LEADERSHIP – We Need More (some?) in Government
Updated: Sep 12, 2020
Here's one conversation I had with a boss, years ago, about leadership (paraphrased):
“RHIP”, my boss said to me when I asked him why I kept getting sent to trade shows in second and third-tier cities while he kept going to places like Vancouver, Denver and San Diego. I was a sales guy and we would occasionally travel to trade shows to show-off our wares, check on our competition and renew/enhance relationships with our customers. “What does ‘RHIP’ stand for”, I asked? “Rank has it’s privileges”, he retorted. “Have you ever heard of leading by example”, I asked? “You’ll learn”, is all I heard back. In the military, one of our primary jobs is to train and grow future leaders. Not everyone in the military is, or will be, a great leader, but if they’ve spent more than a year-or-two in they know one when they see one. My boss may have forgotten that we all lead by example. Ask yourself, what example you’re leading by? “Do as I say, not as I do”, is not leading, but seems to be in use quite a bit. Adjust fire as necessary.
It’s time to choose our “leaders” for effectiveness not familiarity, not politics, not personality, but effectiveness (i.e. how well we think they will do in actually making our city, county, state, province, country, etc., better and stronger). They should also understand, at least, rudimentary economics because printing money is never a good long-term solution.
Hypocrisy has no place in leadership. Here are a few examples of the most recent, most blatant hypocrites since this “pandemic” began. The following news stories came from the following news sites (CNN, MSN & the Chicago Sun Times):
1) If California Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi truly seemed to believe the virus was as bad as promoted, do you think she’d actually venture out just to get her hair done, at her advanced age (80+), if she could die? Does she really believe all those businesses need to be closed? HYPOCRISY???
https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/02/politics/nancy-pelosi-hair-salon/index.html
2) Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenny was caught dining-in, in Maryland, while Philadelphia restaurants are closed. Does he really believe in COVID being deadly? HYPOCRISY???
3) Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot decided that protesting in Chicago was okay (peaceful or not), EXCEPT IN HER NEIGHBORHOOD!!! According to the Chicago Sun Times (20 AUG 2020), “Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara said, at times, there have been 140 officers assigned to [Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s] home.” Mayor Lightfoot was quoted as saying, “[given] the threats to my home and my family, I’m gonna do everything to make sure that they are protected,” the mayor said Thursday. ‘I make no apologies whatsoever for that.’” Apparently, it’s okay for the Mayor to be secure in, and defend, her home, but not all citizens have the same protections. What about the lawyers in St. Louis defending their property? HYPOCRISY???
As voters, we have more say in local politics (proportionally) than in national politics. We can help shape local politicians/politics with direct feedback and attendance at city/county meetings, and at the polls. This feedback would help local political leaders understand what it's residents need and want, especially if they want to get reelected. If they go higher in government, they’ll carry those concerns with them.
NOTE: Don't be fooled by the media, the President of the United States has no say in the day-to-day decisions made in any city, county or state in the union. There are elected officials at each level who's responsibility it is to lead and make decisions that protect their citizens from harm. IT’S UP TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO HANDLE THEIR OWN CRISES. THAT’S THEIR JOB (Seattle, Portland, Chicago, New York City, etc.)!!!
Am I wrong about city elected officials being responsible for what happens in their city? Let us know your thoughts…