I’ll cut to the chase. We win by exemplifying the message of Servant Leadership.
Today’s political climate is more than nasty; it’s decaying, and our expectations of public officials are falling to nothing.
Here’s what real Americans want — and deserve:
- An accessible, responsive, representative government loyal to the public’s interests;
- The elimination of private agendas and influence (by corporate lobbyists, partisan ideologues and other special interests) counter to the public interests;
- Ethics, transparency, and effective accountability in the management of our public systems;
- Laws and policies based on common sense, evidence, independent science, and unbiased expertise; and
- Leaders who have the integrity, character, experience, and wherewithal to exemplify and enforce such expectations.
I believe these features are/should be the core purpose of the Democratic Party, and oh-by-the-way, they just so happen to fall neatly within the purpose and scope of Servant Leadership:
Servant leadership is a leadership philosophy. Traditional leadership generally involves the exercise of power by one at the “top of the pyramid.” By comparison, the servant-leader shares power, puts the needs of others first and helps people develop and perform as highly as possible. Servant leadership turns the power pyramid upside down; instead of the people working to serve the leader, the leader exists to serve the people. When leaders shift their mindset and serve first, they unlock purpose and ingenuity in those around them, resulting in higher performance and engaged, fulfilled employees. ("What Is Servant Leadership". Servant Leadership Institute. Servant Leadership Institute. Retrieved 20 June 2017.)
I believe this may have been the norm for public officials at some point in American history. It was at least within the public’s expectations that leaders served the People first and foremost. Fulfilled expectations create the “trust and confidence” — the healthy, balanced, trust-but-verify relationship between government and the governed — needed in any functional social compact.
That ideal has apparently slipped away, however, for reasons too numerous to detail here. Suffice it to say, that trust is substantially gone. Our social compact is in breach, and We the People want it back. How?
This is where the Democratic Party comes in, but only if we collectively agree on this premise of being servant leaders; sharing a united vision and holding failing Party members accountable. It’s about institutional integrity, and it’s a simple must.
The first step is to realize what character traits and values we must bring to the table. Fellow Democrats, our identity-message must be servant-leaders to the public interest. We are a vessel, not a power club. We have to exemplify it in everything we say and do. We have to listen first. Few undecided voters will care to listen to our issue positions if they don’t trust who we are or what we truly stand for. We have to listen always, especially while serving, and make good on whom and what we say we represent.
- Who are we? Servant-Leaders
- What do we do? Protect and promote the public interest
- Why? Because it’s the right, American thing to do.
And there’s our mission statement!
Here’s the real kicker: We don’t need to wait on Party leadership to make this happen, WE are the Party leadership and WE will make it happen. Make a public statement today: #TrueBlue Democrats are Servant-Leaders who Protect and Promote the Public Interest because it’s the Right, American Thing To Do.
My two cents on how to re-brand and save the Democratic Party so it can lead and serve, be a force for good, and not just provide an alternate choice on the ballot.
r/Mel
Democrat for Florida Senate, District 14
(Part 2: What About Red Districts?)
You can donate to or follow Mel’s campaign on www.MelforSenate14.com and: