Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

pangaia

(24,324 posts)
18. WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT THE JOB?
Fri Oct 9, 2015, 05:01 PM
Oct 2015

An interesting brief discussion on the qualities needed for true leadership, discussing Plato's REPUBLIC

A few brief quotes--

"The first book ever written on political leadership was Plato’s Republic. Plato argues that in fact, no person of talent and character really wants to be the ruler of a nation or state.".

"Because leadership is so hard, so demanding, Plato believes that the “best and the brightest” will not seek it out."

"I think that John Adams offered us a perfect model of the reluctant Platonic leader who takes up the job out of stewardship, service and social purposes.

“I must study politics and war that my sons (daughters) may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history, naval architecture, navigation, commerce and agriculture, in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry and porcelain.”


There is more than a bit of truth in this.

"In my view," ( to quote the next president of the US of A) Hillary Clinton want to be president so bad you can see the waves of desire shooting our from her like a million Qin arrows!

On the other hand, my take is that Bernie Sanders doesn't necessarily WANT the job. But rather, somebody has to do this.


http://www.wbez.org/blogs/bez/2012-08/why-would-anyone-want-job-102020
What makes this article so horrible and so sad is that it is true. PatrickforO Oct 2015 #1
it is. I find this however visually and factually hilarious: roguevalley Oct 2015 #16
i love the visual though Fairgo Oct 2015 #28
Also this portlander23 Oct 2015 #2
And when Democrats decided that playing dirty was what they needed to fight the sabrina 1 Oct 2015 #3
^^^this. artislife Oct 2015 #15
And it devolved into a contest of brands and slogans instead of ideas and policies. arcane1 Oct 2015 #26
Agreed Art_from_Ark Oct 2015 #34
TPP is a renegotiation of NAFTA. JaneyVee Oct 2015 #4
Wrong. Fearless Oct 2015 #24
Canada and Mexico are involved in TPP. It is a renegotiation of NAFTA. JaneyVee Oct 2015 #25
Yes--making it hundreds of times worse. n/t eridani Oct 2015 #33
I think it's even worse than that dreamnightwind Oct 2015 #5
Perfect assessment of this power hungry .01% er pangaia Oct 2015 #11
indeed, and that's precisely why stupidicus Oct 2015 #22
Right, they will attack her for being duplicitous dreamnightwind Oct 2015 #23
yep stupidicus Oct 2015 #30
Thank you for the post DemocratSinceBirth Oct 2015 #6
There is no there there. hifiguy Oct 2015 #7
That is exactly it. HooptieWagon Oct 2015 #27
A few months ago I thought the parallels with Nixon were hifiguy Oct 2015 #29
The right is desperate to continue their "you can't trust Hillary" meme uponit7771 Oct 2015 #8
Article was too long by half Flying Squirrel Oct 2015 #9
Don't hurt yourself. nt artislife Oct 2015 #17
There is no real Hillary Clinton people Oct 2015 #10
I think there IS a real Hillary Clinton. pangaia Oct 2015 #37
Anyway the wind blows... Tommymac Oct 2015 #12
This has been presidential politics from time immemorial. Puzzledtraveller Oct 2015 #13
" too late my time has come " olddots Oct 2015 #14
WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT THE JOB? pangaia Oct 2015 #18
That's an interesting quote from John Adams. CJCRANE Oct 2015 #36
what direction is the wind today? now that's "real" azurnoir Oct 2015 #19
Trust! SoapBox Oct 2015 #20
Maybe it's become more like the House of Lords. jalan48 Oct 2015 #21
I've met the real Hillary Clinton. JaneyVee Oct 2015 #31
for WHO? DonCoquixote Oct 2015 #32
"When we talk about Benghazi, we're talking about who Hillary Clinton really is' oberliner Oct 2015 #35
Latest Discussions»Retired Forums»2016 Postmortem»There Is No Real Hillary ...»Reply #18