Where Will Tomorrow’s Leaders Come From

There seems to be an elevated amount of talk out there that the elections of 2024 will mark the beginning of the end of our ”grand experiment.” That wonderful experiment which began in 1776, and this July, we will mark 248 years since we declared our independence from Great Britain. 

Quite a feat to accomplish by what some described as a “rag-tag” bunch of farmers who served under General Washington. You have to realize that Great Britain at that time in the world was the one and only “super-power” of the day.  

The British fleet was second to none, as they had considerably weakened the French, their main competitor on the world stage. Yes, there were those who would join with France against the British such as Spain. 

The wonderful thing about the American Revolution came in the absolute brilliance of men such as Franklin, Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Paine, Madison and so many others. 

Some would refer to this period as the “Great American Enlightenment.”The influence of those men was substantialin crafting many of the documents which until today are referred to as the foundation for our democracy. 

Europe during this same time period in history would experience their own similar “Age of Enlightenment.” A time that saw its leaders beginning a journey of their own, one which would provide them with an awakening in how they saw the world and their responsibilities to each other and humanity. 

Today we live in the twenty-first century, a time which holds within it so many wonderful possibilities, as well as so many threats to humanity. 

Some might wonder whether this might be a time thatis ripe for another “age of enlightenment” as we look to a new generation of great thinkers and leaders. Men and women who might look beyond the boundaries that once tethered us to outdated philosophies and convictionsthat were once held as the norms in our livesby pastgenerations. 

Humanity continues to advance its intellectual boundaries well beyond those that were held by our parents. Those working with Artificial Intelligence face challenges with setting realistic boundaries for its applications and uses as many questions are now being asked. 

Cloning is another example of the advances made in science which were once only a theory but now might hold promise for a number of fields. Thanks to the work of scientists in Scotland, who in 1996 successfully cloned a sheep from the cells of another female sheep, many new doors have been opened. 

You have to wonder whether we have exhausted those great minds that gave birth to our wonderful dream of a governing system that didn’t rely upon an autocratic monarchy as they did throughout Europe during the 17th and 18th Centuries. 

Unfortunately, many believe governance in our own nation can appear to be no better than a weekly comedic sitcom found on television today.Wait a minute, that idea has already hit the small screen, starring Julia Louis Dreyfus on cable TV and survived seven seasons. The Veep aired from 2012 to 2019 on HBO. 

The American people deserve a better choice in the 2024 election instead of the choices being offered by the two major parties for the highest office in the land. Are you kidding me? With 330 million citizens in this country, is this the best we can come up with?  

Many of us yearn for a return to a sense of normalcy in our nation when, by our actions, we are respected by both our citizens and those of our allies. When our word is once again taken to mean something. 

A time when we could turn on the news in the evening and it is not dominated by story after story regarding violence on the streets or the overdose deaths in our parks. 

I only wish it could be as simple as unplugging that computer or cable box for your TV and plugging it back in to reboot it. I’m not sure where that plug is for our nation, but someone needs to find it, and soon.