Comments on: A Deepening Leadership Crisis

By: Robert Davee

Robert Davee — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 04:11:16 +0000

You are right regarding the failure of institutions and the obvious lack of confidence in the executive, legislature and press. You are also right in its manifestation on the bailout issue. The public dialogue of our political leaders has become increasingly poisonous since the disputed 2000 election and through the Iraq war, in which it would appear that politicians would prefer national failure if it advances their political agenda. This has eroded the executive and its ability to mobilize support while simultaneously eroding the ability of the majority party in the legislature to gain any support outside their party and political affiliations. If you spend all of your time mindlessly demonizing the opposition why would you expect them to trust you, even if the greater good calls for that. Finally, the major media outlets are now seen as grossly partisan and are completely distrusted, if not reviled, by one of the two major parties. This is in addition to being so insular as to have no apparent understanding of the sensibilities and concerns of the vast majority of the country who do not reside on the east or west coast and did not attend an ivy league school or attend washington dinner parties. – And you still wonder why the middle of the country trusts none of you? Geez.. . . .

By: Kristina

Kristina — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 04:10:58 +0000

The American people get the leadership they deserve. They spend more time watching American Idol than following the ins and outs of governmental institutions. As a result they are easily manipulated by their "leaders." Further, the political class has made it virtually impossible to defeat an incumbent because the incumbent has access to money and starts out with high name ID. Add gerry-mandered districts to the mix and a challenger to the status quo has little chance. Why should anyone with talent and brains go into politics as a career? So that he/she can be ridiculed by the blogs, the media and the extremist opponents?

By: Robert Piepenbrink

Robert Piepenbrink — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 04:10:54 +0000

Mr. Gergen, The problem is not our lack of trust, but a leadership which cannot be trusted. In a democracy, when people no longer find their political leadership credible or competent, the customary solution is different and more reliable leadership. At that point the "trust" issue resolves itself.

If the present people and parties wish to retain or regain power, let them consider how they might prove themselves worthy. It is their problem and not ours.

By: James

James — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 04:03:14 +0000

I typically try to find a prior comment with which I agree, in the interest of team play. Mike from Syracuse states the case well. No one has explained to the governed HOW the particular measures of the bill are necessary to encourage financial institutions to start lending to each other again. The analogies to burning houses are patronizing. The politicians' arrogance and the staggering headline figure involved – $700 billion – have caused the torrent of public venom to this bill. I ask you – given the lopsided public opposition to the legislation, how could you in good conscience view a vote in favor of the legislation as a success? Until the politicians bring the public around, any vote for this legislation would mark a failure of the process – by politicians just blindly reciting the chants from Treasury's high priests.

By: Craig

Craig — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 03:41:18 +0000

David,
All I hear for our leaders is death and gloom for our economy if this bailout does not pass. Seems very simular to the "WMD" claims before the war. Show the American public where and what this money is going for. I also find in interesting that this administration made it harder for the "little guys" to get their "bailout" by making it harder to claim bankruptcy, but the government can bail out the "big guys"..

By: Jeff in MI

Jeff in MI — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 03:37:03 +0000

One of the chief justice said there is something wrong with US because we have too many lawyer. Lawyers are playing words all the time like I did not inhale. We need generals like Washington. We need engineers and entrepreneurs who want to see concrete results instead of politically correct statements.

By: Richard R

Richard R — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 03:33:52 +0000

Our leaders seem to be incoherent and stupid on this issue. My own strong view is that the financial sector does not need more capital. It needs to convert its massive overuse of debt into equity. The government can help here by making restructuring easier. But massive new capital is the last thing we need in financial services - there is plenty of capital in the system, just too much is debt and not enough is equity. But the Washington crowd seems hellbent on injecting more capital into financial services - to what end? More credit card debt and more bad mortgages?

By: Kathy in Mi

Kathy in Mi — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 03:33:38 +0000

Our so called leaders are so ready to trash anyone who thinks opposes them. The press are so busy entertaining everyone and vying for their rating they forget they are supposed to investigate and report, not just try to force the networks views on us. Maybe they don't forget it a choice they make by working on certain networks.
If a person is not totally knowledgeable and does their own research it is impossible to know the truth. We have been spun til we don't know which direction to run. According to Bush the world is falling every couple years. I for one, am sick of his "wolf cries". It may be real this time but who believes him now?
Whatever happened to ETHICS? We the american people are only cash cows to the politicians and we are tired of it.
Lets cut their pay, or their lifetime status, since they failed in their job and see how many quit.

By: Mike H

Mike H — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 03:33:18 +0000

Naomi Klein's book, "The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism" offers some deep insights into what we're seeing in our leadership now. It's a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the actions of the Bush Administration over the last 8 years.

I'm pretty moderate politically but I believe she's on the mark in saying that Milton Friedman's disasterous, extreme free-market economic ideas have become the dominating force in policies produced by our government. I think the solution to the current crisis could be found by abandoning Friedman and re-reading John Maynard Keynes.

By: landon kelsey

landon kelsey — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 03:21:53 +0000

from Michael Moore

Let me cut to the chase. The biggest robbery in the history of this country is taking place as you read this. Though no guns are being used, 300 million hostages are being taken. Make no mistake about it: After stealing a half trillion dollars to line the pockets of their war-profiteering backers for the past five years, after lining the pockets of their fellow oilmen to the tune of over a hundred billion dollars in just the last two years, Bush and his cronies - who must soon vacate the White House - are looting the U.S. Treasury of every dollar they can grab. They are swiping as much of the silverware as they can on their way out the door.

By: Susan Bush

Susan Bush — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 03:21:29 +0000

David,
Thank you for your insightful comments. It seems that leadership is lacking in Washington, corporate boardrooms and in homes across America. As an educator, can you suggest some ways we can help get back on track? Perhaps an episode of AC360 on leadership might be a start. Thank you very much.

By: Rachelle, Crestline CA

Rachelle, Crestline CA — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 03:16:03 +0000

Jail the Corrupt!!!

Here is a quote from Andrew Jackson, railing on a delegation of bankers in 1832:

“Gentlemen, I have had men watching you for a long time, and I am convinced that you have used the funds of the bank to speculate in the breadstuffs of the country. When you won, you divided the profits amongst you, and when you lost, you charged it to the bank. You tell me that if I take the deposits from the bank and annul its charter, I shall ruin ten thousand families. That may be true, gentlemen, but that is your sin! Should I let you go on, you will ruin fifty thousand families, and that would be my sin! You are a den of vipers and thieves. I intend to rout you out, and by the eternal God, I will rout you out.”

By: vicki

vicki — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 03:15:20 +0000

I was so relieved when the package did not pass–I am so disgusted that they are actually going to push it through with a lot of pandering of representatives pet projects...LET THIS PACKAGE FAIL–Start anew-instead of throwing good money at bad money reward those that actually know how to succeed- reinforce them so they feel confident to refuel our credit availability and get this country moving forward. Yes we do not trust our leaders–they have not earned it–so therefore do not deserve it--I really want to be proud to be an American with American values again.

By: DoraBud

DoraBud — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 03:12:02 +0000

For heaven sake - quit saying the house failed and was irresponsible in not passing the bailout. For once they did EXACTLY what they were put in Washington to do - – LISTEN TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS.

We (Americans) don't want it (and very respectable economists say it won't help). HOORAY for those who voted against it.

They need to come up with something much, much better than this.

By: Tim

Tim — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 02:59:30 +0000

The cash cow is dying. Gov. using the 9/11 fear monger tactics to get the tax payer to bail out their "business associates". The arrogant nerve of our so called leaders. The media helping them spread the fear wave too.
Don't fall for it people. Let nature take it's course.
The arrogance of our politicians to think they can change the course of nature.
All who defend this plan have something to lose from financially criminal gains. You call yourselves out as accomplices in what has to be one of the biggest blue collar crimes in the history of the country.
Vote honestly so we can see who you are. We'll remember you at the polls.

By: Rachel

Rachel — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 02:59:28 +0000

Mike T....OR people don't trust the Republicans because they deregulated the financial industry to save pave the way for Wall Street to run their businesses into the ground and leave with billions. The guys at the top had golden parachutes and $200 million a year each in some cases. EIGHT years of free reign with no one watching and they get off scott free....or I guess they did have to pay off the people who protected them in sneaky yet legal ways. and the "LIBERAL MEDIA" is a phoney way for the Republicans to excuse everything they do. NO ONE IS BUYING ANY OF THIS NONSENSE ANYMORE

By: Erik

Erik — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 02:55:05 +0000

Mike T can spout off all he wants about 'liberal this' and 'democrat that' or someone else can spout off about 'right wing nut this' or 'republican that'. That kind of rhetoric is so tiresome, stale, and trite – it just makes me want to puke. We have a major breakdown in leadership, and it's all across the board with plenty of blame to go around, American public included. Many a country has had a major revolution over issues smaller than this (tea time tax anyone?), and the time seems ripe for another one. I think the House and Senate needs to be swept clean, along with many of the other departments. Fire them all – no severance packages or bailouts for them. I think we the people can do a far better job than they the people. Revolution 2008 for President!

By: Sarah in FL

Sarah in FL — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 22:04:05 +0000

Mike T. – The Democrats are guilty of wanting to fund programs that help minorities. But the Republicans with their "less government" are responsible for a lot of the deregulation that allows those programs to get abused. This is a leadership problem on both sides of the aisle. If McCain hadn't gone flying back to DC and injecting politics into this process there may have been a chance for some equitable resolution. But as soon as he rejected the "let's make a joint statement and then stay the heck out of it" suggestion from Obama and decided instead to suspend his campaign, he inserted partisan election crap into it the mix. Now we've got unforgivable but entirely understandable posturing going on. I want to just spank McCain and Pelosi and a host of other folks...not to mention all the greedy jerks who got us into this mess.

By: Julie

Julie — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 22:02:45 +0000

David, I have a great deal of respect for you, and usually agree with you, but not on this one. Given the way this 'bailout' has been managed by the powers that be, I have no reason to believe that anyone knows what to do. There are just as many 'experts' against it as are for it. When I wrote my Congressmen, I asked that they not pass anything until they know what they are doing. Obviously, your opinion is that given the state of the economy, doing something, anything, is better than spending time coming up with a workable realistic solution. No one has sold me on the fact that the current plan is realistic or workable. And, by the way, while I may not be an economic genius, I'm far from stupid.

We do agree that there is certainliy a failure of leadership. I haven't trusted anything the Bush administration has had to say for eight years. I have no reason to start trusting them today. McCain is flipping around like a yo-yo. Obama is keeping clean, keeping his distance, which may be good for him politically, but isn't necessarily a sign of a strong leader.

Sometimes things just need to get worse before they can get better. I really do hope we aren't at that point.

By: Alicia

Alicia — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 21:52:36 +0000

Obama’s Financial Advisors (this is only one name)

Penny Pritzker, Obama's national finance chair was, with her family, the half owner of Superior Bank, which was shut down in 2001 by the FDIC after it had lost nearly all of its more than $2 billion of assets on bad loans to high-risk borrowers, federal regulators said.
Pritzker has avoided media attention over the past week as reporters covering the Obama campaign sought comment on the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac debacle.
Pritzker also served as finance chair for Obama's Senate run, and supported him during his time in the Illinois state legislature.
One reason Pritzker may have been enamored with Obama was his willingness to press legislation that loosened state regulatory policies for land developers and multi-family property owners......