Finding the Cure for Today's Social Ills
191
Śrīla Prabhupāda:  Oh, yes. The  kṣatriyas  ruled the government in Vedic times. When there was a war, the king was the first to fight. Just like your George Washington: he fought when there was a war. But what kind of president is ruling now? When there is a war, he sits very securely and telephones orders. He's not fit to be president. When there is war, the president should be the first to come forward and lead the battle.
BTG:  But if man is small and imperfect, how can he execute God's perfect orders for a perfect government?
Śrīla Prabhupāda:  Although you may be imperfect, because you are carrying out my order, you're becoming perfect. You have accepted me as your leader, and I accept God as my leader. In this way society can be governed perfectly.
BTG:  So good government means first of all to accept the Supreme Being as the real ruler of the government?
Śrīla Prabhupāda:  You cannot directly accept the Supreme Being. You must accept the servants of the Supreme Being—the  brāhmaṇas  or  Vaiṣṇavas  [devotees of the Lord]—as your guides. The government men are  kṣatriyas —the second class. The  kṣatriyas  should take advice from the  brāhmaṇas  or  Vaiṣṇavas  and make laws accordingly. The  vaiśyas  should carry out the  kṣatriyas'  orders in practice. And the  śūdras  should work under these three orders. Then society will be perfect.