Peter Mansbridge interviewed Stephen Harper on The National earlier this evening. I once again got to admire his skill to show how he didn't say those things that made him look bad, ever, and skirt ever single question thrown at him by beating the audience over the head with how against partisanship he is. Which I can understand, since we Conservatives wouldn't stay in power form long in people in Ontario and Quebec realize that they are being represented because they aren't Alberta.
What caught my ear was his answer to the question "Is Leading more about Canada following what you believe, or you following what Canada believes?" Mr. Harper managed to skirt this one with non-committal line about it being a blend of both. I realized then that Harper us a great politician, but has no idea what a leader is. If your will and the people will is not the same, you shouldn't be leading us. THe question shouldn't come up whether to follow what the people want and what the people need. If they want something the don't need, or need something they don't want, its your job to SHOW them. Thats what a Leader is, Mr. Harper.
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"If your will and the people will is not the same, you shouldn't be leading us." This is not entirely true. I think what Harper said was that he would not lead the country in a direction he felt was wrong, even if the country seemed to want it -- and he would be prepared to face the consequences. I think this is important -- otherwise it is government by the "polls". Public option is erratic, easily manipulated and the public often have incomplete or misinformation or are seriously divided on issues (e.g. gay marriage, Afghanistan). I think the public have been wrong many times in the past. It is important for a leader to consult, state what he believes is right, base his decision on his convictions -- and boot him out if you personally don't like what he decides, but failure to slavishly follow public opinion is not evidence of a lack of leadership.
Part of a Leaders duty is to educate the masses. If it is the right way, they should be shown that. If they can't be shown, if a majority disbelieve, after being educated on the issue so they understand, then the Leader is likely wrong on the issue. AS far as I know, i still elect a /representative/, not a parent.
And if you happen to come back, Where'd you catch the link here? I was under the impression I was a blog hermit. :)
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