Lawyers, businessmen, CEO’s, career politicians. It’s like our only options seem to be the very people who dedicate themselves to ruining or harming the lives of others. In the 250 years that we have been a country, we have only ever had two individuals who were not in the fields we always see. Herbert Hoover was a mining engineer, and Jimmy Carter was a nuclear engineer. Now, of course, those that do have the above careers prior to becoming president aren’t automatically bad people. But there is a significant amount of them that seem to only want to benefit themselves.
The state of political affairs in the United States (US) is, to say the least, miserable. The “ticket of peace” is currently in a war with Iran, supporting a theocratic authoritarian country that is attempting to occupy and settle inside its neighbors, and causing economic conflicts with a nation that can easily hold most of the world’s economies hostage. This administration, which I have critiqued since day one, has been toying with our people about what a democratic and representative government should look like. It’s almost like we elected a failed businessman with 34 felony convictions related to falsifying the very business record of those failed businesses, a man that has been accused of being involved in a massive sex trafficking ring with then financier Jeffrey Epstein, and a man that openly said he would do non-consensual sexual actions against someone while inside a Verizon Wireless bus.
While Donald Trump is one such example of why we should not elect businessmen to the presidency, many others still serve as stark examples of why change in this political establishment is needed. Imagine if we elected a biologist to the presidency, a medical doctor, a civil engineer, or maybe even an architect. While many architects opt to not be part of politics, or only defend their practice if politics affects it, some are starting to realize that it may soon have to be something we have to consider as an “alternative career”. Architects are mostly (because some of you are guilty of being supporters of what the current administration talks about) inherently empathetic people. Whether we think about it or not, we are in some fashion, empathetic towards people. It is because we as architects must understand people’s needs, wants, and emotions.
Architects are mostly inherently disciplined enough to work for people, even if they are the boss or project lead. That is why I think our next President should be someone who is in the field of architecture. Now I know that’s a stretch because our options right now are seemingly California Governor Gavin Newsom, possibly former Vice President Kamala Harris, and Vice President J.D. Vance. But I still think there should be a future in this country where an architect should lead. Now I know this sounds like a bias (it is), but I should also assure you it’s a bias with reasoning. Architects are not only trained in understanding of people, but creative and critical thinking, urban planning, conflict resolution, and extensive amounts of customer service skills (because we are also un unexpected customer service career).
We are absolutely overdue for a president that understands how to design infrastructure. Someone who understands that suburban sprawl isn’t the answer to our housing problem. A person who can think for others, not their own interests. Someone who understands that supporting everyone will only make us better as a society. Architects can understand that diversity is a strength, not a weakness. It’s why we understand that the neoclassical architecture of Washington DC can still fit in well with modern styles surrounding the capitol. It’s why we understand that the black woman raising her three kids alone in the south side of Chicago is just as amazing as the Latino man waking up in Merced at 4 a.m. for his 12-hour day at the fields of central California to provide for his family of four waiting to cross the border.
Architects are people that dedicate their lives to serving others, understanding others, and living the lives of others. It’s how good architects come to be. We don’t just imagine what could be, we walk a mile in the shoes of others so we can make sure our work meets everyone’s needs. We are capable of creating environments that foster growth, creativity, and innovation. These very principles are what make America Great. These are the very principles are why it is an architect’s duty to defend the architectural heritage of our country. In doing so, we defend our different cultural heritages, whether as Native Americans, immigrants, slaves brought over, or pilgrims.
What I am trying to say is we as architects have to stop being so neutral. Architects stayed neutral during the beginning of Nazi Germany. Look what happened there. Architects have a responsibility to be the strongest moral defense against fascism, authoritarianism, and dictators, because we are capable of doing just that. Architects are stronger than many people think, that’s what makes it a career that is so respected worldwide. We work hard to balance the world and make sure we are designing for a future of creativity and freedom.
If an architect were to become the next president of this country, it would absolutely be life changing for Americans. We would not only recognize the issues of our system but also have solutions ready to fix them. This isn’t exclusive to just architects, because without engineers, scientists, and doctors, we wouldn’t have the technology we have today. This is really only my suggestion and opinion on who I would like to see be a future or next president. When you have someone that knows what people need, then you’re going to get leadership that works for people’s needs.
We got what we paid for with Donald Trump. A criminal who will stop at nothing to glorify himself for not using an autopen. So, when you ask for an architect, be prepared to have cities that can enhance the experience of life in America. Be ready to enjoy urban planning that actually focuses on pedestrians, cyclists, and public transit. Our next president should be an architect, and I stand by that.