How Do We Get Out of This Mess?

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By: Kathleen Schafer, Founding Principal-Leadership Connection

The only thing people can agree on while discussing politics is that our political system is not working. It’s too big for some, too small for others, not responsive, and ill-managed. Everyone can identify what’s not working and we’re not too optimistic about things changing substantively anytime soon. Our challenge is that everyone sees the problems, everyone claims to want things to change; however, too few of us are actually willing to do the work to create the change we want.

Many Americans point to the Tea Party as a hopeful sign of change. While Tea Party activists have captured the spirit of revolution and have successfully nominated a handful of candidates in major statewide races, the movement reveals two disconcerting trends. First, the politics of fear has driven more independents and moderates to consider radically altering their behavior. Second, the Tea Party has succeeded in driving fear into the hearts of the “mainstream” officials who are now pandering to keep their support.  The only clear thing at this point is that fear begets fear and very few political leaders seem to be willing to take on this issue directly.

Republicans

The Republicans Party has found itself embracing candidates it once labeled unelectable.  What does this behavior say about their leadership?  Is someone who extols certain fringe values and then claims the mantle of reform to be taken at face value?  Is a vote in the Senate worth selling yourself to the candidate who scares people into submission?  Is looking like the “Mom” in a world full of “career politicians” merit enough to anoint the next generation of elected officials?

Democrats

The Democratic Party has allowed fear to run rampant and impact its entire 2010 message.  The best reason the party is offering for electing Democrats this cycle is that they are not George Bush or the fringe elements of the Republican party mentioned above.  The challenge for Obama, Pelosi and Reid is that in their attempt at real reforms during the past two years they let politics trump substance, so while they can claim legislative victory, they did little to substantively change the dysfunctional system–and everyone knows it.  The Democrats suggest that if you fail to fully “walk the talk” behind the inspiration you sold in the last election, you can always revert to fear mongering.

The Leadership Choice

How to get ourselves out of this mess?  This is the central question for making the leadership choice because it is really up to us, the public, to decide to do things differently–which begins by not buying into the fear.  Despite the best efforts of the Chicken Littles in both parties who claim the world will fall down around us if X or Y is or isn’t elected, I firmly believe the the world will go on.  Change comes as each person decides it is time to live differently.  If we make the Leadership Choice, we can’t continue to complain about taxes and then want efficient services on demand.  We can’t ignore our own health and then complain about a system that doesn’t fix it for us without cost. We certainly can’t ask for a dynamic, responsive, engaged political leadership if we aren’t willing to participate in finding solutions.

The political system is a mess because we have allowed it to become that way by not moving ourselves out of a default position. It’s easier to complain than to take action.  Voting our fears is easier than believing in possibilities. Life would be much simpler if everyone else just cleaned up their act. I understand making the Leadership Choice isn’t always easy, but it is worth it. then again. I ask you… If each one of us won’t work to change our world–who will?