Thanks,
http://www.elines.vn/ve-may-bay-di-ha-noi.aspx

I completely agree with what you’re saying.

No offense meant to @9b05c3f52c0467874b6c99cb34ed5e7c:disqus , but I think that a true statesman wouldn’t back down from identifying blame; Rather, they would also take their fair share of it, and then immediately move on to solution-making.

What makes a statesman great is their devotion to preserving and improving the good.

That truths leads me to somewhat disagree with @twitter-16690175:disqus .

Reforms are needed, but it’s the *people* who make the difference. It is *our* responsibility to get informed and find the *statesmen* who should be representing us. Once they are in office, there won’t be a question about whether or not reform happens.

The recent ‘adage’ of “We went to change Washington, and Washington changed us.” wouldn’t be uttered by worthy representatives.

Ron Paul is evidence of that. I think he’s wrong about a lot of things, but he hasn’t changed his focus or character throughout his terms. 

People can choose not to change.

Hi Jenifer:

I cannot dispute any of the thoughts/concerns you expressed. Thanks for sharing them.

Some good thoughts here – you’ve given voice to what many of us are feeling!

However, my thinking is until politicians are barred from receiving funds and privileges from special interest groups… and until they are prevented by law from benefiting financially from insider knowledge… I don’t see how we can help but have the types of politicians we have now. Sadly, even those who enter political office as statesman are often corrupted by money and power once in office. Our system needs better checks and balances for those we elect to leadership positions, and that’s hard to do when they’re writing the laws. 

I also question whether the US needs to think about stricter term limits. Maybe if Congress didn’t need to worry about being reelected, they’d stand a better chance of doing the right thing during the time they have in office. 

Thanks,
Jenifer @jenajean:twitter

Well said Ron. From my perspective “accountability” is not a matter of if, but when – and when is long overdue. Thanks for sharing Ron.

Well said Ron. From my perspective “accountability” is not a matter of if, but when – and when is long overdue. Thanks for sharing Ron.

I received an email yesterday comparing the super committee to two drunks on the Titanic arguing over a bar tab.

Sadly, your observations regarding office-holders today may also be applied with equal force to the general population; and I’m not as sanguine as yourself that they’ll insist on accountability in leaders until they incorporate it into their own lives and stop voting for the lesser of two evils.

Ron

Thanks Mike – and certainly a trait that precludes me from politics 🙂

Thanks Mike – and certainly a trait that precludes me from politics 🙂

Hi Dan:

Thanks for weighing in so passionately – a trait of a true leader, and a trait indicative of someone who cares. I apologize for being too kind :). Thanks Dan.