This is the seventh in my installments on the State of the Union compared to the Democratic Presidential Party Platforms that President Joe Biden ran on.

It’s been a minute since my last installment.

I picked this topic today because according to the polls, confidence President Biden is low.

I’m sure we all want a Principle-Centered Leader.

Tweet

Perhaps the most important part is that real leadership comes from inside out. It’s who a person is, not what’s pasted on top. It’s not the reality show veneer, scripted and positioned for immediate and maximum impact.

I love Twitter as a writing tool. I find it quite difficult to get my thoughts across in 280 characters. Still, leadership takes deep listening and contemplation. It’s centered, consistent, dependable, reliable. Real leaders know where they’re going and why.

Stephen Covey distills Principle-centered leadership into four levels.

• Trustworthiness at the personal level.
• Trust at the interpersonal level.
• Managerial responsibility to get a job done with others.
• Organizational ability to build effective teams, to solve problems, and to create aligned structure, strategy, and systems.

Maybe all of our political leaders should be required to read this little book.

I can understand how citizens can debate the best approaches to immigration, education, the economy, health care, the environment, and criminal justice. There is lots of room to discuss, collaborate, and move forward. The people I’ve talked to who believe in a different approach than I are good people, principled people, patriotic people.

I cannot abide supporting someone who exploits the principles and patriotism of good people for his or her own egotistical gain. I cannot support a candidate who fights for a fraction of the citizenry and not all of us.

The majority of our citizenry wants some type of gun control. Yet I cringe when I hear a “leader” use gaining urban votes as the rationale:

While the GOP has a solid lock on the rural districts and communities, they have lost support in the more moderate suburban neighborhoods. Passing legislation that was important to them would hopefully bring them back home for November.

Mitch McConnell

In the words of the character Dr. Michael from Utopia when asked how much evil will you tolerate to do good:

No evil! No evil!

Warning Utopia is a very disturbing, binge-worthy show. It’s worth it for this scene alone.

After years of unprincipled leadership, our citizenry is reeling from a virtually unchecked pandemic, an economy in deep recession, and a lack of trust in our democracy, and our unity is endangered.

I can’t entirely agree with everything in the Democratic Platform. I’m not a registered Democrat. I’ve voted for Republicans in the past. I’ve had enough of the partisan divisiveness and

And, for the record, I do agree with the Democratic Platform’s position on Leadership.

America is an idea—one that has endured and evolved through war and depression, prevailed over fascism and communism, and radiated hope to far distant corners of the earth.

Democrats believe that we can only be strong in the world if we are strong and united at home. We believe that a healthy democracy, just society, and inclusive economy are essential prerequisites for effective American leadership abroad. And we believe that the ultimate measure —and purpose—of our foreign policy is whether it protects and advances America’s security, prosperity and values—and delivers results for all Americans.

Americans believe that diversity is our greatest strength. That protest is among the highest forms of patriotism. That our fates and fortunes are bound to rise and fall together. That even when we fall short of our highest ideals, we never stop trying to build a more perfect union. 

From the 2020 Democratic Platform

Character is important. The character of our President, yes, but more than that, the character of our democracy, our society, and our leadership in the world.

Woah! Now that’s off my chest.

If you’re interested in reviewing my previous analyses, which are side-by-side comparisons here are the links. November 3 is the official Election Day.

If you missed my prior State of the Union 2022 reviews, here are the links:

State of the Union 2022: Democracy

State of the Union 2022: Criminal Justice

State of the Union 2022: The Pandemic

State of the Union 2022: It’s The Economy

State of the Union 2022: Healthcare

State of the Union 2022: The Environment