Leadership and Change

While the screaming pleas of change have been ringing in our ears for the last several weeks, it was never more apparent than on Super Tuesday. Impossible parking situations, long lines, ballot shortages--all beautiful indicators that American is ready for change. These are the thoughts that danced in my head as I walked alongside my fellow democrats, ready and inspired to see what this wonderful thing called democracy was all about. We stood in line, happily chatting away as we waited.

Once in the gym of the school, each person was able to cast his vote by writing the candidate of his choice on a blank white piece of paper and putting in the box on the stage (later we found out that nonofficial ballots are actually against the rules). As people filed in, our evening's leader stood on the stage shouting some "All rights!" enthusiastically into his microphone, clearly elated by such a turnout. Once it appeared that everyone was in the gym and ready to start, the agenda was announced--elect delegates (all 37 delegate positions were filled), elect a new precinct chair, and present the resolutions. This is where things get a little...chaotic.

A guy stands up and reads his resolution into the microphone (something having to do with the prosecution of vandals). Another guy from the audience shouts out a question about it. A third guy shouts his argument against it before the resolution reader can answer the second guy's question. Guy #4 is the rules guy--he stands up and shouts out that each side is allowed two arguments and if the room doesn't have a strong yay or nay, the resolution dies. Our evening's hero makes his first appearance. He's the only guy who seemed to make sense out of anything. He takes the lead, explains the process, and in the end, that particular resolution goes no where. A couple more resolutions are read and yay'ed. A gal goes up and reads her resolution about the housing crisis. She gets reamed with questions from the audience, none of which she can answer. Our hero stands up and explains the situation and after several more shouts about the rules, it's agreed that the resolution will be modified and yay'ed.

In between his overt declarations of love for his wife (I'm not kidding), the evening's leader managed to get the ballots counted and the winner was announced--Obama won by a landslide. Incidentally, the ballots were taken out of the room and counted, which I later found out is also against the rules.

Ok, what did I learn from this? Here are my observations:

1) Change IS, in fact, in the air. Some have argued on this blog that politicians often make false promises of change--that one politician cannot make change happen. I couldn't agree more. However, the fact America has not seen such a turn out for caucus since the Vietnam War years is just another indication that Americans want change. We need change. And we will seek a leader who will help US make change. Kouzes & Posner's commitments of Enabling Others to Act and Encourage the Heart come to mind when I think about my idea of good presidential leadership because I want to be part of the difference, part of the change that will make this country and world a better place to live in. Why leave it in the hands of the politicians when we become leaders of change ourselves?

2) That said, my second observation is that we need more participation in the democratic process as a whole, not just in terms of voting. I can hardly criticize the way the caucus was handled, given that this was my first experience with a caucus. Maybe I was the only one who initially thought that the caucus seemed to draw the crazies out. Then again, who am I to judge the active participants who are making democracy happen? Obviously, no one was ready for a turn out at the caucus like the one we had and it was a messy night in general but I admire those who volunteered to make sure it happened.

3) I do not know nearly enough about how this all works. I don't know about you, but this caucus definitely taught me that I have a lot to learn. Thanks to Professor Crosby for requiring us to attend the caucus and further piquing my interest in the process.

--Kristi