Leadership

With the Iowa caucus tomorrow you cant turn on anything without hearing about who we're going to choose to "lead" us into the future. Newsflash for you here folks; America stopped leading anything along time ago. Oh sure, we lead the world in per capita consumption, waste, production of green house gases and obesity, but I' talking about leading in a positive manner. As a benevolent agent of change. Doing something to make the world a better place than when you found it. We havent signed the Kyoto treaty, cause some third world country wont be regulated as strictly as we will. Our schools are deteriorating because we have to pass a standardized test, rather than teaching kids how to think and why figuring stuff out is fun, even if it is hard. Our health care system is a privilege of the wealthy, because we wouldnt want to deny the pharmaceutical industry the right to make 8.4 billion dollars a quarter. We cant sell our cars in many countries around the globe, because it would cost too much to figure out how to make them more efficient. In short, we've stopped leading the way forward, because someone decided that they could make more money on the status quo, than they could shaking things up. What happened to the days of NASA taking a man to the moon, to the Marshall program, where we as Americans rebuilt Europe and Japan, not because we had to, but because it was the right thing to do. What happened to leading the world in invention, in scientific experimentation and education for everyone. Why now are we afraid of what our kids might see on TV, or the terrorist under every bush or the brown skinned guy coming to help feed his family. We lack true leadership. Our politicians are more afraid of losing funding than doing what they know will hurt people. Real leaders will do what is right and take it on the chin anyway, knowing that its right.

In Arlington Co. right now there's a new Co. Board Chairman. Walter Tejada is his name. This man is trying to lead. Really lead, not placate the wealthy, but do what is right despite what is risky. In Va., localities are limited in what they legislate, most things have to go before the state senate for approval. Walter isnt letting that stop him. Tejada is proposing a number of policies that tho technically voluntary, ways are being investigated to offer encouragement. Eliminating trans fat from restaurants is one. Some are on board with this plan, others arent so enthusiastic, siting the same old tired excuses for doing what is cheap and expedient. "Its too expensive", "it'll change the taste of the food". Get over it folks, healthy people have more money and time to eat out. Other more exciting plans include Co. wide programs to encourage people to completely eliminate their cars, starting a regional bike sharing program, start "accessory dwelling units", eliminate smoking in public spaces, and my personal favorite, requiring property owners to pay relocation assistance to low income families. Most, if not all of these are in place in cities and towns already. Trans Fat laws and Public smoking laws are on the books already in our area. Va tried to pass something like this earlier, but the tobacco lobby got involved when it got to the VA house. You can guess what happened next, not leadership. Car-Free Diet is a national program, and related to it is public bike sharing programs. Their are several already in place in cities like Paris, Munich and London. New York is looking into the feasibility of a program there. Accessory dwelling units are second dwellings on single home lots. Something akin to a Mother-in Law suite or an English basement. Given the size of houses in the area over the last couple of years, this is a brilliant idea. It would provide affordable housing, increase density in areas with mass transit and reduce sprawl. And finally requiring property owners to offer relocation assistance to low income families before they kick them to the curb after years of paying increasing rent. Cause its the right thing to do, it wont be popular among those who want to know down that 50 year old Apt. building, but its whats right. And that is leadership.

Go get'em Walter!!