Come November, this country will vote for someone to lead us for the next four years. Whether by pulling levers at a polling place, by mail, or some combination of the two, is still to be determined. The candidate options are similarly limited: either Democrat or Republican. A wiser choice would be: Do we want a leader or a follower? Most folks polled, I suspect, would say: The leader.

But:  What is a leader?

I submit he or she should be someone who has proven adept at understanding and managing complex tasks by utilizing the efforts and skills of others through a defined command/control structure.

Simple, right?

In the military, Generals formulate strategic plans to accomplish political objectives set by congress.  Majors interpret strategies, re-phrase them in military jargon for implementation by Captains and Lieutenants monitoring individual Soldiers tasked with specific performance regardless of personal risk. Sergeants police the forces and ensure compliance with “orders”.

In commerce, Boards of Directors set company policy and select managements. Presidents, Vice Presidents and managers implement the corporate policies similar to the hierarchical mechanisms of the military.

Success of any mission can only be achieved when all members of the organization agree that the goals are well thought-out and achievable. The old adage “a chain is only as strong as its weakest link” applies.

When a military, corporate or political leader fails to delegate authority and responsibility to those below, believing himself to be all-knowing and all-responsible, the structure of the entity will collapse. (Hannibal, Napoleon, Hitler, Maduro, Carter, G.H.W. Bush, etc.)

But here we are again: Back in school trying to re-learn basic history.  However, much of the populace will not benefit from our hard-won lessons. They have never been taught the value of education. Alas, the teachers too are either absent or gone altogether. Only Zoom and Artificial Intelligence remain. The NEA and AFT set the education guidelines. God help us all.

Leaders should (must) be chosen for their ability to make reasoned decisions. Reticence is not an option. They cannot be allowed to know-tow to public sentiment as expressed by uninformed, excitable mobs.

Mistakes have been all too frequent – Korea, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran. Embargoes, tariffs, “Read my lips – No new taxes.”

How do leaders discern important matters from mere inconvenience?   How will they allocate their time and political capital?  Those choices matter. Should we not demand to hear the candidates’ positions and priorities as they relate to current affairs and concerns?

• Climate change
• Racial justice
• Economic globalization
• Space travel to Mars and beyond
• Pandemics
• Quality of education

History will ultimately judge the impact of decisions made in the next four years in terms of:

• Lives saved,
• quality of living,
• economic effect

Washington is no longer about governing. It is about amassing power. Power to manipulate the people. There is a conscious effort not to solve social problems because those problems are core to their continued existence.

Unfortunately, slogans do not beget thoughtful policy. Black Lives Matter is a truism. Defund the Police is a call for anarchy. Feckless politicians bow to these trite slogans and value their personal re-election prospects ahead of their responsibility to create beneficent legislation, which is their sole raison d’ etre.

Let us demand that candidates tell us where they stand on the major issues. It is not enough to vote for X because you hate Y, or to vote for Y because you are afraid of what dwells in swamps.

Every day it gets harder to get smarter. When you cast your vote in November –  REMEMBER,

I am the master of my fate

I am the captain of my soul

You are welcome.

For more, go to   Jameshpyle.com