Perils of Delusional Leadership for Individuals, Groups & Nations!.

Bad ideas flourish because they are in the interest of powerful groups. - **Paul Krugman**

Avowal: Our destinies are not shaped by our actions alone, but are ruined by reckless policies & intractable decisions of those we (s)elect. No hurt meant to anyone. But, truth should never be brushed under the political carpet.

Distilled Wisdom

Quotes are enunciated by women and men of great erudition, not just for embellishing our articles or presentations. These are distilled wisdom for those of us who would care enough; to learn and benefit from.

Some of us, nonetheless, seem to be so engrossed with our delusions as to have forgotten that many great women & men have stalked the Planet before us. Those, whose lives are Lighthouses... in deed.

Particularly those occupying highest roles of responsibility, must learn from the experiences of the former. Both, for good of their own selves as also for those whose lives are impacted directly or indirectly by their actions. Right or wrong actions; more of the latter types.

Individuals vs Groups

It was quite some time ago, while studying for my management course that I must have troubled the In-charge of our Library, the maximum. It was a rich treasure trove of wisdom, all Libraries are, with few partaking of the same.

I read a lovely statement (roughly recalled here) by an author..

‘An individual occupying position of high responsibility must conduct in accordance with the collective wisdom of the Group he represents’.

When an individual is guided by that distilled wisdom of a group, it is reasonable. Such a person is truly able to lead them.

When, however, an individual at the highest rung of leadership begins to behave only as an individual, it can be catastrophic not only for that individual himself but most certainly for the entire group.

No wonder that the leaders of large group such as an Army or a nation are chosen/elected... very carefully.

There, however, are times when a large group such as a nation, which has seen poor quality leaders one after the other, might have to choose the less dangerous from the available lot. For, you had none better to choose from.

End result of such choices can be much more catastrophic for that group than ever estimated by any. Smaller groups, at times, can get away, though.

Power, a serious responsibility.

Being leader of one of the most powerful nations is assumption of a serious responsibility, not negligence of it. For it is not a provisions shop. And people might not take it from a hegemon, for long!.

It seems people of one of the most powerful nations in the world are going through that very phase in its long life. Top leadership of which, though, expected to conduct in a manner behoving the status, is finding itself all over the place.

Reasons could be varied!. Incapability for the job!. Short-sightedness!. Greed & avarice!. Being self-centered!. Plain hubris!?. Disdain for others!. Or Immaturity!. May be an absolute misfit for a top leadership role. All these shortcomings being mutually-destructive.

Alas! there seems no light. Though we appear to have reached the end of the tunnel, already.

Ms Margaret Mead must be wondering, wherever she be. Each of her word is coming true. Where is that small of group of thoughtful people?!.

OK, we may be having that small group of people. But they have no idea which direction to take!.

They just appear to be lost like quadrupeds in a sandstorm. With a few of them looking Nordic-way for gratification of an individual’s greed; him being so obsessed with chasing ‘delusion’.

Eventually, such people are likely to go down an abyss, taking everyone else along. Hook, line and Sinker!.

Moral of The Story: The Irony

Mr Krugman, you seem to have been proved right by the presence of few powerful groups with flourishing bad ideas, these being in their interests!.

And,

Ms Mead, you seem to have been proved wrong by the absence of a few small groups of thoughtful people who could have changed the World for better!.

Maybe, it's time to bell the cat!.