This is not a political blog and I don't wish to turn it into one. However, as someone who is engaged in the political process I've become concerned about what seems to be lack of effective leadership in the State House of Representatives.
This week there have been several stories about a quickly emerging divide between social conservatives and economic conservatives within the Republican Party. The result has been bad behavior by some legislators, a rash of reprimands pushed through by leadership, and an embarrassing week of name-calling.
Whether you agree with one side or the other, it is clear the leadership of the House has let this situation deteriorate and has been reactive rather than pro-active in addressing whatever concerns its members have.
At the end of the day, this fight is ludicrous. Trying to uncouple economic conservatism from social conservatism is like cutting a quarter in half. What do you have? Nothing. You cannot have a strong, vibrant, free market economy that sustains itself without having a very strong moral foundation among the people.
This fight illustrates an appalling lack of effective leadership on the part of the State House. Republicans are in control of the legislature and every office of the executive branch. Apparently there are so few Democrats left in state government that Republicans have had to resort to infighting. And many of us saw this coming well before the votes had been counted last year.
Effective leadership, which in my opinion is leadership that keeps its eye on the goal, would have worked to head off this confrontation before it became a public spectacle. And if it was unable to accomplish that, it would have marginalized its opposition to the point their credibility would be undermined. The House leadership has done neither.
In fact, its actions this week have only contributed to the growing division within the Republican Caucus. The "Peter Principle" states that people tend to rise to the level of their incompetence. Are we seeing this in the House?
If the current leadership doesn't wish to see its own caucus devolve any further into chaos, I suggest it read two books. John Maxwell's 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership and Doris Kearns Goodwin's Team of Rivals. Both books could give the House Leadership some real insight to real leadership.
Whether you are running a business, non-profit organization, or a branch of government, leadership skills are essential to accomplish your goals. I am concerned at the apparent lack of these skills demonstrated in the State House.
