Leadership

LEADERSHIP
I was going to title this “Where is the leadership in Charlotte today?” But after much thought I figured it was best to just title it Leadership. When I moved to Charlotte in 1979, which makes me a Charlottean just about, this city could count on four or five guys to get things done. I’m thinking of guys like Bill Lee, John Belk, Johnny Harris, Hugh McColl and Ed Crutchfield to name a few. If something “good” needed to be taken care of the in the city these “guys” got it done. Whether it was roads, utilities, developments, recruiting, arts, quality of life or anything else, you could count on these guys putting Charlotte first. These “men” knew if they put what was best for Charlotte first, everything else would fall into place.

I have jokingly said to my friends over the years that Charlotte was “Babylon”. Babylon as you recall was at one time the wealthiest city in the world. One of the best books you can ever read, which I recommend all to read, is “The Richest Man in Babylon”. This book will change your life if you will only follow its simple principles. I will discuss this in another blog soon.

Charlotte over the years has evolved into a banking center, which is not a bad or evil thing, but has created a culture of climbing the corporate ladder and an attitude of what’s best for me or “what’s in it for me” mentality. Where are the leaders of Charlotte today? Or better yet, where are the leaders of America today? Where do you turn today for integrity and truth? Who is willing today to stand up and say this is what needs to be done? Is government the answer to our economic problems or the cause of them? Is Free Enterprise the enemy now? Are the free thinkers and free talkers soon to lose their freedom all for the sake of our presumed economic security? I would love to bring Paul Revere, John Hancock and Benjamin Franklin back and see their reaction to the government today. I’ll bet anybody they would lead another revolution. But more importantly, when are the “men” living today going to get the courage, stand up today and say enough is enough? I say it’s time to quit hiding behind the illusion of security and a salary which could be eliminated tomorrow and probably will and get back to those principles that made America great! Speak up, write, get involved and tell the congress and senate, we don’t need the bailout! We need less government, not more. We need freedom and the pursuit of happiness, not more taxes and regulations! Just turn your TV. off and do something! Do something now!