Is it a problem in our society that we do not have any strong moral leaders that inspire decency anymore?

Question

I admire GWB but a lot of you don't.
Reagan used to be able to inspire a lot of people that way.
Clinton inspired just the opposite - immorality.

Do we have ANY strong moral leaders in our Government?

Answer 1

Those with strong moral convictions seldom enter politics. The last "good Christian" leader (in word AND deed) this nation had was Jimmy Carter, who lacked the "win at all costs" attitude necessary to win an election today.

“Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first.” Ronald Reagan

For those who don't know what the first is - prostitution. Both involve selling yourself and sacrificing your morality.

The 8 traits for effective leadership are:
1-trustworthiness - keeping your word, being honest.
2-delivering on promises - being trustworthy - deliver what you promise.
3-treating people with respect and fairness.
4-not deliberately harming others.
5-dedication to improving the lot of those you represent.
6-management skills - the ability to get things done efficiently.
7-strong influence skills
8-the ability to convey a compelling vision of the future

Few, if any, of our current crop of politicians possess more than 3 or 4 of these traits. The first 5 are morality-based, the last 3 are leadership based. Carter locked up the first 5, Reagan, the last 3. I have yet to see ANY politician possess the traits of both strong morality AND strong leadership. GWB is no exception. He only has 2 of the 3 leadership traits (7 and 8).

One should not look to our political leaders to inspire decency and morality. These are things best found within ourselves.

Answer 2

This country is too diverse to expect anybody to adhere to a rigid or simplistic notion of what is moral and what is immoral. People's values conflict too often that debates about morality just sound like self-righteous people going at it in a pissing contest. Everything becomes relegated to rhetoric.

We don't just need "moral" leaders. We need wise role models who speak for themselves, not for their party. I'd love to see a campaign that focused 100% on new ideas rather than trying to convince everyone how horrible the opponent is. If nothing else, Bush seems to do speak whatever's on his mind, whether out of true assertiveness or mere cluelessness. But at least it gave a lot of Americans a fresh sense that our leader is real.

Our government officials REALLY want us to believe that we have strong moral leaders in our government. It is for THAT reason that we may never know whether they truly are or not. They've made a life out of making it appear that way. All we can do is listen to their policy ideas and educate ourselves as to whether they sound feasible and beneficial and vote accordingly.

Answer 3

We do have a strong moral leader--Hillary Clinton a wonderful woman of God . She is Moses in a pants suit, Lincoln without the top hat, Reagan before Nancy, George W. Bush when he is sleeping and your preacher on Sunday morning.

Moral leader codes would include the Golden Rule; the Noble Eightfold Path of Buddhism; the ancient Egyptian code of Ma'at ;the ten commandments of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam; the yamas and niyama of the Hindu scriptures; the ten Indian commandments; and the principle of the Dessek.

God sent Hillary to the world to lead us and inspire us.

Answer 4

I'm with The Boss I love me some Jimmy Carter. I wouldn't say G-Dub is a strong moral leader that inspires decency - unless you consider spying on people moral and decent, Reagan inspired poor children to think ketchup was a vegetable, what about selling guns to the Sandinistas, was that decent? I'm not saying that Bill Clintons' morals were aboveboard while he was in office but I wouldn't say he inspired immorality - I doubt anybody said to themselves "gee if the president cheated on his wife then maybe I should commit adultery too"

I would say though that I believe that John Edwards and Barack Obama are really nice decent and moral people..

Answer 5

Sure we have alot of moral examples, but you refuse to see that. Barack Obama has shown himself to be a strong, confident, positive person, but , uh-oh, his middle name is Hussein, so that immediately makes him immoral by your standards. If GWB does anything wrong you CHOOSE to ignore it. He has used cocaine and has been convicted of DUI, do you admire that? Your allegation that Clinton "inspired" immorality, is off-base, he cheated on his wife, that doesn't mean that everyone in America suddenly went out and cheated! Morality is subjective, what you consider moral does not set the standard for the population, no matter how badly you want it to.

Answer 6

No, I think it's more of a problem that for some people to consider someone a strong moral leader that leader would have to be a member of The 700 Club. That's much scarier than any Clinton could ever be.

Answer 7

No, because most of us learn morals and decency from our parents (at least I did). I also had coaches, teachers, clergy, and other adults who taught me morals and decency. A youngster should not have to look to a politician, actor, musician, or an athlete for moral leadership. The youngster should be able to find that inspiration sitting at the dinner table with him or her.

Answer 8

I, too, lament the fact that we have so few "moral" leaders in the world today; altruism is dead! My measure of morality is the honesty and integrity of a person, and what their underlying goals are. (Not, their sexuality!)

That said, I wonder if we ever truly had moral leaders...Would anyone become a "politician" if they were honest, had integrity, and put the good of the people before his/her own "success"?? I don't think so. I just think that the media plays everything up a lot more now. (I never knew about Ike's affairs, JFK's affairs, etc. etc. when I was young.)

As for the people you mentioned: Dubya does not appear moral to me. He evaded serving his country by going AWOL (after getting a "soft" assignment in the Guard, ie. not going to Viet Nam anyway.) He has lied to the American people, and has sent our youngsters into a "war" without good reason, AND without the proper shielding to protect them. His cronies are making BILLIONS from the "clean up" And, speaking of "clean-up", he did a pi__-poor job of helping his own citizens after Katrina! He looks down his rich, little nose at the average American!

Reagan was an actor!! No doubt he did have a measure of integrity, though. He was once a Liberal Democrat, and he changed his position. Even though I think he went the wrong way, I had to admire the fact that he had the cojones to say, "I was wrong then, so I changed." Not too many people will accept personal responsibility like that.

Clinton did NOT inspire immorality. In fact, I think he made a lot of people start to consider their own morality! Across the whole spectrum of Americans--Reps to Dems, right to left, conservative to liberal--you heard people saying, "Gross!" But it made people look to themselves and--maybe--clean up their own acts!

(I mean, if you're going to have an "affair", at least let it be for love and not just a bj under a desk!! Gross!!)

I think we DO have some moral leaders, Jimmy Carter for one., but....what about our "religious leaders"--they're just as bad. Not since our last Pope passed, and we lost Mother Teresa have I really had much faith in those who are supposed to teach or set examples for us.

All of which to say (And I know RLP will get off on lil' ol' Liberal me saying this...) that is why we have to be moral examples for our children, and raise them to appreciate, admire, and emulate their own parents/teachers. That is why, too, I have taught mine NEVER to take the word of someone in "authority" just because they are in authority! Question everything, and filter it through your own moral system, be it your religion or your philosophy!

Answer 9

If George is a "strong and moral" leader, than I'm Duck Dodgers of the 24th And a Half Century.

Answer 10

We shouldn't have to rely on the leaders of a country to inspire decency and morality. It should come from our homes and our upbringing and continured on through our schools and education systems. It is something that should be taught to us right from the beginning.