It's a beautiful sunshiny afternoon here in suburban Westchster County, New York. Low humidity, moderate temperature. As I drove around this afternoon listening to the news about the bailout vote on the radio, I couldn't help but notice the blue sky, so like the sky that morning of September 11, 2001. The weather had been beautiful that day, too, as I sat on my front stoop and pondered what I was hearing on the news.
Are we dancing on the edge of a volcano? And what does this mean for my kids -- whose college funds are diminishing by the day?
I can't help thinking that what is sorely missing in the debate over the bail out is old-fashioned politics: The "science of government", practiced by leaders who know how to listen, synthesize different viewpoints, negotiate if needed, then demand accountability.
As someone who has served in leadership positions at various non-profits over the years -- including, yes, the PTA -- I know firsthand how important these simple things can be. A successful leader listens to every viewpoint, validating the worth and opinions of each member of the group, then synthesizes what has been said, taking the best of the ideas put forward and blending them together. Finally, a leader negotiates so that the outcome is a win, in some sense, for all. Everybody leaves the table feeling that they have contributed in a meaningful way to a plan with a positive outcome that will benefit all.
But it's not all sunshine and lollipops: A successful leader must also enforce the decision of the group.
Old-fashioned "pols" -- think backrooms and cigar smoke -- are out of style and, today, largely reviled, but they knew how to get things done. The spectacle of a President -- albeit a lame duck -- not in control of his party is a pathetic one, and perhaps the final evidence (as if any is needed) that George W. Bush is, as my kids would say, an "epic" failure.
My kids. That's what got me started on this train of thought today. I have a houseful of teenagers here this afternoon, boisterously enjoying the fact that there is no school here in New York for the next two days due to the Jewish holidays (I'm not Jewish myself, but L'shanah Tovah, everybody.)Three boys, four girls, all high school juniors. What will they remember about this day?