I think you're right on. It kind of reminds me of Jim Collins "Brutal Facts." We need a leader who will help us face the brutal facts rather than naive optimism. Whoever wins I don't envy them because it is going to be an incredibly tough job.

I recently commented on this matter on Wharton's Knowledge at Work blog article on Eyes on the Wrong Prize.

Clearly, we are witnessing a failure in leadership which crosses through government, corporate america, and countless associations and individuals to numerous to mention. This is all a dramatic result of a complete lack or understanding of leadership and management.
Management provides tools to make things better not worse.
Leadership ensures the right things are being done. Steven Covey's book quoted Warren Bennis that "management is doing things right and leadership is doing the right things." We are now witnessing the results of this failing of both leadership and management on a gargantuan level the effects of which may be to put the world's economic health and well being at risk.

I often write on the blog "Leadership Now" in an effort to help raise an awareness of the importance of the Leadership IQ for our society. Often, I feel like I am writing in vain to the minuscule few interested in the subject. It is amazing to me how many people in our society are entrusted with positions of huge responsibility yet lack the basics of a fundamental leadership skills or training. To my chagrin, very few organizations offer any real leadership training, say the United States Military. This is not to say that this needs to be a pre-requisite but society would benefit from taking the subject of leadership more seriously. Every member of society should understand leadership. It's a fundamental part of being a worker, parent, mentor, coach, sibling, child or even friend.

Leadership is where your collective Wisdom (the continuing development of your personal, spiritual, and intellectual activities and life experiences good and bad) meets the Realities of Life(avoiding delusion), then makes Judgements which are merely (decisions based on your best estimate of courses of action) then takes Actions which have recognizable Results (definable success or failure) that allows you to take Accountability (personal responsibility)

The good news is that this is a moment for leadership to shine because it is in crisis when leadership's mettle is tested, however, it is also a moment to be cautious because it is also a time where the masses of fear can be swayed by pseudo leaders who spout fearful language in charasmatic bravado.

Thanks for the blogs and comments on leadership. There is a lack of leadership in our country. When the presidential candidates think being leader is about criticizing and being negative about the opponent, that's not it. Nor is leadership promising to fix all our problems for us.

I agree that leadership can and should be taught. We teach high school students about leadership in our after-school programs (see us at www.EntrepreneursNOW.org) that then motivates them to be successful in their aspirations.