10 October 2008
Democracy, begins with a strong sense of egalitarianism (we're really all just the same, y'know) then grabs hold of the headiest dose of charisma we can find, and elects him/her to lead us. Of course it's charisma loaded to the gunwales (gunnels if you prefer) with good old boy egalitarianism. And we are disappointed when the leaders we choose don't do a real good job of leading.
Leading? We don't want leaders; we want good old boys who can talk. Oh my, but we go for those talkers. Salesmen is what they are, or sales ladies. I don't think most of us have a clue as to what real government leadership requires. Who cares, after all, if we have a smooth talking smoozer who promises us he/she is one of us, feels our pain and promises us what we want him/her to promise us. And of course we believe it - every time.
And when things get a little tough those good old boy charismatic leaders are right in there swinging - at everyone at once, blaming everyone they can think of for whatever it is that happens, never taking any themselves. And it's probably right that they don't because many of them seem to dense to understand when they are the ones who screwed up. Ain't my fault - the cry of the democratic politician.
In days of yore leaders were born; that is, the accident of their birth made them leaders by default. When we transitioned to elected leadership we made an effort to establish some criteria for selecting our leaders - our elite, thinking we might improve on birth accident. Then they became elite when we made them so. And they will tell you quicker than a frog's tongue that they are, by god, elite; and don't you forget it, y'all.
So think about it a moment: we choose our elite by selecting the fastest talking, biggest schmoozing responsibility dodger we can find who talks as if he knew everything there is to be known to man, until it comes his turn to take a hand in leading, at which point the only thing quicker than his tongue is his finger, pointing at someone to blame.
Democracy = Egalitarianism + Charisma. And we wonder why the road is so bumpy when those glib clowns try to lead us sheep on down the road. Sheep? You've got it; it takes two to tango. Their fast mouths and our slow minds. Quite a combination , don't you think?
