Are these the kinds of future American leaders we want, or need?

Today it appears either Clinton, Obama, or McCain will be our next President. That they got to this point shows hard work, savvy, perseverance, and exploiting the status quo of the last few decades. It also shows the egos of these individuals and their staffs. In the coming hard times, it also appears, these people may not be the kind of American leaders we want, or need? Will they use the position of President to act in our National Interests, or their ego, and national party’s interests first. How about our interests' first; and do they bring experience to the challenge or should we suffer while they and their staffs learn and propose positions? This is a most serious question!

Today’s financial woes are probably the tip of the iceberg, so to speak. Look at the financial woes and histories of Jefferson County, Alabama (Birmingham); or the states of New Jersey and California. Expect cascades of defaults that will become federal in nature. It took them (the executives, the legislatures, and the judiciaries) decades to get where they are, and the histories are all different, but today’s financial problems may pale in comparison to what may happen about a year from now when local governments depending on property tax income begin having financial problems. So back to the basic question, are the present candidates for President even up to being leaders in hard times? The two present Democratic candidates even are still, unbelievably, promising more spending and taxes and borrowing as if the old status quo with which they are familiar will go on forever. It even appears that even Obama wants to use USA taxpayer money and borrowing to address the world’s poverty.

Here is why the question is asked. Leaders shape events by experience and force of personality. Followers do what they are told. And the present candidates running for President still seem to be in some old time world that just doesn’t exist anymore. Slowly but surely, if they become President, others will dictate what we followers will do. Even their egos, be they politicians at the federal, state, and local level, cannot tell people to go broke. Yes, others (mostly surviving financiers) will then be in charge, and finally the body politic can elect a new group of more savvy-to-the-times leaders.

Why do we have to wait for this one act play to happen? We don’t, but it will take leaders that look forward and exploit all the advantages that still exist, mostly the majority of American citizens. Standards vice excuses will predominate. Why do we have to wait for someone else to tell us the obvious. Even the pursuit of a more perfect union using taxpayer and borrowed money, as in some kind of English commune or more locally thought of hippie commune, will be balanced by affordability and results. Again, why do we have to let things get to the situation where other more financially responsible fellow Americans and world citizens have to tell us what to do. Well we don’t, but our choice of leaders at all levels will have a lot to do with it, if we choose to act and vote about being responsible sooner rather than later.

The classic question of what makes great leaders comes up. Do terrible times like a World War or Depression cause great leaders to bubble up and grow to lead us? Or are great leaders already born, and come to the front in times of adversity? In either case, are the present obvious candidates for President, Clinton, Obama, or McCain, the kind of American leaders we want, or need? This voter suggests there are other fellow Americans oozing with leadership whom we can draft in the 2008 Conventions to go forward to our very gloomy and fuzzy future.