Have you noticed an increase in the amount of summits taking place in Washington? It used to be that only mountain climbers, explorers, or geologists knew what it meant to reach the summit. The summit is a huge climbing achievement, and it takes quite a few people to make it possible. Once you get to the summit, there’s a bit of celebration, euphoria, maybe some inspirational speeches. But, after the respite and the speeches are through, everyone leaves and heads back down the mountain.
Well, we can add Washington insiders to that list. It sure seems appropriate; they go to the summit, they make some speeches, they celebrate the fact that they are there, and then they go home. Very little seems to be getting accomplished at these summits; it’s almost as if the summit is more important than the solution.
The summit craze is a symptom of a deeper problem in Washington. Politicians forget how government was developed in this country: By the people. At some point, Washington took a top down (or summit down, if you will) approach to problem solving. Politicians stopped listening to their employers, the citizens of this country, and decided that they know the solution.
This “summit” approach shows that finding solutions is less important than trumpeting the plan they’ve decided will work. This isn’t leadership; it’s Hollywood, or perhaps Vaudeville, more appropriately. Being a leader means knowing where solutions have come from through history, the people. Leadership is about leading your team to a solution, not selling the team on your solution.
Twice American means first recognizing a problem, second getting government out of the way of solutions from the people. Being a typical politician means coming up with a plan and then waiting for an issue to come up that fits your agenda; and, of course, holding a summit to tell everyone why your agenda is right.
It’s time our politicians remember who solves the problems: We the people.
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There is an old saying:"once bitten,twice learned"Now that America has come to realize the false rhetoric of Obama's "hope and change",I sure hope the sting from the first bite will prevent many of you from grabbing onto yet more empty rhetoric from from Mr.Peterson.
ReplyDeleteIt appears that Lee understands that it is the strong that "bring up the rear" when climbing to the summit
to assure that the others arrive safely and intact,not getting there first and forgetting that the "team"assisted in his assent.
All too often career politicians forget who assisted them in getting elected to represent them,and base all future aspirations on staying in office.
It would seem that lee understands that "the last shall be first",and putting the American people before future aspirations sounds quite refreshing to me.