You are expressing what I believe are two truly an alien concepts to me. I hasten to add that I am not meaning to be dismissive of what you wrote. But, I truly do not think that way, and have studied that art of leadership thing a bit as well.
First, I do not "believe" in any politician. I am not a follower of any leader - politically, militarily, or corporately. In an election, my vote is purely a hiring decision. Which of two candidates is most likely to run the country in a way that achieves goals that I think are most critical to the nation's and my interests. This was a particularly hard choice this year because I think both candidates were deeply flawed, as are the wings of the parties that they most represented. The woke left and neo-isolationist right are about equally dangerous to our domestic and international interests respectively.
That Joe Biden was a terrible leader and his administration a poor steward of our nation, does not guarantee Trump will be any better - merely different. Except at the border, I have seen little from him to date that builds confidence and a lot on the management and foreign policy side that is very concerning. Over the last week, I can add his stewardship of the economy.
Secondly, I am a conservative. I despise radical change. Throughout history such change has a way of destroying the best of any culture. William F. Buckley Jr, one of the greats of American conservatism, famously described his mission as standing “athwart history, yelling STOP.” Roger Seruton is a less well known but equally brilliant conservative writer stated, “Conservatism starts from a sentiment that all mature people can readily share: the sentiment that good things are easily destroyed, but not easily created.”
My first definition of leadership came from Lt. Col. Merrill Shepherd during my 3 years of R.O.T.C. at Leavenworth High School. He told us "...Leadership is the art of obtaining someone's willing cooperation". Fort Leavenworth and its "Command and General Staff College" I'm sure had a very positive influence and support on the development of leadership in our military science curriculum. We raised the flag every morning as a buglar played "To the Colors"....sometimes I had the privilege. Everyone on campus stopped and stood still as this happened. I suppose the U.S.Army helped develop love of country and respect for its leaders.
Later, as a young Marine lieutenant, I was taught your men had to believe in you if you wanted to lead them well.....treat them well, look out for their welfare, but mission first. Formal civilian education and leadership is a special kind of "something".....some good things, but a lot of theory and definitely a good example of wanting to maintain the "status quo".
I'm sure as you came up through the ranks to General, you had a lot of men who followed you not just because they had to, but because they believed in you and what you stood for. With your combat experience, I would venture to say men lived and died with a belief in you. In my den, I have a quote attributed to Teddy Roosevelt, "Dare Greatly" that was read to our battalion back in 1976 by our Battalion Commander, Major McKeown.....it made an impression and stuck with me.
He believed in it and helped create that "fire" that has stayed with me just as Lt. Col. Shepherd did in 1967. So, I do not quite understand your statement "not 'believe' in any politician. I am not a follower of any leader-politically, militarily, or corporately." Even as a kid, I believed in John Kennedy...even though my parents were Republican. I believed in Reagan, as a man and as a leader. I believe in very few House or Senate Republicans....too many....most I see as "gutless weasels"....my opinion.
I believe we share love of country........we disagree on process to get there. I hope you are wrong on the tariff issue......I posted an opinion on Trump's possible logic in post #55,667....perhaps the overall theory will hold true. Tanks responded to a comment I made in post #55702 regarding our ability to provide the quantity of labor needed to regenerate manufacturing in the U.S.......a good point which I don't have an answer for.
The other point we disagree on is the need for "radical change" in this country....I don't see how we can keep on the same financial path without a collapse in the near future....Senate and House seem to care less.....no action.....buttheads.....but, these buttheads were elected by my fellow Americans....Trump is on his own again.
You have my respect...Best
The Denmark straight
