The Way I See It - “I’ve got your back.”

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Wed, Feb 17, 2010, 5:00 am  //  Ham Hayes

I wish I could feel my government has “got my back.” With Congress’ approval rating at a mere and miserable 20%, and with President Obama’s “change we can believe in” mantra reduced to wet confetti, I’m looking for some signs of life on the national leadership level. I have long held that leadership operates on multiple levels. At the most basic or physical level leaders are responsible for the safety and well-being of their constituents. And this principle holds for any of our social or economic entities, be they governments or businesses. Today in the U.S. that translates to, 'are we successfully defending our citizens from physical attack and are we successfully operating at an economic level that sustains our needs and aspirations?' The current feeling in our country on these two questions seems to be “not sure” and “no.”
 
Another level of leadership is vision. We expect good leaders to peer into the mists of time and anticipate our future needs. This is a tough game. It requires wisdom, a sense of perspective, both past and future, and inclusion of our people and cultures. It also requires that those who purport to lead us set aside their egos, at least for a bit. Congress has crumbled in this regard over the last year and more, especially with regard to fixing our health care system. They have made several monstrous mistakes. One mistake is ignoring their constituents. That may be okay in a dictatorship, but in a society of representative governance it is a fatal political error. The other mistake is not making sure the basics, specifically economic health, are in good shape. Our federal representatives, Congress and the President, seem to believe they can continue to borrow as much as they want from the future without repercussion. Are they on some strange drug that is not available to the rest of us? Those of us with mortgages, student loans, and car loans know we will be severely penalized if we default on our payments. When our government goes berserk with unsupported spending in these economic conditions, what voters are going to believe or trust them? This level of leadership is the mental level. It is not a question of “what are they thinking?” It is a question of “are they thinking at all?”
 
A good leader is also a good coach. Bad stuff happens. That’s life. When bad stuff happens on a community, regional or national level, we expect responsiveness, empathy, and honesty about the situation. Without those, faith in our government is lost. It is much easier to measure these factors in traumatic situations such as Hurricane Katrina. But faith can also be lost through inattention to longer term and persistent issues. We have these kinds of situations with regard to immigration, drugs, the environment, and the oppression of women to name a few. These kinds of issues happen at all levels of our society, so local and regional governments are as much on the hook to perform as is the federal government. These kinds of issues evoke strong emotions so we need leaders who are good coaches. Our leaders need to understand the emotions involved and have the skills to mold fear and anger into effective resolve. And words, especially those that are devoid of substance, are not a substitute for action.
 
Good leaders truly inspire us. They touch our souls. It may sound corny and trite, but it may be only through the way leaders lead their lives that we will know them. Have they shown selfless service or truly walked in the shoes of others? Can they relate what they have learned and experienced to us in a way that we know comes from their authentic selves? The process leaders use is every bit as important as the results achieved. Leaders need to be in touch with what is important to those they govern. An alternative response to the town halls last summer could have been for our representatives to ask constituents, “What is important to you?” Instead they told people what to think or do, or in some cases, to shut up. In the town hall I attended, there was no listening, merely disdain. Another approach is for government to recognize that by far the majority of Americans really want what is best for their communities. I believe the public will listen to and endorse well thought out and collaborative approaches to problem solving. The challenge of our elected officials is to recognize that desire and mobilize it with a non-political spirit. We are a team oriented, can-do people and will respond to the same attitude in our leaders. Still further, our leaders need to work on integrating the logical action-result approach to problem solving with the collaborative-intuitive community approach of working, thinking and creating together. After all, it often seems we haven’t really made a lot of progress in the last 5,000 years. Perhaps we can add some new thinking to how we lead. Maybe then I would feel like my government has “got my back.”

The Way I See It - Mud resurrected

Wed, Jul 28, 2010, 4:39 am  //  Ham Hayes

It is time we gave “mud” back its good name.

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The Way I See It - En Garde

Wed, Jul 21, 2010, 4:42 am  //  Ham Hayes

“We have lots of robberies.” As I reported last week, that was the apocalyptic statement by the investigating officer to our recent plight in St.…

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Greed: The Shadowy So-called Non-profit Taecan

Mon, Jul 19, 2010, 11:53 am  //  Tip Johnson

For-Profit Non-Profits - Pulling the Plug on Services

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The Forsaken Constituents of Lummi Island

Mon, Jul 19, 2010, 11:20 am  //  Tip Johnson

Taxation without representation

3 comments; last on Jul 28, 2010

Libraries are still very valuable

Fri, Jul 16, 2010, 8:18 pm  //  John Servais

The New Spice Man tells us why libraries are useful and valuable. This applies to all libraries.

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Three Port Executive Finalists Withdraw

Fri, Jul 16, 2010, 1:30 pm  //  John Servais

In a surprise development, the Port of Bellingham is starting over again in their search for an executive director. Position now vacant for over a…

1 comments; last on Jul 18, 2010

Book Review:  Whole Earth Discipline

Fri, Jul 16, 2010, 4:44 am  //  Guest writer

Eric Hirst reviews this October 2009 book by Stewart Brand of Whole Earth Catalog fame. Stewart is critical of several mainstream environmental stances.

1 comments; last on Jul 19, 2010

The Way I See It - From Russia with Love

Wed, Jul 14, 2010, 5:17 pm  //  Ham Hayes

Ham's final post on his travel comments from Russia.

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Climate and transparent process

Wed, Jul 14, 2010, 11:52 am  //  John Servais

The Atlantic Monthly has an article on Climate gate that every Enviro true believer should read. Some healthy skepticism is very needed.

1 comments; last on Jul 17, 2010

Oil Spill - What is not reported

Mon, Jun 28, 2010, 1:17 pm  //  John Servais

BP oil spill video taken on a private plane flight over the Gulf of Mexico. The spill is worse than our media are telling us.

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Never Enough? Enough is Enough!

Mon, Jun 21, 2010, 4:40 pm  //  Tip Johnson

Wherein the absurdity of the Lummi Blockade is explored in yet more excrutiating detail

1 comments; last on Jun 22, 2010

Please sign the anti-whaling petition

Thu, Jun 17, 2010, 11:31 pm  //  John Servais

Let's help get one million signatures on the anti-whaling petition.

1 comments; last on Jun 20, 2010

The Way I See It - Heart and Gut

Wed, Jun 16, 2010, 4:56 am  //  Ham Hayes

Our society is out of its mind. Well, maybe not quite completely, but it needs to be.

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Public support saves Fairhaven Library

Tue, Jun 15, 2010, 11:36 pm  //  John Servais

Library Trustees reversed themselves from last week and spared closing the Fairhaven library.

6 comments; last on Jun 17, 2010

DOWNWARD BOUND - with Hippie Jim

Mon, Jun 14, 2010, 11:34 am  //  Kamalla Rose Kaur

Wherein Hippie Jim addresses a growing need in our modern age

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How to close a library

Mon, Jun 14, 2010, 4:44 am  //  John Servais

Yes, the city powers have decided to close the Fairhaven Library. Only strong citizen objections can change it.

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Apparently You Can Always Get What You Want

Fri, Jun 11, 2010, 3:08 pm  //  Guest writer

Marilyn Olsen is today's guest writer. She submitted this the day after the Library Board meeting.

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The Way I See It - A long way to go

Wed, Jun 09, 2010, 8:35 pm  //  Ham Hayes

Success often comes in small steps spread over time. A recent article from the local Seattle office of the FBI underscores one of those moments,…

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Barry Buchanan running for Mayor

Tue, Jun 08, 2010, 9:45 pm  //  John Servais

Barry Buchanan, city council representative from Bellingham's Third Ward, has filed papers to run for Mayor.

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The Dumbest Meeting Ever

Tue, Jun 08, 2010, 9:31 pm  //  Tip Johnson

I mean, come on!

3 comments; last on Jun 09, 2010

Fairhaven Library to be Closed

Tue, Jun 08, 2010, 12:13 pm  //  John Servais

Bellingham Library Board of Trustees decided today to close the library for cost cutting reasons. Branches are low priority. Formal vote next week.

2 comments; last on Jun 08, 2010

The Way I See It – The Return of the Grail: Seek Truth. Speak It.

Wed, Jun 02, 2010, 4:22 am  //  Ham Hayes

The unfolding story through time and space in France

3 comments; last on May 19, 2010

Five Minutes

Tue, Jun 01, 2010, 7:33 am  //  Tip Johnson

Oil Addiction: All Day Every Day

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Shame on Israel

Mon, May 31, 2010, 7:43 pm  //  John Servais

Israel is becoming a rogue state. It is showing a disdain for International law and world opinion.

13 comments; last on Jun 03, 2010

From a Political Junkie: That Anti-Incumbent Feeling

Mon, May 24, 2010, 4:34 am  //  Riley Sweeney

Riley Sweeney examines the primaries in PA, KY and AR and what it means for 2010.

6 comments; last on May 25, 2010

Re-Legalize Cannabis and End an Un-American Prohibition

Sun, May 23, 2010, 11:37 am  //  Guest writer

David Camp writes on Prohibition and the American Way

3 comments; last on May 28, 2010

An Affair to Remember

Mon, May 17, 2010, 3:42 pm  //  Guest writer

Sharon Crozier attended a meeting with Congressman Rick Larsen.

2 comments; last on May 20, 2010

From a Political Junkie: Marriage, Values and Culture

Mon, May 17, 2010, 4:55 am  //  Riley Sweeney

Riley Sweeney discusses the discomfort of religious and cultural differences among friends

1 comments; last on May 17, 2010

From a Political Junkie: The Golden Age of Radio

Mon, May 10, 2010, 4:44 am  //  Riley Sweeney

Riley Sweeney asks for plot ideas for a local radio drama

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The Story Of My Life

Sun, May 09, 2010, 1:58 pm  //  Kamalla Rose Kaur

Kamalla's connection with other Northwest news

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Craig Mayberry Announces Candidacy for the 42nd District State House, Position 1

Wed, May 05, 2010, 9:34 am  //  Craig Mayberry

Craig Mayberry announces he is running for the State Legislature.

2 comments; last on May 06, 2010

The Way I See It - Flights of Fancy

Wed, May 05, 2010, 4:24 am  //  Ham Hayes

Ham is preparing for another fun filled trip by air.

1 comments; last on May 05, 2010

 

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