Biff Tannen for President

Some of the best lessons in life are from people who made all of the wrong choices.  It is no different in movies and television.  This time Biff Tannen of Back to the Future fame is put under the magnifying glass.  Many may only remember him as the bully in the first movie, if they remember him at all.  He is characterized as dim witted, abusive, yet physically powerful.  Unfortunately such power attracts others in the high school environment, either to obtain some of that power for themselves, or to avoid falling victim to it themselves, so he has a few henchmen as well.

The subject of this post however is not of the teenager who got a well deserved punch from George McFly at the "Enchantment Under the Sea" dance.  No, I will instead be referring to the unfortunate individual that he grows into in the second movie of the series.  Through some abuse of time travel, Biff find a way to give himself the key to nearly limitless wealth.  He uses this good fortune to mold the city in his own image.  The result is a nightmare for every person other than Tannen who sits in his lofty penthouse looking down on deliquescing city he grew up in.  He doesn't care if it rots.  He is taken care of.  He has everything that he ever wanted.  He doesn't care if the world burns around him.

The reason for the focus on such an unpleasant individual is his uncanny resemblance to a certain candidate running for president.  In fact, I would go so far to say that they are similar in almost every way, including the haircut.  I am talking today about leadership, and what makes a leader.

When I think of great leaders, images come to mind of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and many other great men in the world's history.  Other examples include Aragorn from the Lord of the Rings, Captain America, and Harry Potter to name a few.  There are many reasons that Biff Tannen does not find himself on the list.  The largest of these being he is a bully.  From the cradle he has, I can only assume, learned that if he wants something, he must prey on the weak to get it.  It has been said, "If you want to know what a man's like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals."  Should such a man be trusted to make the call on whether or not to help those in need, or to have negotiations with other countries?

Another thing that makes Biff so dangerous is his pathological abuse of women.  Seeing them as nothing more than objects for him to satisfy his own desires, he brings ruin to all relationships he enters leaving scars and damage that lingers for years, and in his arrogance and narcissism, he convinces them that they are the problem, convincing to mutilate their bodies to be good enough.

His narcissism knowing no boundaries, he is completely convinced that whatever he does is right.  He never makes a mistake.  He never has to apologize.  He doesn't have to adhere to anyone else's rules.  He can say what he wants, do what he wants, and no one can stop him because he has the money.  He has the power.  He has little mindless yes men who will do anything that he wants them to.

Is that the type of man that should be as Abraham Lincoln once said, "clothed with immense power?"  Should anyone be worried if such a man gains popularity from stomping on the weak, or by insulting the powerless?  What would America become if it were to be molded into the image of Biff Tannen?  Who would lift up those who are struggling?  Who would the people turn to when they were most in need?  Is it really a good idea to have a bully for president?

The only answer I can think of is given by one of my heroes, Captain America:

"I don't like bullies.  I don't care where they're from."