Danial 4:17 and the Boy Scout Law

My Dad used to cite the highlighted part of this Bible verse whenever he was irritated about some political leader.  The verse states (King James version):

This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones, with the intent that the living may know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.”

I always thought this particular verse was perhaps not applicable to a democracy, but was talking about a world where the most ambitious and ruthless ended up as the King.

Now I am not so sure.  As a boy, 60 years ago, I memorized the personality characteristics a Boy Scout was supposed to strive for, the "Scout Law".   They were presented to me to be the embodyment of Christian ideals.  The law states a scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent." 

There are not many politicans who I would say check off all of those boxes, but in my lifetime no President checks off fewer than our current President.

Trustworthy?  There are legions of pundits making a living off recording the multiple false statements our President makes on almost daily basis.

Loyal?  Our President has a history of using people and discarding them, going back to all the working folks who got stiffed in his casino/hotel bankruptcies through to all the members of his administration who have been attacked for truthful accounts that countradict his false statements seeking to promote himself.

Helpful?  He probably has helped some folks occcasionally but it seems all to often he helps himself at the expense of others.

Friendly?  He seems friendly with the folks who help him accomplish his goals but has shown himself to be mean and vindictive toward anyone who stands in the way of achieving his personal goals, or bystanders in the line of fire.

Courteous?  This is the man who brags on videos about grabbing the crotch of women he did not know whom he thought attractive. 

Kind?  A man who set up camps to separate mothers an children fleeing violance in Central America and was surprised when people objected.  

Obedient?  The man who routinely disobeys the law if he sees a possible political advantage to himself.

Cheerful?  Maybe he is cheerful sometimes but it is not a word I would associate with him based on his public behavior except when he is villifying other people before his ardent supporters at political rallies. 

Thrifty?  This one is laughable. This is a profligate spender ran multiple companies into bankruptcy and has singledhandedly added 3 Trillion Dollars to our National Debt with his tax cuts. 

Brave?  Well, maybe he would have been if that darn bone spur didn't keep him from going to Viet-Nam where he of course would have been a hero and probably a medal of honor winner.

Clean?   He might check this box, you'd have to ask folks who know him better.

Reverent?  Only when there is some political advantage in temporarily putting on the appearance of reverence.  He really seems to be reverent only of himself.

The utlimate irony is folks who consider themselves devout Christians put him in the White House and many still support him.   Go figure.