Letter to the editor: List of 'cannots' can help us pick a president

We have two candidates running for leadership of our country. How do we decide which one will be the better leader, and which platform of promises to choose?

The Rev. William J.H. Boetcker, a Presbyterian clergyman who lectured on industrial relations at the turn of the 20th century, came up with this list of “Ten Cannots” for leaders, a list often mistakenly attributed to Abraham Lincoln:

1. You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.

2. You cannot help small men by tearing down big men.

3. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.

4. You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.

5. You cannot help the poor man by destroying the rich.

6. You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than your income.

7. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.

8. You cannot establish security on borrowed money.

9. You cannot build character and courage by taking away men’s initiative and independence.

10. You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves.

This list emphasizes the betterment and fulfillment of all dreams of all people. Candidates make unrealistic promises. Many do not fulfill the dreams and betterment of all, but only some.

We voters will have a difficult decision on Election Day. Maybe we can use this list to determine the best candidate to succeed as leader of our country.

Marlene Uhall

Greensburg