> No quality is so deeply lacking in American current affairs than
> true *leadership.* Government by public opinion poll and focus
> group --- brought to the fore by the current administration --- is
> not leadership of any sort. Rather, it is *followership.* The
> dithering and flip flops on everything from agriculture to defence
> to taxation policy merely reflect the innate problems of government
> by followership. To embed the system of followership in the American
> way of government would only insure an institutionalisation of the
> lack of direction we see from both Congress and the Executive.
>
I very much agree with the above. After bringing up the topic of
campaign reform a few weeks ago, and after making the point that it is
the only way for a more direct democracy to take place, I have been
thinking about this and come to an opinion that might be more in line
with Bart's reasoning. I don't think that the extreme influence of
special interests should be outsted from politics just so that the
tyranny of the majority can reign, rather, so that leaders can be free
to really LEAD with their consciences. I agree with Bart that
leadership does not happen when "leaders" have to constantly take the
pulse of either the fickle fashions of the majority but nor do I think
they will be able to lead if they have to constantly check the
opionions of their special interest benefactors. I still think that
campaign finance reform is the only way to give leadership a chance.
(And I think sustainable ag only has a political chance in world of
leadership.) Anita
Anita Graf
Market Development of National OrganicProducts
University of Georgia
donate free food at http://thehungersite.com/
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