Is actual leadership possible?

Awful truth #20: Leaders must not live markedly better than those they lead. 

“Every four years Americans hope that a leader will come along and solve all our problems. I notice we seldom blame ourselves for our troubles. The truth is that in a democracy, a government of the people, by the people and for the people will be no better than the people.”

—Robert Ballou

Regardless of a country’s political system, its leaders must not use their position to become rich. Leaders must live humbly and avoid ostentation. Leaders must set a good example and follow the same laws as everyone else. Leaders must demonstrate personal sacrifice on behalf of the people served. A kleptocracy or oligarchy must be avoided at all costs, as these are unfair and inevitably lead to poor governance and, ultimately, violent revolution.   

In the United States, many members of Congress use insider stock market information to become wealthy. For the public, this is illegal. It must be unequivocally illegal for Congress as well. The fact it remains legal for our betters reveals their own lack of character and decency. The fact we elect and reelect them reveals our lack of character and decency as voters.     

I’ve asked myself what I’d do if I were President of the United States. I’d try to set a good example and lament any failings. Here are some things I’d do:

• Live simply and frugally. 
• Have a cadre of consiglieres, separate from my Cabinet, with which to discuss issues. I would want a variety of ideologies, not an echo chamber. I’d include people such as Jimmy Dore, Richard Wolff, Blaire White, Collins Iyare Idehen, Jr., Ron Paul, Thomas Sowell, Amala Ekpunobi, Glenn Greenwald, Clare Daly, June Lapine, Lionel Shriver, and a variety of others. I might not agree with their opinions, but I recognize the importance of hearing these.  
• No inauguration ball. No state dinners. Keep spectacle to a minimum.
• Keep appointed people in place unless deemed incompetent or untrustworthy. The changing of appointed positions that occurs with each change in administrations is wasteful Kabuki Theater. 
• No golf.  

It’s often said the President of the United States is the most important job in the world. It’s time those who hold that position behave as if this is true. Ditto for our other elected leaders. Absent a radical change in ethos among those who hold public office, the answer to the question “Is actual leadership possible?” is NO.