he's a convict. My biggest problem with him (beside all of the problems that he either came with or caused) is that in the REAL world, none of us can get away with what he has. For example, if any of us wanted to be the CEO of Walmart with NO experience running a business, NO managerial experience, no credentials, nothing to show for that would benefit that position, but lets say this person were a huge influencer or something, they wouldn't be able to get that. For good reason. And don't even get me started on the prison system. If you have a record, you can just about forget about that kind of thing. Sure. He's a business man, but he had NO experience in ANY form of government. In the REAL world, we have those boundaries set. We are reminded that we can't. We are held accountable. And yet, here comes Trump, he gets it handed to him. He had NO experience in ANY government, but he wins the presidency. He has 34 felonies on his record and counting and yet he gets to run for president. No one could get away with what he does, and yet he's just over here doing it. Sickens me
literally someone with 34 felonies cant even vote in america, but they can run for president?
@@hellolily7722literally! They can’t hold a normal job, can’t live in certain neighborhoods, can’t vote, can’t drive, can’t own pets (depending on the crime (s)) and we’re letting someone with 34 felonies run for office while people are in prison for just having a gram of pot in their person for 10+ years, even after marijuana has been decriminalized in a lot of places? What a joke.
in my lifetime, since 1980, every time we elect a celebrity to president, it has been horrible...
/genuine - did we elect celebs before the 1900s?
@@geeksdo1tbetter I don't think you can really say that we had celebrities back then in the same way we do now. Before the 1900s mass media was like... books and newspapers. Entertainers didn't have nearly the reach they would achieve with radio, film, and eventually the internet.
@@MikeJones-vk3wz Ulysses S Grant would definitely have counted as a celebrity since he was a war hero.
@@MrBrock314Right, but it kinda falls apart there because he literally had leadership experience.
@@MrBrock314 I think the issue is with professional celebrities, people whose primary job is to be famous.
But it does feel like an inherent problem of democracy: as society and technologies progress and let people focus more on their leisure, the people's urgency to elect capable candidates gets lower.
It feels like there's an unfortunate trajectory inherent to democracy:
1. People see how shit life can be and use their vote as a tool to improve their lives
2. Over time, people's lives get better and they start focusing more on entertainment and leisure (this is a good thing)
3. As day-to-day gets progressively more light-hearted, serious things (like voting) get less of a focus
4. Eventually entertainers see politics as another niche to fill and start running for office: politics as entertainment gains traction
5. Voting becomes a form of audience participation, rather than a tool to improve lives (this differs from dystopias where votes don't matter, because here they do still matter: Biden winning the US presidential elections leads to a markedly different world than him losing)
Weirdly enough, I think we're reaching a kind of post-seriousness utopia/dystopia (a sillytopia, if you will) that wasn't even considered when the concept of democracy came about, and which it isn't well-equipped to handle.
I have no clue what the next solution is, for now the only thing I can think of is mindfully taking our votes seriously to try to compensate for it, but that's a solution for individuals, not society.
Things Hank is good at:
[X] Running for/Being President
[✓] Soliciting Feet Pics for Review
The number one thing I look for in a leader is that they don't want to do it. They see the responsibility for what it is, a burden of sorts, not a chance to exercise their will. Second, the ability to distinguish fact from fiction and the self awareness that allows one to know the limits of their abilities and when to defer to others. Third, empathy and an objective to make change that does the most good for the most people. Experience with bureaucracy helps to accomplish more, but the rest is necessary to accomplish good.
While true that he might not be the best qualified, it is also true that so long as people who could make a difference decide to abstain from the process, nothing will change. If everyone were to wait until they were ready, nobody could run at all.
The best candidate is the one who can make a difference. Not the best one in theory, but the one who can actually win. And because our traditional systems are so broken, it is probably going to take people with alternative standing and recognition, like Hank, in order to usurp the quagmire we are in. Because the people who are more qualified have no chance at all.
@@XIIchiron78 I think Hank has the three qualities I listed. As much as could be hoped for; there is no perfect candidate. The problem with self-aware people is they know their limits and can't muster the confidence to match those who don't. I would vote for Hank. He's smart and caring. The rest can be learned.
insane that this showed up on my recommended after biden dropped out of the race 😭
same here 😅
Same 🫢
Honestly I think you're the only CZcamsr I would consider voting for. You are involved in leading such a diversity of projects that I trust you to understand the complexity of the job even while lacking knowledge of the details. I would trust you to gather smart knowledgeable people to help you. While I love your beliefs, I also trust you to put working with people ahead of ideology. I think you would be an excellent example to others in office and to the rest of the country on how to be a leader. But I don't think you should run because you don't want to. Good luck becoming the world's biggest sock dealer
Before even watching the video, just to answer the question that is the title, YES. Please Hank, run for President. You'd wipe the floor on any debate stage, and my god I would pay to see that. You're articulate, grounded, creative, intelligent, a decent person, lol you check ALL the boxes aside from being actively political? I'm not sure, but dude please save America and run for President.
Okay now I'll watch the video and presumably be talked out of why you think you probably shouldn't run for President? Either way fuckin' run Hank, RUN!
Here after the video. Dammit Hank what about the greater good?? Hang up the socks and run for office get some government experience help America and the future of this society. The socks might help but you'll sell a lot more as President.
Imagine walking on stage to a debate rocking those socks Hank, you'd already be winning.
the second i saw the video title i immediately thought "Yes." 💀
Hank, thanks for highlighting the “complexity” bit. People are quick to jump nowadays to say that if their candidate of choice compromises on anything with their opponents, they must be secretly with the other side; in reality, making something that has half what you want but not everything- but still actually gets passed- is better than the perfect thing that the other ~50% of people will never let get out the door.
Also, thank you for preemptively abdicating your potential candidacy to continue your quest as a sock salesman. The socks are awesome, and they’re worth the presidency
8 days later...
I dont know how this aged.
the curls are REALLY standing out here friend, great styling
I don't hope for an outsider because I think the system corrupts, I hope for an outsider because the current options are awful
I would rather hank accomplish nothing, than let the options that are available accomplish the things they want.
fr its literally convicted criminal who will commit genocide VS unconvicted war criminal whose currently commiting a genocide
@@RayDrawzDragonz vote 3rd party
@@fatfurry Im not american (or in america) thankfully!
@@fatfurry...with the leading independent candidate being antivax 🦅🇺🇲🔥
I'd much prefer to have good politicians getting nothing done because of bad politicians than bad politicians efficiently making things worse because they all agree and are able to work together
I would 10000000% move to where ever to vote for you. Not because I am some crazy fangirl, but bc I've been watching you learn and grow. I have seen you delegate responsibilities for multiple projects, simultaneously. You['re honest and own up to your flaws and mistakes. I have 0 doubt you would surround yourself with the best experts in the fields to create amazing policy. And you have amazing experience of seeing a community need and figuring out not only how to meet the need, but how to rally the community together to meet that need, even if it is through making socks!
Sure, get some experience. But seriously, you could do much better than at least 1 of the 2 main candidates, hands down.
Problem with presidency is that noone actually competent would ever *want* to be one.
Paradoxically, I think not wanting to be a politician is a good trait for someone I'd like to vote for.
I have often said that the first qualification for any public office should be a complete lack of desire to do the job. Anyone who WANTS that job is either severely deranged or power hungry or corrupt, so no matter what I don’t trust them with the job.
@@kenrickman6697 I think it's important to make the distinction between wanting to DO the job and wanting to HAVE the job. I will absolutely vote for someone who understands the job and wants to actually do it, but I am not comfortable voting for someone who just wants to BE president.
@@kenrickman6697 It's important to hire people who want the job they're about to get in all fields, including the President. If you don't want the job, you won't be committed to it and put forth a good effort. Even good people are lazy in jobs they don't want.
My Dad always used to say that when you vote, you are hiring that person to do a job for you as a voting citizen. Too many people think it's a popularity contest and never look at the whole of it. People need to be qualified & be experienced.
Even though I personally think you'd make a great leader, I think what you do here now, is more important. You reach more people and positively influence more here. Thanks and keep the sock going! 😊
Well no. Almost all forms of electoral politics always boil down to a popularity contest and thats to do with the form of the system not the individuals forced to be inside it.
@@donov25You know you could have just scrolled by but no, you just had to tell me I'm wrong. It's my post. It's my opinion. If you don't like it fine but you don't need to be a jerk about it.
@@lilypudd They didn't insult you or anything, I kinda don't see how they were a jerk. It's true that it's a popularity contest the way things are now, but you are also correct in that the people running should also be qualified.
You'd be better than any one else we're voting for
My dog's name is Hank and I think he would make a great president. He's very mild mannered. Very stoic. Rarely barks/yells. Very pro-nap. I think he'd be a much better option than what we currently have.
Biden is also very pro-nap.
sounds like an extremely good boy! i'd vote for him :)
Thank you, Hank, for not running for president. You are much more powerful where you are now!
Wish when you mentioned that tax cut, you specified it wasn’t for regular people. It was for millionaires and billionaires.
No, there was a little sprinkle for workers.....but significantly more for the rich to be sure
You had me hoping so hard 😢
Excellent pivot to sock marketing.
What you said about working with multiple special interest groups really hits me. "why doesnt biden make abortion legal" well first he has to write a comprehensive law that like 200 people will like enough to agree with, which is hard and takes a long time, because this is a democracy, actually, despite what trump keeps saying the president does not have unilateral power to do whatever they want
It is really important for us to remember that Trump cannot just do everything he says he's going to do...and that probably, if he is president again, he will try and bluff and bluster his way into doing things that he does not have the political power to get done. If we pretend that his threats are real when he is in power, he will have that power over us. We'll need to constantly remind the world that this is still our country.
@@vlogbrothershe couldn’t do everything he wanted in the first term just because of career bureaucrats who got in the way. He’s learned from that and had plans to replace them all with loyalists: “Schedule F”. That’s part of the plans to expand presidential power should _any_ Republican take control of the executive branch again (Project 2025). In addition, recent rulings from the SCOTUS have shown that the judicial branch is willing to give a Republican executive carte blanche to do whatever they want. We can’t let that happen.
@@vlogbrothersrespectfully, we can only hope (and vote!) that local elections pan out enough that Project 2025 (czcams.com/video/gYwqpx6lp_s/video.html) from the Heritage Foundation (static.project2025.org/2025_MandateForLeadership_FULL.pdf) will make it so that Trump’s threats against Democracy don’t actually come true. I don’t know why I’m telling you this - you’re literally Hank Green - but I really truly hope you’re right about that last point. I’m going to be in college in a couple months, and it’s scary to think that everything I was just taught in Government about the Executive may no longer be true by the time I graduate.
Which is completely true... until the most recent SCOTUS ruling that literally every legal professional including the 3 remaining good justices are warning that it breaches the exact balance of power you outline... but we'll just ignore that and shout "Orange man bad! Ehatever can old Joe do?"
His undisguised aims at autocracy, should be a point of worry. It seems unlikely that current legislation offers sufficient protection against authoritarianism. There are probably good reasons why The Economist Democracy Index rates the US as a flawed democracy as opposed to a full democracy.
When it's gotten to the point of other nations updating their constitutions to protect against "trumpian" political influence over the judicial system, that's not a great sign.
If I were American, I would vote for a literal chipmunk over Trump at this point.
I'm terrified people I like end up in power, that they will no longer be the fantastic people I've known them before then.
I'd still take that risk over the people running I know are outright shit
Even if they do continue to be the fantastic people you've known them to be, the job will require them to make decisions you won't like or understand, because it is clear to someone with all of the context that it is the least bad choice.
Having been a person with power, I think it is just as likely that they don't stop being fantastic people but instead:
1. Are in situations where they have to make brutal compromises that no one has the time or interest to understand.
2. Are in situations where small differences of opinion or values are magnified.
3. Do not act very quickly because their own power intimidates them.
4. Are constantly barraged by people trying to obliterate them and so they become extremely careful.
A thoughtful person with power is still a powerful person, and part of what we don't like about powerful people is that they are not acting exactly how we would, and part of the reason they are not acting exactly like we would is because they are powerful. This is certainly not always the case, but I have seen it close up.
@@vlogbrothersincredibly thoughtful take hidden here in these replies
@@vlogbrothers "The Problem with Power" would be an incredible video, just sayin'
I do hope you consider running for something at some point. It doesn’t have to be president. We need people who are thoughtful and intelligent at every level of government. I appreciate that you have a great focus on making things better in your own way, and it is very effective and admirable!
I wore my awesome socks today while trying on wedding dresses! I found the one, and attribute the success to my socks entirely!
You constantly understand and describe VERY complex systems to us! Plus, you seem to be a very decent human being. That's all I want in a political candidate 😢
Ranked choice voting!!
I advocate for STAR voting, but I will take ranked choice as an acceptable interim system.
@@jon1913+
would absolutely vote for you! The intelligences to recognize/work with complexity, actually recognize where the greater good is and and the intentions to actually work for the greater good is shockingly rare. so while I don't blame you for not wanting to i do honestly believe you would make an excellent president
> Good communicator
> Intelligent, able to learn and become competent on a variety of different matters
> Has at least a shred of empathy and compassion for other people
> Doesn't do everything with the expectation of personal gain
> Not blatantly influenced by money and corporate interests
It's pretty obvious that you'd be better than essentially every presidential candidate from the past few years, but if not that then please at least reconsider running for a local office! Politics starts from the ground up, and local government generally has more ability to solve the problems that people see in their everyday life than the federal government. Plus, being a local politician is usually a part-time job, which leaves time to keep selling awesome socks!
Hank lives in Montana. My guy does not need Daines and his madmen running "Hank Green'll take away yer guns and yer fredums" ads 24/7.
@@brientaylorcohenI’m assuming Dianes is the local republican. And, yeah now I get it. These days running for office basically means getting bashed publicly, which could hurt other things Hank’s doing to help the world. And it’s less about truth now
as a (now former) government / politics worker, thank you for this video. more people need to hear this perspective. SO true.
Your content is refreshingly authentic, keeps me coming back for more!
Nothing could be more exemplary of the current state of American politics than completely and fully agreeing with all the points in this video, and all the points in the comments about the importance of experience, but agreeing with all the comments saying they'd vote for him anyways and that he'd almost certainly do a better job in certain aspects than many presidents in recent memory...
I have the utmost respect for you sir, and as much as I'm sure your heart would be in the right place, I appreciate that you understand that its not something you should just do because other people say so. I've had just about enough of celebrity politicians for one lifetime.
great title to make me scream “NOOOOOOOO!!” and startle my cat
This is the single best argument I've heard for why we should vote for the democrats in November.
Yes absolutely you should run for the House of Reps! Not b/c i like you. Not because you are popular. But b/c you are smart enough and humble enough to ask the right questions to get to the root of things. Nurodivergent people need representation as well and nurodivergent people can be CEOs, they can also become public servents
Question. While John is gone, can we have secret guest nerdfighter brothers and sisters come on, like it was done in early vlog brothers?? You don't have to of course, but it could be fun!
We thought about this, but too late!! Or maybe it isn't too late....
@@vlogbrothersif I've learned anything from being a nerd fighter for 10+ years, it's that it is never too late
can't imagine it's too late - so many woud hop to it & enjoy the heck out of it!! 🎉🎉🎉
@@vlogbrothersmaybe this is how Tom Scott comes off sabbatical
The boys at SortedFood or Jolly?
If I remember correctly, other than retired military officers, the only two people whose first government job was president of the United States of America were Herbert Hoover and Donald Trump.
Sooo... bad track record then. Maybe we don't need to try it a third time 😬
Re military: Andrew Jackson was pretty bad too 😬
@@rethinkOURreality I agree. I just included the military officer part for anyone who doesn't think of that as a government job. But it is another traditional route to the presidency, and not the worst training for a job that requires stamina, leadership, and focus. Whether or not you like Ike, it's hard to argue he wasn't qualified.
And FWIW, Hoover had admirable qualities, he just wasn't prepared to be or qualified to be president.
Hoover had a previous government job: he was director of the FDA, then the Secretary of Commerce. It is, however, true that Trump and Hoover are the only two presidents who weren't either former generals or former elected officials.
@@nehukybis exactly, off the top of my head, most of the other military prezs were pretty good. Too bad Old Bone Spur didn't go to Korea! 😅
Holy shit I suggested you do that on the very last vid of yours I watched! I stand by it. You can always start with a smaller office while you learn - once upon a time you knew nothing about selling socks or any of the myriad things you do for Nerdfighteria.
I would ABSOLUTELY vote for you, which is why it’s probably a good idea you’re not running for president.
Hank I would definitely vote for you. I would canvas for you. I hope you change your mind on this someday I would be so dedicated. I do agree that any celebrities or CZcamsrs who want to run for office should start lower than president though. But you are one of the very few non-politician public figures I would actively and happily support for public office.
Absolutely!! President of Socks!
John: Hey guys, I'm taking a few weeks off
Hank: So, you guys think I should be president?
John: 😫
Seriously though, we appreciate that you can be candid and introspective about something important... that was once handled by an orangutan sock-puppet. Being humble is a great personal characteristic, but it's also a political epitaph. You could do it, Hank.
You are correct in almost every aspect.
But, a big part of it, for at least some, is that "we know" that you aren't corrupt, and that you are uncorruptable.
Now yes, these are impossible to know "truths", but that is the draw for many.
There's another piece to this that you haven't considered.
Your electability. As much as we understand someone like AOC would do a better job having years of experience and understanding, statistically you still have a better chance to get elected.
This is specifically why we got Hil instead of Bern.
Far too many in the middle would never vote for Bernie, he was just too left for the swing votes. The right would rally around fighting "the reds".
In short, you appear more harmless to the right, so you are more electable.
There by, an all around better bet.
It's not a job for everyone.
I couldn't do it.
For some reason, I do want to buy some socks... hmmm.
I absolutely think more leading voices in STEM should run for public office, as these are the fields that prioritize critical thought, ethics, and listening to experts. Daniel Biss is an excellent example of this, and this country would be a better place if more people like him were in charge of things. But, like, not you though.
Daniel Biss for President 2032!
Hank is more qualified than anyone else running right now! Vote for Hank!! 2024
Agree, this is obviously a cry for write-in campaign!
@LancerR890 neither of the other candidates have even a tiny shred of scientific literacy and they are completely unqualified for any office anywhere, Hank would be a way better president! John as V.P. !
I really want someone who has a stronger background in the sciences. The US needs leaders who are more than just lawyers, businessmen, and career politicians.
Someone who is young enough to be expected to live to see the consequences of their performance in office long after the fact would be nice too.
Just clicked on the video, and I would 100% vote for you. Having a person of a scientific background would be a refreshing shift from the typical political environment. As much as you don't have a lot of political experience, you do have intelligence, charisma, a good will, and a moderate moral disposition. I understand your concern about not having political experience, but I would say that you have a decent knowledge base in key scientific issues that I think would give you plenty of confidence to make political choices based on the science, and not money or corruption. Just my opinion on things
All the people saying "Yes! Please run! You'd be so much better for this list of reasons!" are kinda missing the point 😅 I blame it on how CZcams encourages people to rush comments before watching the video so they can get more likes.
No, he's just wrong.
@@michaelmicek No, he's right. It's about a choice he makes. He doesn't want to be a politician and that's not a bad thing. Some people don't like ballet or Mozart and they're not bad people either. If you want someone to run, find a young poli-sci major or law major who's a nice person and back them as they're more qualified and want to do it.
Thank you! I rock my awesome socks on every dog walk. ❤
Haven’t started the video yet but yes. Absolutely yes. Please and thank you Mr. Green