The Orange Way Editorial

"The Empty Suits"

We write often about the lack of leadership in Washington, but the leadership demonstrated in this moment in history is striking. Maybe the sense of a lack of leadership is heightened due to a lame duck President and a reticent (on the important issues) President-elect, but the failing extends to Wall Street, the business community, and other organizations across the country.

2008 was historic in removing the curtain in front of the great financial wizards of our time. Bernanke and Paulson were revealed as having- no idea or capacity to deal with the financial crisis. The investing leaders on Wall Street who invented complex financial mortgage securities have seemingly slipped into the night. The congressmen and women who supported Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and who refused to rein in the industries, have gone on the offensive against straw man threats such as de-regulation. The Banks that provided loans to those that should not have received the money have been badly damaged financially, resulting in enormous government bailouts.

The lack of leadership is demonstrated in the well known Governor Blagojevich scandal. The governor attempted to exploit his leadership position and sell the vacant senate seat. There were allegedly a number of potential buyers, offering up to $1 million for the appointment. Once the scandal was made public, the governor refused to step down. The Illinois senate agreed to pass a law requiring a special election for the Senate seat. Once it became apparent that a Republican might win the special election, the Illinois Democrats back away from the idea. This opening allowed the disgraced Governor to make an appointment for the seat. The US Senate is now threatening to not seat the appointment, a move that is clearly unconstitutional. This scandal is stuck in a quagmire of ineptitude.

Examples of incompetence and malfeasance go on and on, from the US automakers to the Catholic Church's continuing scandal. At the heart, though, it is a symptom of what Peggy Noonan calls the men in the "empty suits." The alleged leaders of this country wear their expensive suits, and give off an aura of power, but are largely empty beneath their veneer.They range from the incompetent to the dangerous. They are the men and women leading our country. Troubling times lay ahead until genuine leaders arise from this mess.

In the meantime, we are responsible for our own future and simply relying on direction from the men in the empty suits is not a viable option. A bit of personal responsibility and independence will serve America well in 2009.