by Roddy Harris

Created on: April 04, 2009

The problem with finding good leaders in this country is a problem that has multiple issues. Why in this day and age would anybody want to put themselves through the public scrutiny to become a leader in this country? There is no privacy for a person who desires to become a leader in this country or in the world. Media constantly reports on their lives and everything they do. Things are taken out of context and exploited to make a potential leader look bad. Their slightest error or gaffe is reported and debated everyday in the media. Finding qualified leaders who are willing to give up their personal lives and freedoms is a major issue in this quest. I know of very few people who are willing to give up their right to privacy to become a leader. Many people who do seek these leadership positions are people who feel the need to be in the spotlight. They do not really have the ability to lead but love the attention they get. These people create controversy and draw attention to themselves and not important issues a leader would need to address. They need to be the center of attention and do not really know how to lead or really have the desire to lead. They only want to be famous.

Another problem in our political system is that a leader should be a person who leads by example and not by how their party wants them to lead. Following party politics is not the way to lead. Letting the party tell you how to vote and not voting for the needs of the people is not leading but following. A person trying to get elected to a leadership position comes forth on the campaign trail with all sorts of campaign promises that the people want to hear but as soon as they are elected they return to their party line and vote the party line on issues. Much of the time their vote is against what they have told the voters was their view. Why do they do it? Simple they want to stay in office and if they go against the party line they will not be endorsed by the party to run in the next election. If you do not get the party endorsement then it is very hard to get on the ballot and get reelected.

The practice of different organizations to use lobbyists to promote their point of view is another problem for leaders. They are courted, wined and dined by the lobbyists while receiving their points of view. Many times campaign contributions are made to the leader's campaign fund by people supporting the lobby. Other nonofficial or illegal gifts may be given making the person in the leadership role

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