Should former US presidents speak out against a current president?

The rest of us speak out quickly enough. Why shouldn't former presidents have the same right?

Seriously, of course former presidents should speak out against a current president if they disagree with him or any of his policies. In addition, they should speak out in his support when they agree with him.

Under the American political system, the people elect the person they consider the brightest and the best in the country to be their president. The individual doesn't lose these qualities when his term of office is finished. By speaking out on issues of the day, he can continue to offer guidance to the ship of state, though from a greater distance.

Sometimes as citizens, we tend to become preoccupied with our own lives or, at times we become just plain lethargic. We fail to pay sufficient attention to government activities, to foreign affairs or domestic policies being formulated in Washington. But wait a minute!

If, suddenly, several former presidents speak out strongly in support or against a particular law, or issue being discussed in Congress, and it is widely reported in the media, many people will snap to attention. They may even be motivated to become involved and influence the outcome of the matter.

During their terms of office, former presidents were made aware of background information that may not have been available to the general public. Because of this, their judgements are apt to be more informed and should carry greater weight. Shrewd listeners will pay close attention.

These men still have connections with influential friends and associates they met while in the White House. They hear the rumours and back room gossip to which ordinary citizens are not privy. They have the good sense to know which scuttlebutt is valuable and which should be ignored.

In some cases. they also have connections with leaders and other influential individuals overseas. They can help voters see other viewpoints besides those of the current administration. There are always two sides to every story.

Former presidents are, in most cases, out of public life and back home in the bosoms of family and friends. They no longer have to worry about party politics or maintaining a presidential image. Their priorities are now likely to be similar to that of most ordinary Americans.

They want peace and security for their country, jobs and a decent living wage for their friends and relatives, and a clean, healthy environment to leave to their children and grandchildren. The difference is that they have greater skill and more privileged knowledge than most of us, to bring to bear on attaining theses goals.

Former presidents should consider it a duty to speak out as their conscience dictates, either for or against the current president. Americans, and indeed, the citizens of the whole world will be poorer and less knowledgeable if they choose to keep silent.