"Strong" Leadership
Awakened with the morning alarm to the sound of a California gubernatorial candidate saying that the state needs "strong" leadership.
This "call" for something other than, presumably, "weak" leadership, gets one's attention.
What followed?
A brief summary of the state's budget shortfall, education-related problems, and the need for jobs.
Then, a statement by this candidate of pertinent qualifications--specifically, a listing of business positions held, where the individual claims to have created many many jobs.
That's it; neat, simple, and direct.
The implication: "Strong" leadership means "I'll make good things happen."
The problems: California isn't a business; California governors don't create jobs by themselves (and, incidentally, neither do the best CEOs); and jobs creation will often compete for dollars and legislation with the very same problems in education and the economy that also need attention and concerted action.
Perhaps the most misleading aspect of this sort of call for "strong" leadership is that it fails to recognize the roles all California residents must play in solving these sorts of gripping problems.
If this candidate could list past successes in engaging groups and motivating consensual action toward shared goals (starting with the clear acknowledgment that some corporate "we" rather than "I" did so much in previously held positions), the call for "strong" leadership would sound more compelling and the list of qualifications would be more relevant. It would also demonstrate real-world understanding of the tasks facing elected representatives.
This "call" for something other than, presumably, "weak" leadership, gets one's attention.
What followed?
A brief summary of the state's budget shortfall, education-related problems, and the need for jobs.
Then, a statement by this candidate of pertinent qualifications--specifically, a listing of business positions held, where the individual claims to have created many many jobs.
That's it; neat, simple, and direct.
The implication: "Strong" leadership means "I'll make good things happen."
The problems: California isn't a business; California governors don't create jobs by themselves (and, incidentally, neither do the best CEOs); and jobs creation will often compete for dollars and legislation with the very same problems in education and the economy that also need attention and concerted action.
Perhaps the most misleading aspect of this sort of call for "strong" leadership is that it fails to recognize the roles all California residents must play in solving these sorts of gripping problems.
If this candidate could list past successes in engaging groups and motivating consensual action toward shared goals (starting with the clear acknowledgment that some corporate "we" rather than "I" did so much in previously held positions), the call for "strong" leadership would sound more compelling and the list of qualifications would be more relevant. It would also demonstrate real-world understanding of the tasks facing elected representatives.
posted by Bob Rossi at 9:06 AM
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