News | November 11th, 2007
Politics has long been the world of positions, where you form conclusions and judgments and lock yourself into a position. Holding such a position has long been the mark of a good leader, one who followers can look to for comfort and security. Rudy Giuliani seems to exemplify such leadership. And in times of acute crises, such military-style leadership can be quite invaluable. However, I believe we are coming to a crossroads in the style of leadership we’re looking for.
Are we looking for some great leader to save us? To provide simplistic answers and to never waiver on his/her positions. Giuliani seems to think so. Giuliani recently criticized Hillary Clinton for waffling on illegal immigration and Iraq.
“It is the whole shifting positions of Hillary Clinton, which I think has now caught up to her. Hillary Clinton has been doing this for a long time. The driver’s license answer merely displayed what has been going on with Hillary Clinton throughout this entire campaign. She cannot take a position and stick with it… And if you want to go back, you can track six different positions on Iraq and that is a very serious matter.”
Interesting. What might Giuliani’s positionary style leadership have to do with his failed marriages and his reportedly poor relationships with his children? Giuliani is quick to use the fear-insighting labels, “evil,” and “terrorists,” when speaking about U.S. foreign policies. To many people, this is comforting as Giuliani looks like a strong leader. Is this the kind of strength the world needs now?
Many, if not most, of the U.S. presidential candidates seem to want to appear strong, and when they tell us about their vision, they seem to imply that they will use their power as president, (bombs, subsidies, new regulations, etc.) to shape the country and the world to match that vision. I was watching a YouTube video of presidential candidate Ron Paul recently, and was inspired by this statement he made,
“We should have a strong president… strong enough to resist the temptation to take the power that a president shouldn’t have.”
I’ve been quite resigned about U.S. politics for a long time. One man is giving me new hope. He does not play the political games his contemporaries do. He’s not in bed with his cronies in Congress and the White House or the huge corporate & special interest groups that fund their campaigns. I heard that the ongoing joke in Congress is: Do you know why Ron Paul is so skinny? Because he doesn’t go to lunch with lobbyists.
Can someone like Ron Paul be elected in this country?
O.T.
Nov 11th, 2007Excellent, inspiring post. What is truly VISIONARY to me about Ron Paul is that here is a man who is committed to NOT foisting his positions on all of the people of this country. What a refreshing perspective on national politics: get the Federal government back to the size mandated for it by the Constitution and allow people to solve their own problems without using the coercive taxation and imprisonment schemes that go hand-in-hand with government programs.
Thank you!
Jay
Jan 22nd, 2008Politics has long been the world of positions, where you form conclusions and judgments and lock yourself into a position.
I rarely see anyone like that gaining positions of power. And no, sadly I don’t think Paul can be elected.
patrice
Feb 4th, 2008thank you sooo much for posting this! i’m a us citizen who took the underground railway to canada in ’78 and have had the interesting vantage point of watching the us in action from a distance. i was crying thru the last half of this video, i feel so relieved and grateful listening to paul talk, that someone with this understanding and attitude towards life is standing in such a powerful “position” and powerful way…not against anyone else, but for what he believes in….for what the majority of north americans are saying they believe in.
do i believe he could make it? isn’t it us….we the people who do the voting. or has he not made it past his pary’s line yet to place his future into the hands of the people?
it sounds like he’s a spark that’s ignited….who knows what happens to that when the wind catches it….that’s why they’re called wildfires, cuz they’re out of our control. and as more and more people see and hear and dare to believe that this IS possible….that we really could have a country that is aligned with our own dreams and visions for ourselves, our children, our country. our world….that this isn’t too good to be true….it’s a real and tangible possiblity and choice that’s appeared and is speaking on our behalf before our eyes….as we dare to be foolish enought to believe, then why would we not be backing him…. why would we not be saying YES and letting the wind of our voices carry the flame in our hearts?