Radical Idea: Politicians Who Lead

Every election season, politicians ask us for the same things:

Vote for me.

Donate.

Knock on doors.

Put a sign in your yard.

Then the election ends. They go off to govern. We go back to our lives. End of story.

Isn’t something missing?

Imagine a politician who stood before a crowd and said:

“I can't fix this country by myself. Neither can Congress. If we’re going to make America stronger, I need your involvement—not just your vote.”

How often do we hear anything like that?

Most politicians are good only at the negative—the economy is a disaster, democracy is under threat, crime is out of control, the other side is dangerous, the future is bleak. Is anyone else tired of this?

These days, I find myself impatient, wanting more, a lot more. I’ve finally identified what that is:

I want politicians to actually lead.

A leader does not just ask us for things, the do more than tell how they will make things better. They tell us how we can make things better. For forty years, I taught business people to be good leaders. I taught my clients to understand that leadership means helping others understand how, together, we can achieve great things.

But almost no politicians do this. They make clear what they want, but far too often, they explain nothing, ask nothing. And, as a result, they almost always change nothing.

Today, I watched an advertising spot by Jon Ossoff who is defending his Senate seat in Georgia. First, he says several negative things about Trump. He’s really good at this. Then, he says if you’re fed up with Donald Trump, here is something you can do right now: Send me $20!

This is not leadership!

Let me be clear: I am not pining for better political “messages.” Rhetoric also changes nothing.

I want politicians to understand that I’m worried for my country and want to help change it. I want them to enlist me. To use me. To bring us together in common cause.

In the political context, maybe Recruiter is a better word even than leader.

If democracy is in danger, I want to know how I can help. How can we proceed? Recruit me!

If our communities are weakening, how can we strengthen them? What role must I play? How do we shore up what is breaking?

If young people are losing faith in our country, how can we support them?

In short, I want compatriots, way finders, and enlisters, not polished speechifiers. And, to be clear, I am even done with skillful Trump bashers.

Hey politician: Tell me where people are already making a difference. Introduce me to others who also care. Give me a meaningful role. Challenge me to contribute and show me how.

Help me see that citizenship is not a spectator sport. Help me come out from behind my screen and get involved.

The message I hear from too many politicians is, “Things are terrible. Elect me and I’ll fix them.” The message I long to hear is:

Things are difficult. But, together, we can effect change. Come join us. Here’s what we can do together.

John F. Kennedy did this, framing citizenship as shared responsibility rather than passive consumption. Kennedy asked Americans to serve—and then created the Peace Corps so they could. This is the kind of leadership I long to see again.

LBJ and George H. W. Bush also emphasized the importance of service. So did W and Obama. And today, Pete Buttigieg, and Corey Booker and others are calling for service. Thank you.

Politicians typically ask citizens to support them. I am asking them to support us. Support us in reclaiming our role as active citizens and moving away from critics and spectators.

Our democracy doesn’t need better politicians. It needs better leaders, recruiters who see their primary job as creating active citizens.

Please forward this to someone under 40.