In a perfect world-a.k.a. LaLa Land
When I was 15 years old, I asked my father why he didn't run for political office. He stared off into space, thumped the armrest of his easy chair with his fingers and replied in a steady mesmerizing tone, "Because, I would be a statesman in a politician's game."
 I wasn't quite sure what my father meant at the time, but I got the gist of it. A statesman votes according to his conscience and tries to represent his constituent's best interest; whereas, a politician trades votes with fellow politicians in order to get their bills through committee. Politicians vote on party lines. Politicians only support their party, often disparaging other politicians from other parties, even if they believe in the other candidate's policies, principles, and voting record.
Wouldn't it be nice to have a few statesmen representing us on a local, state, and national level?
Yes, I realize that what I advocate is a perfect world scenario, a.k.a. LaLa Land.
In politics, it is difficult to find anyone that stands by their principles. In today's political environment of political action committees, trading votes, and lifetime politicians with unrestricted terms, it is difficult if not impossible to have true leadership.
But, just for the purpose of dreaming, let's say that there is one candidate that promises to stick by his principles and not compromise. Let's imagine that this candidate refuses to accept any money from lobbyists and refuses to run for more than two consecutive terms. We would have a true statesman, a statesman that was guided by principles and not politics.
We would have a statesman that could vote on every bill with a clear conscience. We would have a statesman that was visionary and revolutionary, in short, we would have a true leader that has a vision and follows that vision. We must accept that a true leader is one who has a shared powerful vision with his constituents, and follows that vision even when the obstacles become intense.
A true leader and statesman must have vision, chart a course and stay true to that course even when others become confused and discouraged. People believe in the vision and the leader that stays consistent. A true leader and statesman must maintain respect which is won by maintaining his course. People follow leaders that are stronger in their convictions than they themselves hold.
Finally, a true leader has an exit strategy. They have developed leadership potential in those that work with them. They understand that the vision is greater than the leader. They understand that they must multiply and duplicate themselves.
Multiplication and duplication are the keys to success because one cannot build a strong consistent movement without developing strong leaders underneath them. The same is true for any business, cause or agenda. We must learn to multiply and duplicate leaders underneath us so that we grow a movement that takes on a life of its own.
So, even though I live in LaLa Land, and "I'm a dreamer", as John Lennon wrote, "I'm not the only one."
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