This is advertised as a forum for general discussion - so I have a small rant and would be all sorts of grateful to find out what others think.
On the radio, on television and in the newspapers I hear much about "our leaders", "world leaders", "the G8 leaders", and so on. This is becoming a major irritant because it occurs to me that if I have a "leader", then I am a follower. I do not think of myself as a "follower", nor do I wish to think of myself as a follower.
I can't speak for the rest of the world, because I was raised in the United States. I was taught as a youngster that members of our government served as REPRESENTATIVES of the citizens, not as LEADERS. The function of presidents, governors and mayors is only to execute the will of the folks who elected them. They are not allowed (by the Constitution) to make the laws that govern all of us. Their functions do not include "leading" us anywhere.
So I see a lot of the current rhetoric as an effort to convince those of us who do not hold public office that we are simply a bunch of sheep at the mercy of a group of all-knowing shepherds who will take care of us and tell us what to do. I believe that this is a major corruption of the principles on which this country was founded.
Any comments? Agree or strongly disagree? Why?
PetuniaRose (who should have probably adopted the posting name of OldLady!)