Leadership Void: We Need Leaders But All We Get Are Politicians

Just look at the multitude and magnitude of the problems America and the world face.

On the international front: The volatile existence between Israelis and Palestinians continues. The war in Iraq seems to have no end in sight, and it costs America $10 billion every single month, probably more than any budgetary item of the federal government. The Taliban resurges in Afghanistan, taking back territory once under allied forces. Russia entrenches its forces in the sovereign democratic country of Georgia; the world watches, and world leaders in America and Europe bark like old dogs without teeth; meanwhile Russia lies to the world that it is withdrawing its troops when there is little proof of a Russian withdrawal. Islamic extremists step up the heat in Pakistan less than a week after that country's president resigned; the news media just reported that two suicide bombers just blew up themselves along with 50 innocent people.

On the domestic front here in the United States: Social security is still broke. Medicare is bankrupt as well. Health care cost spirals out of control. The rising cost of energy continues to inflate the cost of food and other essential goods. The banking sector has lost the trust of investors. The housing market slumbers in the basement.

In the face of this litany of demanding issues and problems, the political system offers America two men, Barack Obama and John McCain, whose resumes qualify them as politicians not leaders. But do we even know the difference between a leader and a politician anymore? In recent years, we have been so used to hearing and seeing politicians we are beginning to settle for typical politicians rather than demand true leaders.

Let's contrast a leader with a politician.

Politician: make the right move, and leave every difficult decision for the next guy. Problem is, "the next guy" will do exactly the same. Leader: make the tough decision, which is also the right decision for the country.

Politician: say the right thing, what's politically correct. Leader: do the right thing, what's morally correct.

Politician: compromise your principles; go along with others. Leader: stand on your principles; persuade others to come along.

Politician: identify many problems and make many promises to solve them. Leader: identify few real problems and solve them one problem at a time.

If you were to ask, "Of all the qualities that defines a leader, which is most important?", my answer, without a blink, would be "problem solving". The wisdom and courage to solve real, tough problems is the essence of what a true leader is.

On the contrary, the public officials of our time are known for creating problems, standing in the way of solutions, taking credit for doing nothing, pointing fingers and passing blames. There is not one leader among them. No, not one. How do we know? Everyone of our biggest problems is yet to be solved.