Have you noticed how everyone talks about electing our “leaders” these days? From my history and civics classes, this doesn’t seem to be how things started. According to books, at one point, they were considered “Public Servants.”
Whether this was real, whether it was ideal then or not, it is what we need to aspire to today.
Part of our clash in the culture wars of today is the hardening of our positions. Part of this comes from following those on the fringe who get elected.
Somewhere along the lines, society was convinced that politicians are leaders.
We need to get back to where politicians are SERVANTS of the public. They take their orders from US, not we from them. Until we and they understand (or maybe shift) their place in the hierarchy, we will continue to be torn apart as a society.
Whether it is Obama or Trump or any of the other myriad politicians, they should understand and serve as our Public Servants.
But it is We The People who now call them, and treat them, as our Leaders. Yes, the Great Leader. Who remembers where that comes from?
We were warned, and know in our hearts, that power corrupts. And absolute power corrupts absolutely. And yet, for some reason, we seem to believe that we will find the RIGHT person to be our leader who will not be corrupted. Of course, it’s only “Our Guy” that will be pure as the driven snow. “Their guy” is the devil incarnate. That’s a fantasy, unfortunately.
Why is it that We The People are so terrorized that we don’t believe that We can lead?
It’s because we have been conditioned to fear the Other. Whomever the Other is. And that’s why the ever-greater push these days than before, or maybe simply shifting the targets as We were on the path to coming together, to make us hate and fear each other.
A divided population is much easier to lead and to control. It’s time to take back our power. It’s time for The People to lead and the politicians to SERVE.
I encourage you to look for those in the next election cycle who have a servant’s heart. Who talk about, and actually mean, that they want to serve. It’s time for We The People to take our rightful place.
Editor’s Note: See related Article by Dunja Radosavljevic below ⤵︎
Michael, I agree with you 100% in that politicians are not leaders. We elected them so they are supposed to be representing us. Instead, they are always on the lookout for their next personal cash cow or power to control.
Michael – I understand your point. However, I have also written about leadership in detail with the focus being that an exceptional leader puts his people ahead of themselves and leaders do the right thing every time. And that is what our politicians are supposed to do for the voters. So, politicians should be leaders. Today’s problems are the result of electing career politicians and not leaders. Just my side of the discussion.
Absolutely in line with my thoughts.
For years now the political career has become a way like any other to have a well-paid job not a service to the community.
For the most part, sounds like semantics to me though i’m not going to push that.
On the other hand, your focus is on those you call leaders and mine is on the people. So, maybe we are diametrically opposed and your interest is on the few and mine is on the many.
Regardless, thanks for the comment.
Michael – A leader is focused on the big picture – so they always consider how their actions and decisions will effect the their team and will contribute to the greater good of the organization. So a true leader is always focused on the many – which was the point I was trying to make. Again, the problem is career politicians who focus on votes and not what is best for the people. So we agree but see it from different points of view.
We can think of leaders many ways. We should not consider politicians to be leaders, however. imo