We need leaders, of course, good ones. Though endowed by his Creator with liberty, the human beast still occasionally needs guidance and direction, especially when we are young and ignorant. There are leaders in all walks of life, from family to business, education, spiritual, sports, culture, and politics. In this article, given we are in an election season, I wish to home in on political leadership.
What kind of people do we need in government as our political leaders? Let me list some qualities.
1. We need leaders who know the difference between right and wrong. Sadly, this eliminates probably every elected Democrat in the country. For, anyone who supports a political party that actively endorses and advocates the murder of unborn babies and the mutilation of children has given up every scintilla of moral virtue, perception, discernment, and goodness.
2. We need political leaders who love the country, will protect it, defend its citizens against criminals and illegal invaders, and who will treat all citizens equally and fairly. Leaders in America need to love America.
3. We need leaders of high moral virtue whom others, especially children, can look up to and emulate. This immediately eliminates curs like Bill Clinton, a blatant adulterer. Is he the kind of example we want our youth to imitate, people who will not even honor the most sacred trust and commitment they made?
4. We need leaders of great character strength, who will not be blown about by current fads and trends, who are rooted firmly in excellent cultural and moral traditions, and who know, and will set, a straight course and stick with it. We need leaders who will not let the human filth of society drag them down to the lowest common, slimy denominator. I don’t want leaders who are “like the people.” I want leaders who will show the people what they ought to be.
5. We need leaders who are economically frugal, who realize they are spending their citizens’ money, money those people need to live on and survive. The typical, corrupt politician uses other people’s money to buy votes and ensure his/her selfish hold on power. There is no such thing as a “leader” who frivolously wastes money that is not his/hers. I don’t want my money spent on some useless grant to a Harvard egghead who is studying why left-handed, blond-headed barbers in Salem, Massachusetts flatulate more than red-headed, ambidextrous firemen in Lawton, Oklahoma. That isn’t the purpose of government. Nor is it the purpose of government to throw our money into wars that have nothing to do with our interests or necessities.
6. We need leaders who realize that they don’t have every answer, that they are not perfect, and that there is a Wiser, Higher Power from whom they should humbly, and frequently, seek guidance. And who will be honest with the American people about this?
7. We need leaders who know how to control their tongues, speak sparingly and wisely, and speak words of calmness, truth, encouragement, unity, and excellence. A foul-mouthed liar who doesn’t know how to control his/her mouth or when to shut up is the very antithesis of good leadership.
8. We need EXCELLENCE in leadership. If other people want to be our political leaders, then we have the right to expect them to be exceptional people, who know the right way to go and how to get there. That is what leaders are supposed to do! We don’t expect perfection. But we do have a right to expect wisdom, exceptionalism, and a proper example, especially from people who are 79 or 80 years old, who have lived long enough that they ought to know the difference between good and evil, right and wrong, proper and improper. If people of age don’t know, how can we ask younger people to know? And if people who have lived the longest and experienced the most can’t set a proper example, who can? People will follow their leaders, and tragically, in America today, that is EXACTLY what they are doing.
Folks, something is very wrong with an educational and cultural system that doesn’t produce excellent people, people of virtue and self-control. Everyone SHOULD develop these qualities as they grow older and learn. Unfortunately, very few do. When our largest political party nominates, and the American people elect, a 78-year-old man who has absolutely none of the eight qualities listed above, but is the very antithesis of every one of them, then our entire system has gotten far, far off the strait and narrow path. Excellence is difficult. It requires constant effort, fortitude, vigilance, diligence, self-examination, and self-discipline. Selfishness, profligacy, and promiscuity are easy and fun ways. But also the direct road to destruction.
The fact that very few such excellent people exist on earth, even in America, is the very reason why the government should be limited and human beings allowed very little power over others. Give power to monsters and they will eat you.
America used to know these things. What happened?
We can, and must, try to save the country. But the hour is late. It is difficult to be optimistic at present when…who?...in the country fits the description above?
“I sought for a man…[to] stand in the gap…”
“But I found no one.”
May God bless America with the leaders we need.
Mark Lewis is a native Texan currently living in Thailand. His first book, Whitewater, a western novel, is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Eliva.com. His second book, River Bend, will be out soon. And check out his new blog at thailandlewis.blogspot.com.
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