Successive US Presidents have unilaterally assumed the title The Leader of the Free World with complete disregard for accepted principles of democracy.

The Free World consists of non-communist states with elected governments and is therefore, by definition, fundamentally democratic. However:

1. At no time has the Free World held a vote to elect a single leader.

2. At no time have the various Free World state leaders elected a single representative to speak on their behalf.

3. There is no generally accepted methodology for appointing a single Free World leader.

Yet, for far too many years, American Presidents have arrogantly designated themselves as The Leader of the Free World on the following spurious bases:

Money The US is generally considered the richest nation in the world, but wealth is not a valid reason for assuming political leadership: if merely being "richest" is justification for self-appointment to high political office then Bill Gates should be the President of the United States.

Arms America is now the only superpower and is responsible for spending some 50\% of the worlds total military budget. Using this rationale, the US citizen with most firepower at his disposal could justifiably elevate himself to the post of President of the United States.

By Right Many Americans believe they have a moral right to world leadership because they promote western ideals such as human rights, freedom and democracy. The actions of the Bush Administration have demonstrated that such a deluded form of nationalism with its inherent assumption of racial superiority has absolutely no validity.

To continue claiming leadership of the Free World without legitimate justification or an accepted constitutional basis is anti-democratic. Such posturing by the President is especially hypocritical in view of the US governments stated aim of promoting democracy worldwide.

Therefore, we would ask the current President and all future Presidents of the United States to desist from referring to themselves as The Leader of the Free World in recognition of the fact that only a very small minority of Free World citizens have ever had the opportunity to vote for them.