Opinion: Federal Tories should be looking for a new vision
By Medicine Hat News Opinon on December 20, 2019.
gslade@medicinehatnews.com@MHNGillianSlade There is a big difference between a “manager” and a “leader” and when it comes to politics, in particular leaders are in short supply. One way to describe a leader, versus a manager, is someone with a vision who is able to inspire others to follow his or her leadership/example to achieve that vision. Great leaders have historically tried new things, ventured out on a limb – even putting themselves at risk, in order to achieve their greater vision or goal. As a country there is a tendency for us to do the same old thing again and again without gaining any ground and sadly not appearing to even recognize this. Provincially we are seeing one panel after another appointed. Another committee appointed, a review or a study commissioned, on topics of great concern. There is typically a financial cost to all of this and more importantly a big delay even if ultimately progress is made. A few generations ago people were more tolerant of these tactics and there was some degree of hope that it was a measure of progress to find a way forward. That hope has waned and the tactics are seen merely as a delaying tactic or way to buy time and fool the public along the way. It has gone on too long. It is an old way of doing things and the people are no longer fooled. The federal Conservative party has begun preparing for a leadership campaign. There has been a lot of discussion in the media about the need to entice candidates with “political experience.” That is an interesting requirement when many average people, rather than political party members, will tell you they are longing for “leaders” who have a new vision. It is very difficult to have a new vision to impart when you have been immersed in government for years and years and all you know is the government’s way of doing things. Sadly there is the perception that this is where reviews, panels, committees and doing studies is bred. It is hard to identify any leaders waiting in the wings, not only here but globally. It is difficult to determine the reason for this but if you read autobiographies of great leaders historically, they often had their leadership traits acknowledged and nurtured from a young age. Perhaps our endeavours to treat everyone equally has resulted in leaders not being singled out and encouraged, even trained, in that direction from a young age. There are many things politically and democratically that could do with an overhaul. It is not likely someone with decades of political experience and training, especially if they have very limited private sector business experience in the real world, is going to have a vision of an improved system. It would take a true leader to inspire the public too. (Gillian Slade is a News reporter. To comment on this and other editorials, go to https://www.medicinehatnews.com/opinions, email her at gslade@medicinehatnews.com or call her at 403-528-8635.) 17-16
