March 25, 2018: Part III: Follow the Leader?

I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion. Alexander the Great

And yet sheep elect lions? Or perhaps pseudo lions?

Isn’t a true leader one who reminds us of our compass heading? We follow that heading, not the leader. And via checks and balances, are we not also supposed to remind our leaders of their charge? Still, what we follow are a set of ideals to put into practice, not simply what a “leader” directs. Isn’t that how the cooperative thrives? Anything else and the “cooperative” actually capitulates?

Democracy takes attention and courage to flourish. It is not best suited to those who practice being cognitively, emotionally, or spiritually lazy. It is the latter that many “leaders” count on to milk the cash cow and control the flow of resources and influence. It is the former that many “leaders” dread, as they should if they lead lions.