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Serving the UMN community since 1900

The Minnesota Daily

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By demonizing pleasure, we set ourselves up for unfulfilling sex lives.
Opinion: Let’s talk about sex
Published March 27, 2024

Minnesota needs a leader

Political institutions have no more room for the fickle and dishonest.

Virtually all of the candidates at the latest gubernatorial debate spoke at great lengths without saying anything meaningful. Making sure to mention hot topics such as health care, education and the like, each politician stuck to party lines like flies on waste. Even more disturbing to think about is that as little as these politicians say, you can count on them to do even less. It has become clear that in our great era of technology and globalization, leaders do not run our nations âÄî politicians do. Politicians seek election first and foremost, and it is because of this that the majority of them are unfit to be leaders. They do everything they can not to look elitist and to flaunt their ability to relate to the masses. They sing and dance and almost everything in between in order to receive the approval of the rabble, and that is where the true problem lies. Instead of trying to demonstrate their superiority and strength, they go out of their way to limit and retardate themselves. Worse yet, a substantial number of voters adore this. ItâÄòs likely youâÄôve heard âÄúseems like a guy I could hang out and have a beer withâÄù as a reason for one to vote for a particular candidate. But why? What inferiority complex do we suffer from that we would not want a leader who is great? I do not want a leader who I can relate to, who I find attractive, who âÄúseems nice.âÄù I want a leader who has the intelligence of a genius, the courage of a lion and the will to change the world for the better. I want a leader who will not appeal to the rabble but instead will have the rabble appeal to him. The politicians of today do nothing. They complain about what an injustice it is that the government spends its money so carelessly, then they eat gourmet meals paid for by tax dollars. They rally against increases in crime but only increase police budgets and do nothing to solve it. For if these problems were solved, what would they do? If the world was fine, what use would they have? The politicians of today do not change the world. They do not want to grow. They want to hold fast to their traditions and routines. But what does not grow stagnates. A leader wants to advance. A leader does not limit his vision to the problems of today, as so many politicians do. Where in chess a politician can only see one move ahead, a leader sees the game holistically. A politician will shuffle the pieces around, only biding time until his replacement comes and takes the loss. A leader is too busy building and expanding to even think of life after power. For the politician, freedom lies in oneâÄôs retirement, while the leaderâÄôs retirement feels like imprisonment. Politicians are clay to be molded, to take as many shapes as possible in order to look appealing to the greatest number of people, but they are unable to move on their own. Leaders are champions, praised for their victories and wisdom. Clay may take a pleasing shape if molded correctly, but how pathetic it looks in the shadow of a great leader. Why would we allow the throne of power to be held by statues? Let it be held by one who is great, who has vision, one whose strength is beyond compare. Are any of the gubernatorial candidates such a leader? None have demonstrated the characteristics IâÄôve described thus far, but itâÄôs still early in the race. If the candidates truly care about the state of Minnesota, they should shed their political skin and stand before us as leaders. Let them show us what makes them great, not human. If society is not ready for them and does not accept them without their political masks, then they should hold their heads high as they exit the race rather than present themselves as something theyâÄôre not. They owe us honesty. The state of Minnesota deserves greatness, and it is up to all of us to demand no less from our leaders. Luke Schieve, University undergraduate student

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