There’s a Deficit of Good Leadership in Washington — Here’s Why
On April 6, The War Horse Symposium convened at the University of Chicago. The event was sponsored by the Harris School of Public Policy, and The War Horse, a nonprofit newsroom that covers the “human impact of military service.”Event speakers ranged from Bob Woodward of The Washington Post to sitting Deputy Secretary of Defense Dr. Kathleen Hicks.If you didn’t know this event was happening don’t worry, I didn’t either.I only became aware of it after stumbling on this 6-minute video clip on Twitter:The clip is cut from an hour-long conversation between comedian Jon Stewart and Secretary Hicks.What was said in the clip is important. Jon Stewart calls out institutional fraud, waste, and abuse at the highest levels of government.But how it was received is arguably more important. The clip is a masterclass in how the plutocratic class in Washington views themselves. It reveals the unspoken divide that exists between those who govern and those being governed. This essay is going to dive into a few quotes from the exchange between Stewart and Secretary Hicks. Doing so will highlight an often overlooked problem in Washington: there isn’t just an abundance of bad governance, there’s a deficit of good leadership too.The gist of this whole symposium is journalism and accountability. According to The War Horse’s website: “The War Horse is an award-winning nonprofit newsroom that holds power to account, strengthens our democracy, and improves understanding of the true cost of military service.” It’s unclear if Secretary Hicks was briefed about that when she arrived. The clip begins with Jon Stewart highlighting the purpose of journalism. It’s not about reporting on the things that sound good…
0 Comments