Running for office is a common affair for politicians. It`s actually a critical decision that many make. In most cases, politicians or leaders who were previously in government or a given administrative structure vie for political or leadership seats. Letting anyone run for office means an opportunity for even those not in government to get included. Anyone can thus be included in forming authority bodies within the political arena through an election. It`s worth noting that voters always expect the best from leaders whom they have chosen and have unfailing faith in. Advantages of letting anyone run for office include:
PROS:
1. Eliminates Age and status barrier: Allowing anyone to run for office can mean each and every adult either rich or poor can become a political leader. Such a position would ensure a well-blended collection of leaders of different ages, class, and ideologies. This can lead to good progress if both the youth and the old work together to deliver.
2. Promotes healthy competition: With this freedom, many will run hence a numerous number of contestants. This is good in reducing monopoly and authoritative in elections.
3. Diverse races can run: It can also be a key eradicator of racism as color bias is eradicated. People from different races will also feel free and encouraged to run.
4. Various contestants bring great ideas: Anyone is able to bring a thoughtful suggestion of solving common problems facing the people being led. With many allowed running for a seat, voters are usually offered with a wide variety of leaders to choose from.
5. Promotes democracy: The will of the people for the people is actually achieved. People can choose anyone they went. The chosen candidate can then run for office to represent his people in government or relevant authority.
6. Anyone can access office privileges: Various benefits of being in offices like vehicles, allowances, and other free advantages can be enjoyed by anyone from any family, street, party, religion or even gender. The office is not limited to a few individuals who may want to cling in power for so long.
7. Promotes leadership change: Since anyone can run at his or her will, the citizen can prefer a candidate of their choice. The people can also remove from any office any leader at their own wish.
8. Promotes Gender balance: Both men and women who have leadership skills are given an opportunity to show that they can be delivered. The issue of being male or female is thus exterminated.
9. The people feel obliged to run or choose their candidate: Letting anyone run for office gives citizens or the general public the morale to try leadership positions. Others become proud of certain leaders who may get elected and are mentored to also be leaders in the same way.
10. Ensures a peaceful administration: Because everyone is given equal chances of becoming a leader there are few or no disputes that may arise.
CONS:
1. Risk of incompetent leaders: Not all who may run have a profound leadership track. Some may be running for personal interests. By chance, therefore, ill leaders may take power if they succeed which would have effects on their juniors and the people they are leading.
2. This proposition puts into consideration quantity rather than quality: Quality leadership is not always determined by the number of people running for office. It only means there is a wide variety of leaders who may secure the seat either being bad or good.
3. May prompt corrupt leaders to run: Due to the ease and freedom of running for office, greedy leaders, mays seize this opportunity and convince their fellow people to vote them in. This contributes to poor service delivery to those who elected the leaders.
4. Stiff competitors may instigate hate speech: The many contestants who may like to run can produce unsound speeches of hatred against each other. This would cause heat up among people or citizens.
5. More thought required during voting: With anyone allowed for the contest, the people at the ground level need to carefully analyze the qualities of each and every contestant wisely to avoid making the regretful decision. This is because new contestants in politics may also arise seeking the office.
6. Encourages void promises: Since not all who run may win, the many promises made to the followers by various contestants of the office are not fulfilled. This is a great disadvantage to the people who may vote in favor of their preferred candidates but in return they fail to secure a seat or become very greedy while in office.
7. This makes it easy to sway the undecided: Allowing anyone would mean a large number would contest for the respective position. Those who may not have made their choice of their preferred candidate may be forced to support a contestant without making the choice by him or herself.
8. Possible improper resource management: Those who the office should at least have basic knowledge of managing public resources. In case this lacks, the leadership may encounter wastage of public resources which inhibits growth.
9. Big Losses may befall many losers: The many who try to run but fail to secure the office encounter huge costs.
10. It may be unconstitutional: Unless the laws and policies of the respective country are changed to accommodate for this proposition, having it forcefully may be a break of the law as in most countries there are set requirements for one to run for office.
