1 post tagged “oil”
After spending time being riled/disappointed about the lack of leadership on Mugabe's Zimbabwe over the last few days, i've decided to collect some videos that i think exemplify the kind of leadership that the world can and should have. There is an obvious distinction between what Obama and McCain would do for Zimbabwe as president... Given the way that Obama's campaign is run and financed, and how simply and powerfully it exposes the corruption at the heart of the American system he seeks to change, I don't think you can even call McCain a 'leader'.
See, It isn't just that Barack delivers great speeches - which he certainly does. And it's not just that he is a first class intelligence willing to speak truth to power - which he is. What is truly great is the boldness to make radical changes about how his campaign is financed, so that the idealism and hope he embodies aren't compromised. This is not following. This is leading. This intention, and this act, to reach out to millions of people he plans to represent for $20 or $50 donations stands in stark contrast with a Pollster driven, Oil Dollar and War Money financed campaign that comes from McCain. That he takes it one step further (see the third video in the showreel) by forgoing the public purse for the critical final months ... that ... is nothing short of inspiring.
To choose against pollsters writing your speeches, and to choose a measure of financial independence from the those most nefarious forces at the core of the American system is a very great and very unusual thing. It should be applauded because in American Presidential elections, it really is unprecedented.
For me, this is the difference between following and that old word 'leading'.
