Is Trump a GOOD Leader?

What makes a good “leader”?  It’s a simple question, but can it be answered simply?

A good leader leads well.  Okay, but that’s not saying much.  We might then ask, what does it mean to lead well?

So, I offer a few sound principles around good leadership that might help us get a handle on what makes a good leader.

One: leaders are responsible for the people they lead.  For example, they are responsible for the direction they are taking their followers, those being led.  In other words a good leader leads in such a way that the wellbeing of his/her followers is a priority.  Thus, a good leader is selfless: more concerned about the people and their needs than his/her own self interests.  A good leader takes into account the overall welfare, health and safety and prosperity of the people—so that all that are affected by his/her leadership (or at least most) are able to thrive.

Two: a good leader is not only knowledgeable but wise and skillful in the application of that knowledge.  Knowledge is one thing, but the wise use and application of knowledge is another thing altogether.  Thus, a good leader is measured in his/her behavior and comments, and is insightful and discerning in his/her communication and understanding.  Hence, a good leader helps his/her followers see and understand more clearly the necessity of certain actions and choices over others.   Hence, a good leader not only inspires but also informs, instructs, and enlightens his/her followers.  People are not left in the dark; neither are they left confused or puzzled or bewildered by what is being said or done.  They are able to connect the dots and are able to see the wisdom of a leader’s actions and statements.

Three: a good leader is thus transparent, has integrity and is therefore trustworthy.  A good leader communicates well and hides nothing, especially of great import.  A good leader leaves no doubt and immediately clears up questionable action (or words).  A good leader most certainly says what he means and means what he says.  There is no double-speak.  There is consistency in both action/behavior as well as in word and speech.  And there is full ownership of contradictory words and actions with appropriate correction or re-alignment.  Hence, a good leader unites, rather than divides, and extends confident assurances rather than spreads anxiety.  Indeed, the words and actions of a good leader effectively results in peace and calmness within a people, rather than worrisome, troubling hearts and minds among the people.

These are just three good leadership traits.  There are certainly more.  I wonder, just using these three traits as a measure, how would you rate President Trump as a leader?

Trump Has No Evidence and Gives No Apology

To this day President Trump provides no real hard evidence that the previous president, Obama, “wiretapped” Trump at Trump Towers.

It would seem that Trump supporters believe Trump, taking him at his word, rather than accept the truth that it did not happen, given the lack of evidence after appropriate investigations have been made.

In short, President Trump is getting away with making unfounded serious and profound accusations against a previous president without political, social, or legal, consequence.

What’s next?  Who’s next?

When the president of the United States of America can get away with making a baseless and outrageous accusation of this kind against a former president, we are in big trouble.  Yet, few Republicans seem to own how serious this really is.  Yes, this is serious!!

What’s worse is that, through his spokesman, Sean Spicer, Trump has now accused one of our greatest allies to be in cahoots with Obama in this so-called wiretapping scheme that Obama supposedly perpetrated against Trump.  The scandal is getting worse, not better as time goes by!

This action cuts to the core as to what kind of man we presently have, holding the office of the presidency.  At first, Spicer said, “The Tweet speaks for itself,” and it does!  But then, Spicer/Trump saw the need to redefine and reinterpret what Trump really meant by his tweeted accusation.  So now we are to assume that, no, the tweet actually does NOT speak for itself—it now needs, as I Love Lucy’s Ricky Ricardo use to say, “some esplaining.”

I’m a pastor.  I know without a doubt that if I were to make a false accusation of this magnitude against another or former pastor I would be forthwith dismissed, let go!  I would be held accountable for my unsubstantiated accusation including my poor choice of words.  Minimally I’d most certainly be required to apologize, among other things.  No doubt I could also be sued for libel in a court of law.  Yet, here we are speaking of a man who holds the office of the President of the United States, and he’s getting away with it!!  Is President Donald Trump above the law?  NO, he is not!

And Trump hasn’t even completed his first 100 days in office yet!

Wake up people.  Trump is dangerous, very dangerous.  We’re heading for trouble.  If we don’t hold him accountable now, we will greatly regret it later.

Health Care and Caring for our Sick and Weak

Do we care?  How do we care, for the sick and the weak?

This is what our national health care system really touches upon.

Given our national attitude, it seems that we actually have little compassion and little care for the sick and weak among us—it’s more like “every man for himself.”

We know that the world can be harsh and unkind.  People get sick, there are unexpected accidents and unanticipated illnesses that hit many families.  That’s life.

So, the point is this: we are either in this together, as a national community, or we are not.  If not, it is the wealthy that will stay healthy.  And as to everyone else, it’s “Tough luck; that’s life!”

The greed of some resists the needs of the many.  We tend to reserve available health care resources for only those that can afford it.

We seem to prefer an imbalance, inequality when it comes to who receives and who does not receive adequate, even basic, health care services.

All do not care for the sick, the weak, or the old (and the very young), that is left only to the few.

Thus, not all life is equally valued (consider how we treat nature and its creatures).

Contrast this to a Shabbat Prayer:

“And then all that has divided us will merge

Then compassion will be wedded to power

And then softness will come to a world that is harsh and unkind

And then both women and men will be gentle

And then both men and women will be strong

And then no person will be subject to another’s will

And then all will be rich and free and varied

And then greed of some will give way to the needs of many

Then all will share equally in the earth’s abundance

And then all will care for the sick and the weak and the old

And then all will nourish the young

And then all will cherish life’s creatures

And then all will live in harmony with each other and the environment

And then everywhere will be called Eden once again.”