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this post was submitted on 04 Jul 2023
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Showerthoughts
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While I can see where you're coming from, I think it's a substantial generalization to classify all political leaders as such. Not all leaders exploit their authority to protect or endorse negative actions by their subordinates.
For instance, consider Nelson Mandela, South Africa's former president. His administration was renowned for its dedication to reconciliation and peace, despite the harsh apartheid regime. He didn't give his allies the leeway to partake in unethical practices.
Alternatively, think about Angela Merkel, the ex-Chancellor of Germany. She led with pragmatism and a strong adherence to the rule of law, avoiding political scandals. She regularly advocated for her team to act with integrity and didn't protect those who acted unethically.
Both of these examples demonstrate that political leadership can be carried out with respect and integrity, without protecting or endorsing inappropriate behavior. So, while some leaders may unfortunately fit your description, it's important to avoid overgeneralizing and to judge each individual on their own merits.
Perhaps you are referring more time the state of American politics?
I would say these are straightforward examples of the idea: they are both not assholes at all, because they did not protect/shield others being assholes. To the contrary: they (to some extent) actively worked to get/keep assholes out of their network of power.
Someone like Modi, in contrast, can easily be mistaken for a rather mild, kind old grandfather figure. But some of the people that operate under his protection are insane, fascist assholes.
Understood. I thought you were saying they were implicitly assholes.
My thing is always, the asshole is the idiot who continues to elect the officials. In democracies, the power truly lies in the hands of the people. Yes, it’s disheartening when politicians engage in dishonest and fraudulent practices, but the responsibility of holding them accountable largely falls on the voters. Outside of autocratic systems, if a leader fails to uphold their duties or engages in harmful practices, it’s up to the electorate to use their voting power to initiate change.
Almost as if the politicians are a reflection of their electorate. This reflection is disconcerting, especially when considering the current state of U.S. politics in particular.