The Farmer’s Field: Leadership Matters
It’s rare these days to tune in to any news outlet without hearing the political spin of the day. It seems the American populus is obsessed with politics.
After all, politics – agree with it or not – is a major driver behind what happens in each of our lives each day and has a major impact in every community across our nation.
With 24-hour news programs, podcasts and social media in today’s modern world, it is almost as if one can’t escape it.
Lately, one of the biggest news stories nationally is the blanket pardon issued for the son of our current president. Another is the presumptive executive orders our incoming president has suggested he will issue regarding illegal immigration. A third, is the decision by a New York judge to ignore the rules he set forth in a case when the jury’s decision did not provide the initial verdict he wanted.
In all three of these examples, we have leaders from different political affiliations who are acting unilaterally, and each has come under intense criticism.
Much of this criticism, I would argue, stems from the root of what causes extreme concern by the American people in nearly every circumstance. This is, leaders who take any situation into their own hands by removing due process – decisions which repudiate their constituents’ influence and send the message their authority is ultimately what is important.
This type of leadership is – and should be – massively concerning at all levels of government and circumstances where anyone is serving the public’s interests.
Many have heard me say it before – leadership matters. All of us are always setting an example, whether we realize it or not. Especially, those who have been elected to serve must exercise extreme caution when it comes to acting in an autocratic way.
For example, while I understand executive orders are “legal” for the most part, this is not the point. The point is the perception and distrust this type of action creates in the public’s eye.
Regardless of these issues, or how small they might seem, decisions made with this type of mindset are setting a dangerous precedent.
In a state like Wyoming, I’ve always thought we were fortunate enough to elect politicians who, for the most part, honor the will of our citizens. Of course there are always exceptions, but most are open-minded and willing to listen to both sides of the issue.
This is part of what makes good, effective leaders – a desire to hear and truly listen to arguments from all sides, without being influenced by or exerting their own personal bias prematurely.
Afterall, this is what we have elected and entrusted them to do – to provide equal representation to everyone they were elected to serve. Our expectations are to be heard, whether they agree with us or not. This is the beauty of a republic.
Unfortunately, if we agree with the resulting decision, we often do not care how it was obtained, but if the shoe is on the other foot, we feel betrayed.
When there is a process in place for the public to be heard, it is almost never a good decision for politicians to circumvent the process, but when elected officials think they are empowered to forgo or cancel altogether the process of hearing from the very people they were duly elected to serve, then it is up to the electorate to hold them accountable.
If they refuse to honor this responsibility of accountability and take the necessary corrective action, then the electorate must ensure they are not elected to office again.
It is imperative we the people are vigilant and constantly engaged so we do not allow this type of behavior to take hold in our communities, our state or our nation.
The recent action taken by the Laramie County School District #2 Board of Trustees regarding the consideration of a new elementary curriculum is a prime example of what I am talking about.
While there were already publicized, specific dates for public review, this board unilaterally decided it would cancel those dates and, thus, the opportunity for the public to appropriately review such curriculum and provide comment. Then the board eliminated consideration of the curriculum altogether.
When people in the community contacted the board to ask them to reconsider this action, to their credit, three board members were in favor of doing so. However, the remaining majority would not think of it.
To be perfectly clear, I have not seen the curriculum myself, so I am neither advocating for or against it. I am simply stating elected officials who will not honor even their own review processes, should not be serving in this capacity.
It may very well be the worst curriculum ever developed or contain components which are not a reflection of what we want our children to be influenced by, and if it is, after the full review process has been completed, then and only then, the board should vote against it. But this is not what happened.
These people are my neighbors. I truly appreciate their service and commitment, and I do not question each has good intentions. But this is the problem.
Famous Author Jim Collins says, “Bad decisions made with good intentions are still bad decisions.”
This couldn’t be more true, and it couldn’t be more true because no matter if the board ultimately decides to rescind this decision and allow the process to take place, the damage has already been done. The distrust and divide in the community has already grown roots and failed leadership is to blame.
Leadership matters. The smallest things matter. Let us not ever forget this.
Ron Rabou is president of Rabou Farms, Inc. in southeastern Wyoming, a nationally-known author and speaker and co-host of the nationally-syndicated podcast AgInspo. For more information, visit raboufarms.com.
