Mencius has much to say about political leadership.  For him, a wise leader, some times termed a “true emperor,” is key to stability and prosperity.  The US has suffered for so long with the venal and bumbling Bush administration, that is easy to forget that good leadership might actually make a difference.  Instead we are confronted with the daily reminders of malfeasance and incompetence.  Here are three headlines from todays WaPo:

Federal Deficit Grows After Three Years of Decline

Dozens Killed in Iraq Suicide Bombings

Justice Officials Repeatedly Broke Law on Hiring, Report Says

   And that’s not even trying to find the bad news.  Perhaps it’s time to follow Mencius’s advice:

If the sovereign is making grave mistakes, they admonish him.  If they
have to admonish him over and over, and he still refuses to listen –
they replace him. (10.9)

But just not Dick Cheney, please…