LEADERS

I want to start a discussion about how we select our leaders. We don't very often get the leaders we need, do we? I am just kicking some ideas around I haven't really thought about it.

I have met people in my local community who are better leaders than those on the National stage. Some members of my family make more sense than the ones we elect. What is going on?

The way our system is set up it seems one would have to be super ambitious to succeed in our electoral system. Are super ambitious people the ones who will dutifully represent the people? Perhaps at first, but in our money-driven political system will that loyalty last?

When it takes enormous amounts of money to get elected can the candidate continue to represent the people?

I think it is a mixed bag, some politicians are able to stay loyal to the people despite temptations, others veer off to support other agendas.

Do the best qualified people ever contemplate running for office? By qualified I am thinking about character, temperament, intelligence and willingness to be of service.

Do we teach civics in school to the extent that young people have a grasp of the process? It seems that the world politicians occupy is an alien world to the rest of us.

It doesn't seem to me that politicians are doing what we would like. Wouldn't most of us like some kind of economic security for everyone? Wouldn't most of us want to be entitled to medical care the way we are entitled to education? Speaking of education, don't we want free education including college for everyone? None of these things are unattainable, many countries in our Western World already have them.

Would it be that difficult to end homelessness?

Some politicians seem to rise up from the masses as if elevated by a thousand hands and others seem to claw their way up. Do we have very able leaders in the wings, as it were, hoping and waiting, without an easy way in?

I am going to be thinking about this. I will continue the discussion soon.

Love and Peace, Gregg