by The Abbot
Lately, the concept of leadership has begun to look unrecognizable. Some modern leaders have confused blind encouragement or empty reassurances for real leadership. These are the self-called leaders who keep their constituencies in echo chambers. They repeat back to the people they represent exactly what it is that those people want to hear. This is not a leader. By that definition a king leading his troops into battle in medieval Europe would turn and run at the first sight of trouble only because his men were terrified. This is the kind of leader exhibited and encouraged by the politics of today. Electoral cowards who say and do nothing unless it will get them elected, make them more popular, or encourage larger attendance numbers at their Nuremberg-style rallies.
A real leader is one out in front – in the lead. They are innovating and encouraging their people onward, not back, reminding them of their own strength and inherent power. They are not afraid to tell a constituency of rabid white supremacists that they are mistaken and that their views are not supported by any of the sources or ideologies cited from the past. They are not afraid to tell their gun-loving voters that it is both possible to keep and bear arms and have reasonable and responsible gun regulations in order to avoid another Sandy Hook or Pulse or Uvalde, or or or or… However, in order to do this, that leader will have to put their own job on the line and lead, instead of parrot. Sometimes people need to hear difficult truths about their own ignorance and stupidity.
Imagine Jesus Christ leading like Donald Trump. He would end up just agreeing with the pharisees, scribes and priests upholding asinine purity laws and exclusionary rules as well as continuing to support the Roman occupation of Palestine. There would never have been any parables, or miracles, or healings. To do any of these would have challenged the status quo and an antiquated system of worship. This is in effect what many of our modern leaders are doing right now. It is also proof-positive of the religious right’s blasphemy at hinting, suggesting or outright saying that Donald Trump is remotely like Jesus or is somehow chosen by God.
The “America First” or “America for Americans” mantras so beloved today are deeply unsound and predicated on an antique understanding of the way our world works. America cannot isolate itself. This is not a country that can be protected by thousands of miles of ocean and air anymore. It was far easier for people in 1914 to claim isolationism as a legitimate policy. Air travel was in its infancy with transoceanic crossings being made only by steamship over many weeks over treacherous waters. There were no rockets. There were no satellites. It became even harder in 1940 to claim isolationism. As technology improved, so did the ability for people on the other side of the globe to reach us.
Now in this day and age to claim that our county can stand alone is nothing more than an insidious betrayal of the American people. We live in a world where getting from France to the United States is a matter of hours, not weeks. Virtually, one can speak with all of Germany or Japan in seconds rather than months. We live in a world that allows anyone anywhere the ability to know what is going on anyplace else with everyone else in an instant. We live in a world where the kinds of innovations that made these marvels possible are what grow countries and make them leaders on a global scale. To not encourage American leadership and innovation on the global stage seeks to negate our dominance as a superpower. It is possible to both “take care of our own” and lead the planet at the same time. The problem here is that the solution is one that the very wealthy would rather not hear. In order to foster the world’s greatest economy, technology, industry, and creativity it costs money. In order to lead the world and seek to invest in and nurture American interests abroad it takes capital. That would mean that America’s wealthiest would need to actually pay their taxes. This is something that currently they are not doing. If you want a shock, I would suggest looking at not only the percentage paid by the average middle class American in income taxes versus the average percentage paid by the average top 5% of Americans in taxes. The disparity is shocking.
The falsehood-the fake news- is that millionaires and billionaires are paying their fair share. Not only do people like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos pay less in a percentage in taxes, they pay less in actual amount than the average middle-class family. Think about that. They pay LESS IN THE ACTUAL AMOUNT. As Musk launches some other useless rocket into space and buys another mega yacht, he is paying less in actual tax dollars than a plumber and his teacher wife from Warren, Michigan. It is irrelevant how hard Musk has worked. The impact on others and the environment that the couple from Warren impose is miniscule when compared to the damage done by Musk’s activities. The definition of a fair share should also include the damage to the natural environment and the toll corporate activities have taken on average Americans.
If there is to be a future with a free America in the forefront, it will mean a day of reckoning for the very wealthy and their biggest cronies- your political leaders. We can absolutely remain America First while at the same time remembering that we are not alone, but only when we recall that our great wealth and power come with a price. Although it may be cliché to say so, with that power comes responsibility. The recklessness and disregard exhibited by those currently in power should be alarming to the vast majority of Americans.
This moment, as I am writing, two of those alleged leaders are in a teenage girl-style feud. It is both sobering and sad that the idea that women are somehow too emotional or unstable to lead can still be advocated when two grown, wealthy men, are fighting in a manner more consistent with children than adults.
Our nation should be doing everything it can preparing and growing new leaders for a future that will look very different from even 20 years ago. We cannot afford leadership who views the world through the lenses of a 1950s era husband or father-knows-best. Our country is very near falling decades behind our closest rivals and the fault of that lies squarely in the laps of those currently in power. If we are going to equal and surpass those countries, we need leadership that thinks progressively and is mindful that just saying America is great does not make it so.
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