Self-Crippling Nation

Through a wide range of experiences over the past few years, I'd like to think that I've learned a lot about leadership, and it has become very evident that we are becoming a self-crippling nation.  The very thing that we take so much pride in, which is our ability to elect our own leaders, is the one thing that is causing many of the problems that face us as a nation.

Very often we hear people complaining how politicians don't tell the truth, people complain that the government can't balance the budget.  Well, because of our electoral system, because people who want to lead this nation must win votes before they can lead, they are not able to tell the truth or do the right thing. 

While standing in line at the grocery store waiting to check out, I watched someone run up a $300+ bill only to pay with a WIC card (food stamps basically) and her cart was not exactly filled with healthy option.  She spent more on sodas and sugary drinks (previously condemned by the food police, aka Michelle Obama) than I did on my entire bill.  I'd think that most people can agree that this isn't right, but can you IMAGINE the backlash if a politician said this.  Many people can agree that there are many workers out there that make minimum wage that, frankly, are lazy workers.  Most reasonable people can agree that if you are over 20 years old and still making minimum wage, that you are not living up to your potential.  Most reasonable people can agree that it's not right that 47% of workers don't pay taxes, but imagine the backlash if a politician ran on this platform.  Mitt Romney ran on a platform that hinted that he was serious about balancing the budget, and he hinted that EVERYONE should pay their fair share, including the 47% and he was crucified for it.

We are crippling ourselves as a nation because we allow followers to select their leader; followers that don't understand what makes a good, strong leader.  A strong leader is someone who is willing to tell people a message that they don't want to hear.  As a result, because our leaders have to pander to what will win the votes of the followers.  A sheep wants to be led by the strongest sheep, but the strongest sheep is still not strong enough to confront the wolf.  Until the wolf shows itself at the doorstep, the sheep are content with following the strongest sheep, but at the first sight of the wolf, the sheep cries for the sheepdog, whom they have previously shunned.