In my last post I dwelled on the importance of this coming mid-term election and its potential to change the course of this country. I also talked about what was at stake, the mood of the American voter, what we might expect, and how to avoid electoral mistakes. In this post I want to explore your thought process in casting your vote, what I think you should look for in your candidate, and the role of leadership.
What Factors Are Important to Your Vote?
Obviously, your political bent is a key factor in influencing your vote, but other factors are equally important. As a matter of fact, most Americans tend to be independent and not party-aligned, as illustrated in the recent election of Republican Chris Christi as Governor of New Jersey, a strongly Democratic leaning State, and Republican Scott Brown, in the Senate, winning the seat of Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts, a Democratic icon.
Qualities such as character, values, education, experience (non-political experience as well), track record, ideas, motivation, and communication skills should all factor in a voter’s decision. When you look at these qualities they usually are good indicators of potential great leaders. Leadership skill is not only important for a President; it also is for a Governor, a Congressman, a Senator or any public or private official that is head of a productive group or enterprise.
For our elected officials, it is clear that leadership skills are the key to success. Successful leaders are different and have different strengths and skill sets. One thing is sure however, most are charismatic and eloquent speakers and can mesmerize their audience by their commanding presence and message. Think of Roosevelt, Kennedy, Reagan, Clinton; even Hitler, Castro, and Chavez had that skill, so although this attribute is important, it alone does not identify a successful leader.
In delivering these qualities, the methods and tactics a candidate uses are critical and usually separates the great leaders from the mediocre. I believe leadership or leadership potential to be the most important aspect of this coming election. It is essential if we are to change the course of any failing corporation or government. In our politics today, the signs are already there. The mood of America has deteriorated and become angrier, more cynical, sometimes foul, and in some cases even murderous. Joblessness is eating at the core of our cities, creating a powerful need for innovative and courageous leadership to provide the initiatives that will spur employment, revitalize investment in our economy, and uplift our spirit. The failure of leadership in our “ruling class” is in many ways more urgent and more dangerous than the problems we face because our problems won’t be solved without it and because lack of leadership is slow to recognize and little understood.
Voter Empowerment Is What’s Needed Now
Two hundred thirty-four years ago, when the Founding Fathers gathered in Philadelphia to write the Constitution, America had a population of only three million people, yet six world class leaders, at least, were present there as authors of that extraordinary document. Washington, Jefferson, Hamilton, Adams, Franklin, and Madison all helped to create our form of government. Today we are over 300 million and you will be hard pressed to identify six leaders of that quality in Washington D.C.
Where have our political leaders gone? Have we become too cynical to care? Has making politics a career fostered mediocrity and corruption, or have we become too saturated with information to make clear and informed decisions? I think not. Voter empowerment is the key. If you feel your vote will make a difference and you take the time to understand the priority issues and listen to the candidates, you will go to the polls and find the leaders out there we so urgently need. It’s happening now, be a part of it, and be sure to cast your vote on November 2nd.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Why This Election Means So Much (Part 1)
November’s mid-term election is essentially a national referendum. No time in recent memory has a mid-term election had such importance. The populace is angry; politicians have no credibility, and the policies of our current "ruling class” are out of sync with the majority of our citizens. Interestingly enough, political party, liberal or conservative, left or right, are not the issues, as illustrated by the rise of the so-called, T-Party adherents. They believe that America needs to click on delete and go back to the basics, I mean the Founding Fathers, and start all over again.
The Issues
The issues are really centered on the historical trend of America and the belief that the future for our grandchildren will not be better than their grandparents, and that our reign as the greatest economic force on the planet is passing, and American exceptionalism is in doubt.
The rising influence of government in our lives, discriminating taxation, the redistribution of our wealth as individuals and as a nation, the trend toward 3rd party control of our health decisions, our changing population and out moded immigration policies, our mounting debt, the threat of a different kind of enemy from abroad, and worries about our safety and security, and the apparent waste and corruption in our financial and political class, all contribute to the uncertainty and worry about the future, which in turn exacerbates our economic woes.
What’s at Stake in November?
We are a graphically diverse society and financial, socio-economic, political, and geography issues define our divisions. All contribute to our differences and our free society allows anyone to express their opinions. The newspaper, the Internet, books of many kinds, demonstrations and rallies, are major outlets for this expression. In the final analysis, what we do at the ballot box is more important than anything we can do to influence events.
Although we are the most educated and informed country on the planet we will be lucky if we get 40% of all eligible voters to cast a ballot in this vitally important election. Since many voters push their own special interests and are relatively uninformed on a broad range of other topics of equal importance, our elections don’t always get a result that is in the best long-term interests of the country. However, generally speaking, the American people have made the right decisions during the major periods of crisis in our history. It is probably because regardless of our backgrounds and education, we have that unique quality of “common sense” that seems to transcend our differences. Obviously, the best way to avoid these electoral mistakes is to bring as many of the voters as possible to the polls and avoid “special interests” results.
Since many Democratic seats in both the House and Senate that are up for grabs this November; control of Congress is at stake in this election. Because the growing discontent has been fueled by one-party control of Congress for the last 4 years and now with the Executive branch for the last 2 years; this mid-term election can alter the current course of our country.
The Issues
The issues are really centered on the historical trend of America and the belief that the future for our grandchildren will not be better than their grandparents, and that our reign as the greatest economic force on the planet is passing, and American exceptionalism is in doubt.
The rising influence of government in our lives, discriminating taxation, the redistribution of our wealth as individuals and as a nation, the trend toward 3rd party control of our health decisions, our changing population and out moded immigration policies, our mounting debt, the threat of a different kind of enemy from abroad, and worries about our safety and security, and the apparent waste and corruption in our financial and political class, all contribute to the uncertainty and worry about the future, which in turn exacerbates our economic woes.
What’s at Stake in November?
We are a graphically diverse society and financial, socio-economic, political, and geography issues define our divisions. All contribute to our differences and our free society allows anyone to express their opinions. The newspaper, the Internet, books of many kinds, demonstrations and rallies, are major outlets for this expression. In the final analysis, what we do at the ballot box is more important than anything we can do to influence events.
Although we are the most educated and informed country on the planet we will be lucky if we get 40% of all eligible voters to cast a ballot in this vitally important election. Since many voters push their own special interests and are relatively uninformed on a broad range of other topics of equal importance, our elections don’t always get a result that is in the best long-term interests of the country. However, generally speaking, the American people have made the right decisions during the major periods of crisis in our history. It is probably because regardless of our backgrounds and education, we have that unique quality of “common sense” that seems to transcend our differences. Obviously, the best way to avoid these electoral mistakes is to bring as many of the voters as possible to the polls and avoid “special interests” results.
Since many Democratic seats in both the House and Senate that are up for grabs this November; control of Congress is at stake in this election. Because the growing discontent has been fueled by one-party control of Congress for the last 4 years and now with the Executive branch for the last 2 years; this mid-term election can alter the current course of our country.
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