Where are the Leaders?

Whenever we talk with friends and colleagues about trimming the federal budget or raising taxes, the inevitable response is “Politicians don’t suggest those things because people don’t want them.” This is undoubtedly true. Left to our own devices, no one wants to make hard decisions, like paying more money to the government or turning down a contract between the federal government and a local business that provides money and jobs to our neighbors.

But just because we don’t automatically want a smaller budget or higher taxes doesn’t mean we can’t be convinced that those things are in our best interest. Where are the leaders to convince us? Who is in government today that can say, “These are hard decisions, but they will make us all better off by leading into this plan…” and then gives us a plan for us to collectively sacrifice for our national benefit? Who?

We’d vote for that candidate and support them for higher office. But we haven’t seen anyone who will make a genuine and not token call to sacrifice.