Something to remember. They are representatives, not "leaders".

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

A small rant.

I see much talk here about "leaders". The ones who betray us, the ones we supposedly want to "lead" us.

This is (allegedly) a representative democracy. We aren't supposed to elect "leaders", we are supposed to elect people, chosen by us, to represent us.

I am reminded of a scene in the film "Viva Zapata", when Zapata warns the peasants to stop looking for "leaders", and never to trust them, because they will betray them. Of course, Emiliano Zapata was Anarchist. As was Gandhi, who similarly warned against "leaders".

I assume most here are full grown adults. You want to be led? Look to yourself.

[Katherine Brengle]

1. Very good point, rec'd. n/t

[genie_weenie]

2. Well written!

I was asking a question in a similar vein on another thread...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=546705&mesg_id=546961


Oh, BTW
:kick:

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

3. Quite right. A self-proclaimed aristocracy. Aka - bosses.

[Ksec]

4. They dont represent us neither

The bastards screw us constantly. Im personally sick of the gov thinking they know whats best for me. Their "best" is killing us. Their "best" has taken all the good paying jobs from my area and placed them in China. Now we got crap jobs - if that. I get really pissed when I think about what our gov and corporate "freinds" have done to me and my family. (all of us)

[raccoon]

11. Right on! They represent their corporate contributors.

They don't do anything for average working people until they are FORCED to.

[ourbluenation]

5. "they" are us..."they" are the people...people have too much worshipping

going on with our elected representatives...I totally appreciate your small rant. It drives me nuts too.

[Gregorian]

6. Yes. But there is nothing wrong with good leadership.

There is leadership, and there is leadership. And then there is misleadership.

First, we the people are asleep, in general. And that is how they are misleading us.

We employ a government to do things for us. After all, I would not want to defend myself from intruders all by myself. And also, I think a representative who shows good leadership, is valuable. We spend our time being citizens. We all don't know of the newest in technology. Our representatives are given this information by the universities and scientific community. And then they pass it down to us. In that sense we benefit from having leaders, not just representatives.

It does seem like semantics. We are the ones who are ultimately responsible. I love your post. It's a good reminder of how valuable The Constitution is.

[Ksec]

7. Yes, but humongous damage can be done before an election

They are supposed to represent the people. They dont. They represent corporate interests at the peoples expense. They lie to get elected, then they have four years to do their damage before the election comes around.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

8. I have to disagree, at least semantically.

"Good" leaders can be just as damaging as "bad" leaders. History is jampacked with "good" leaders who ended up causing incredible horrors but were looked upon as "good", "benevolent", "idealistic", etc.

As soon as the people allow themselves to be led, rather than represented, we inevitably end up with bosses who will betray us to exercise power.

As someone said, "The shepherd is always trying to convince the sheep that they have common interests."

[Gregorian]

9. Yes. Like ignoring East Timore.

That was Jimmy Carter.

We're all learning now.

[European Socialist]

10. They need to be both reps and leaders. They have the time and info...

to do work the public can't--so we rely on their good judgment. Bush is driving us off a cliff, and they have done almost nothing to stop him.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

12. Whch translates to: They aren't representing us.

Instead, they are playing it safe to maintain their power.

We must, if we really want to be responsible citizens, hold them accountable for doing their jobs. If we vote them in expectation that they will work as our representatives, then it is our responsibility to keep them at the job or replace them with someone who will.

In essence, what I'm saying is, that we have to take the responsibility of being our own leaders instead of relying on someone else who claims to know what's good for us. In a democracy, we are required to be the leaders.

[ClassWarrior]

13. True, but WE need to direct that work... WE need to tell them where...

...to apply that judgement. WE need to tell them when to hit the brake. Silly? Yes. Any less true? No.

Face it - in a democracy, when the people lead, the "leaders" follow.

16+5=2006

NGU.