Why We Need Leaders of Integrity in Government

How many times a year do we turn on the news only to see another depressing story about how our government leaders have failed their duties? How many times do we hear tales of leaders dealing below the board, working on their own agenda or for their own enjoyment, rather than working for the people that they serve? From the president of our country to lowly mayors of small towns, there are numerous examples of leaders that have failed to properly guide our country because of their irresponsible personal choices. Even though some people blame the system for flaws in our government, the real problem lies with the people who run it, which is why what our government needs, are leaders whose goal is to serve the American people and keep their integrity, even when they think no one is looking. First we will look at what integrity means, then we will discuss how large of a problem not having integrity is, finally we will see why it is a problem and what can be done about it.

First let’s discuss what integrity is and why it is important. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language defines integrity as, “1. Rigid adherence to a code of behavior; propriety. 2. The state of being unimpaired; soundness. 3. Completeness; unity.” In other words, integrity is firmly deciding to stick to what one believes, no matter what the cost and no matter who is or is not watching at the moment. Integrity means a man or woman who truly believes what they say and does not change their principles when the going gets rough. However, another way to look at integrity is to imagine an exceptionally lofty skyscraper that is unimpaired, sound, or complete, each piece in complete unity with all the other pieces of the building. A building like that ...

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...l these positions and titles he held, he remained an honorable man. Even as our first president he insisted on being respected, but not worshiped. He was institutional in helping develop the idea of a president rather than a king. He insisted on being called ‘Mr. President’ rather than a more traditional term like ‘Your Highness’ or ‘Your Majesty’. In the book American Government, Timothy Keesee says, “[…] the president can lost touch with reality and act more like a king than an elected president.” During his presidency he truly served the America people, never taking more glory than he deserved or using more power than he needed. From his humble beginnings as a surveyor of Virginia at only age nineteen to his amazing role in the American Revolution and first presidency, George Washington was an inspiring leader that our current leaders should strive to emulate.