According to the Constitution, to be eligible to run for president, you have to be 35 years or older. You have to be a natural born American citizen and had to have lived in the United States for at least 14 years. And that’s about it.

If a felon meets those requirements, he or she can be placed on the ballot to become the Leader of the Free World or be elected to the House of Representatives or to the Senate. It’s happened before.

In 1920, Eugene V. Debs ran for president as a member of the Socialist Party while he was in prison under the Sedition Act for speaking out against the American government’s involvement in World War I. He received 915,000 votes.

Further back in 1798, Vermont congressman Matthew Lyon was re-elected while he was imprisoned for the same reason as Debs.

That brings up the question of eligibility for former President Donald Trump. He currently faces a total of 91 criminal charges in four cases that could receive verdicts before the November election.

Some courts have found that should Trump be found guilty of insurrection for the Jan. 6 Capitol takeover, his candidacy would be disqualified under the 14th amendment of the Constitution.

There is an ironic twist. Although he might be convicted of crimes that would still allow him to run for president, he could lose his right to vote where he is registered in the state of Florida.

Their law states that no felon can vote until he completes serving his sentence, parole, or probation. In fact, several states have laws that say a felon can run for office, but he can’t vote there. Go figure.

The Constitution does not require one to be of sound mind to be the president of the United States. President Biden’s mental stability has been under scrutiny and his ability to serve a second term will be a serious issue in the upcoming election.

So, to be clear. It’s looking like the American people will have to choose between a man who might be in the early stages of dementia and an alleged felon as to who will be the next president of the United States of America.

Does that bother anyone else but me?

Apparently having a felon as president doesn’t bother too many people in Michigan. Sixty-three percent said they would vote for a president with a criminal record as long as they think he will do a good job as the leader of our country.

And what if our current president’s mental capabilities decline quickly while he is Commander and Chief of our Armed Forces? Then what?

I often wonder if the world is laughing at us with what we are left with as candidates of the two major parties. With loyalty pledged to who they belong to, I have to also wonder if Democrats and Republicans make a pinky finger promise that no matter what should happen to their individual political careers, it’s loyalty to party first and to the American people after that.

In a Republican primary debate a few months ago, all the presidential candidates ridiculed Donald Trump and gave multiple reasons why he should not be our next person in residence of the White House, but when the moderator asked them if they all would lose the primaries, who then would support Trump for president. Nearly everyone up on the stage raised their hands.

So, help me to understand. Let’s say I’m a cop and I slander a fellow policeman with his charges of gross misconduct. I’m asked if I want him to remain on the force if he is guilty and I say, “Of course I would. I support all law enforcement officers.”

Loyalty to the party, loyalty to the Blue, no matter what? What happened to loyalty to us citizens who all public figures take an oath to serve first?

Help me to understand how we have only these two candidates to be the best our country can offer us. Why does our Constitution not demand a sound mind and no criminal record as eligibility requirements?

To coach Little League Baseball, you must have no criminal record, but anyone can break the law and run for president. The Equal and Human Rights Commission says that a person can be dismissed from employment for having dementia after a discussion involving expert advice.

Perhaps President Biden should have to be psychologically examined by an objective, non-political agency before he is approved to run for a second term. I suppose the House and Senate would scream, “That’s unconstitutional” and a Supreme Court justice would agree because he or she would have no other choice.

We put having good character high on the list for our parents, teachers, clergy, and pretty much anyone who has a responsibility for the welfare of others, but not for the president of our country. Of course, there are those who believe Trump when he says he’s never done anything wrong and all the charges brought against him were “trumped” up by the Democrats. We live in a society now where we can blame others when accused of anything we’ve done wrong and that apparently starts right at the top.

I have to wonder what we are teaching our children about who they should look up to as role models. The answer seems to me that if someone does what you think will help you in some way, you should overlook unethical or unlawful behavior as long as you get what you want. On one hand, Americans cry out for stricter laws, but on the other hand, they believe these laws should not apply to everyone.

As political extremism continues to divide our country, no matter who is elected president in November, half of all Americans will be left angry when the results are announced. What’s happened to our once proud eagle that soared above our blue and spacious skies?

Help me to understand.

Rich Strack can be reached at richiesadie11@gmail.com