Dear LPG,

Have you ever watched someone who has been placed in charge make a decision that you completely disagree with? 

I know that typically, my friends and I will watch the discussions about the national ones on the television and then the subject will come up when we talk to our friends and family, and I have no doubt that we are no different to any of the other members of the population who are affected by the final outcome of so many of the laws and rules that we all end up having to accept and live under.  Have you ever suggested that someone ought to be removed from their office because of a decision that they have made? Notice that I am not naming any names here because I am not necessarily talking about our national and local government politicians (but I have to admit that a few come to mind when I think about this subject).  

Anyone who has assumed any level of leadership often ends up having to make choices that are popular with some but not with others. 

How many times has your attitude been that we should depose that leader strait away?  The problem is that most of us who think that are not thinking about all the consequences. 

The big question is usually, who would we replace that person with and would they do a better job?  We are supposed to be a country that typifies the democratic model when it comes to the way things are run but we often forget that any sort of leadership is a bit of a plate-spinning juggling act.  So the next two questions need to be, ‘Do you think that you could do a better job’ and ‘Would you be willing to take over?’   

I figure that running the country, having jurisdiction over some aspect of local council, being involved in the running of a small charity or community project, or even becoming the arbitrating parent or grandparent when it comes to keeping the peace between grown up children who cannot see eye to eye, is a job that many of us are forced into at some point in our lives, and where whatever decisions we make will upset someone.

I have found that thinking about it from this point of view does not make having to adhere to the results of someone else’s decision that you don’t agree with any easier but it might colour your thought about what you do next.

But that is another story…

MG, Forest Hill