Leader Or Representative?
Bill Falzett III
February 25, 2008
I'll be the first to admit that I am not much for worship. There is no politician, movie star, athlete, or anyone else I idolize for any reason. I admire individuals for things like courage, wisdom and conviction, and I love my wife, but that is as close as I ever get to finding anyone awe inspiring. I know my wife loves me too, but she once told me that she has it on good authority that my lack of awe means I am a narcissist. She said people like me think we are IT to the point that we are even our own GOD. According to others I have known at various times in my life, it evidently also means I am arrogant. I don't understand this, because if you ask me, I will tell you I am an expert at nothing, and I am superior to no one. In fact I am as worthless as the next guy, except insofar as I bring value to my life and the world by applying myself to a given purpose or task.
I believe the proverb, "Whatever man has done, man may do". I think all men are capable of great things, and particularly so in the United States, the greatest land of opportunity the earth has ever known. When I see a great accomplishment, I think, with the right amount of effort and application, I could do that. In this country you and I can do anything we want to do. I have always lived by this philosophy, and I have taught it to my children and anyone else who will listen. It doesn't mean I don't appreciate natural talent, or the value of the work it took to do a thing. It simply means I have a confidence in my abilities, your abilities and the ability of all people to do extraordinary and remarkable things. It is from this perspective that I begin to differentiate leaders from representatives.
According to the Internet resource dictionary.com, a leader is "One that leads or guides", or "One who is in charge or in command of others." It is an antonym of follower, and when I think of leaders, followers are the next thing that come to mind. I think of people being led. I think of things like sheep and shepherd, student and teacher, rabble and rabble rouser. In terms of government, I think of dictators, monarchies, totalitarianism and subjects. Also according to dictionary.com, a representative is "A person or thing that represents another or others", "One that serves as an example or type for others of the same classification" or "One that serves as a delegate or agent for another." When I think of a representative, I think of an individual who speaks for a group of individuals of like mind and purpose. Clearly these definitions, while not mutually exclusive or precise opposites, describe entities with distinctly different meanings. A leader leads, and a representative represents. It seems to me that the difference between a representative and a leader could be viewed as a continuum in which the more one leads, the less he represents, and the more he represents, the less he leads. As such, the more our politicians become leaders, the less they are representatives.
Unfortunately I typically see more elements of leadership than representation coming from both sides of the political aisle. I also see both sides using tactics to make good followers of us. I see peer pressure, ridicule, name calling, experts pimping their credentials, and the extortion of political correctness, all being used to put pressure on us by leaders who want us to act and think the way they want us to. I would go as far as to say that my suspicion of a candidate varies directly with how much I perceive his desire to be a leader. I do not intend to characterize leadership as all bad, as I will concede that many of the qualities normally associated with leadership, are beneficial to elected officials. Qualities such as setting a good example, leading the charge, working selflessly toward a goal, and the ability to inspire others are things we want in our representatives. However, I think this should be a secondary consideration. We should not be looking to elected officials as saviors, or lenses through which to view the important events of the day.
I have always had difficulty seeing elected officials as leaders. I get more comfort from thinking my elected officials are representing me, rather than leading me. I believe this was the intent of the founding fathers. As individuals and citizens, we should think for ourselves, form our own opinions, and then begin to consider them as a group. We should debate, argue, and eventually gather to elect officials who will represent the shared values and principles we wish to live by, and who will do what is necessary to perpetuate them into future generations. We should not be looking to our elected officials to explain issues to us, to tell us how we should think about things, or to act as our collective moral compass. In fact, we should put no faith in anyone who wants to guide our thoughts or actions, or mold the public debate to their way of thinking. Free thinking Americans should elect representatives who believe similarly to the way they do, and who are willing to put the time and effort into furthering our shared system of values within the framework of the Constitution. This is representative government at work.
Candidates for office should be considered based upon their credentials and ability to adequately represent the citizenry. They should be able to work well with others to effectively get our shared ideas into the forum. They should be men and women of integrity and conviction, willing to uphold the constitution, even if it comes into conflict with their own ideology, or that of the people they represent. A candidate should never be strongly partisan, push an agenda, or special interest except insofar as it benefits his constituency, and does not come into conflict with the authority granted in the constitution. Sheep need shepherds, religious movements need gurus, and militaries need generals, but Free thinking Americans need representatives. We need representatives who will adhere to the constitution, enforcing the rule of law, but standing squarely behind individual liberties and freedoms.
As my representative an official may have my vote, along with my thanks for his service, but he cannot be my leader, my moral compass, or my guru. I think it is clear from our Constitution, the founding fathers intended our officials be representatives elected to constitute a government of, by and for the people, not leaders to lead the people or tell them how to think and believe. Is your candidate a leader or a representative? Which would you prefer, and what does this say about you?
I believe the proverb, "Whatever man has done, man may do". I think all men are capable of great things, and particularly so in the United States, the greatest land of opportunity the earth has ever known. When I see a great accomplishment, I think, with the right amount of effort and application, I could do that. In this country you and I can do anything we want to do. I have always lived by this philosophy, and I have taught it to my children and anyone else who will listen. It doesn't mean I don't appreciate natural talent, or the value of the work it took to do a thing. It simply means I have a confidence in my abilities, your abilities and the ability of all people to do extraordinary and remarkable things. It is from this perspective that I begin to differentiate leaders from representatives.
According to the Internet resource dictionary.com, a leader is "One that leads or guides", or "One who is in charge or in command of others." It is an antonym of follower, and when I think of leaders, followers are the next thing that come to mind. I think of people being led. I think of things like sheep and shepherd, student and teacher, rabble and rabble rouser. In terms of government, I think of dictators, monarchies, totalitarianism and subjects. Also according to dictionary.com, a representative is "A person or thing that represents another or others", "One that serves as an example or type for others of the same classification" or "One that serves as a delegate or agent for another." When I think of a representative, I think of an individual who speaks for a group of individuals of like mind and purpose. Clearly these definitions, while not mutually exclusive or precise opposites, describe entities with distinctly different meanings. A leader leads, and a representative represents. It seems to me that the difference between a representative and a leader could be viewed as a continuum in which the more one leads, the less he represents, and the more he represents, the less he leads. As such, the more our politicians become leaders, the less they are representatives.
Unfortunately I typically see more elements of leadership than representation coming from both sides of the political aisle. I also see both sides using tactics to make good followers of us. I see peer pressure, ridicule, name calling, experts pimping their credentials, and the extortion of political correctness, all being used to put pressure on us by leaders who want us to act and think the way they want us to. I would go as far as to say that my suspicion of a candidate varies directly with how much I perceive his desire to be a leader. I do not intend to characterize leadership as all bad, as I will concede that many of the qualities normally associated with leadership, are beneficial to elected officials. Qualities such as setting a good example, leading the charge, working selflessly toward a goal, and the ability to inspire others are things we want in our representatives. However, I think this should be a secondary consideration. We should not be looking to elected officials as saviors, or lenses through which to view the important events of the day.
I have always had difficulty seeing elected officials as leaders. I get more comfort from thinking my elected officials are representing me, rather than leading me. I believe this was the intent of the founding fathers. As individuals and citizens, we should think for ourselves, form our own opinions, and then begin to consider them as a group. We should debate, argue, and eventually gather to elect officials who will represent the shared values and principles we wish to live by, and who will do what is necessary to perpetuate them into future generations. We should not be looking to our elected officials to explain issues to us, to tell us how we should think about things, or to act as our collective moral compass. In fact, we should put no faith in anyone who wants to guide our thoughts or actions, or mold the public debate to their way of thinking. Free thinking Americans should elect representatives who believe similarly to the way they do, and who are willing to put the time and effort into furthering our shared system of values within the framework of the Constitution. This is representative government at work.
Candidates for office should be considered based upon their credentials and ability to adequately represent the citizenry. They should be able to work well with others to effectively get our shared ideas into the forum. They should be men and women of integrity and conviction, willing to uphold the constitution, even if it comes into conflict with their own ideology, or that of the people they represent. A candidate should never be strongly partisan, push an agenda, or special interest except insofar as it benefits his constituency, and does not come into conflict with the authority granted in the constitution. Sheep need shepherds, religious movements need gurus, and militaries need generals, but Free thinking Americans need representatives. We need representatives who will adhere to the constitution, enforcing the rule of law, but standing squarely behind individual liberties and freedoms.
As my representative an official may have my vote, along with my thanks for his service, but he cannot be my leader, my moral compass, or my guru. I think it is clear from our Constitution, the founding fathers intended our officials be representatives elected to constitute a government of, by and for the people, not leaders to lead the people or tell them how to think and believe. Is your candidate a leader or a representative? Which would you prefer, and what does this say about you?
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