Federal Leadership

How do we define "Leadership" for our representatives in the Federal government?

One of the key words in the question is the fact that we elect REPRESENTATIVES to work on our behalf.  The U.S. Constitution was designed to protect the people from governmental oppression.  The Constitution was written to clearly reflect that the people are the employers of their governmental representatives.

This means that the true direction of leadership within the original design of the Federal government is from the people down to their representatives.  In other words, the PEOPLE are the leaders; Presidents, Senators, Representatives and Judges are our servants in conducting the business of the Federal government.

The even playing floor - the restrictions - on the representatives of the people are laid out in the Articles of the Constitution and in the amendments.  Amendment One contains five restrictions upon the people's servants.  The first states that "Congress Shall Make No Law Respecting An Establishment of Religion" which means that the representatives of the people shall not restrict the people (their supervisors... their leaders) by taking it upon themselves to establish a Federal religion.  Amendments 9 and 10 further delineate the boundaries of freedom and control by overtly stating that if the Federal Constitution does not specifically define a power as being Federal (within the purview of Executive, Legislative or Judicial branches) then that power - that right - belongs with either the people or their states of residence.

The Federal Constitution is a fairly brief document.  It outlines only three major areas of responsibility for Federal activity: National Defense (primarily an Executive duty), Free Trade (primarily a Legislative duty) and Equal Justice (primarily a Judicial duty).  Day-to-day activities of the people are not something that the Federal government has jurisdiction over.  The people are supposed to be the ones in charge of their lives, their choices and desires.  Likewise it falls to the people to solve problems of poverty, ill health and injury, education, business practices, transportation, housing, etc.  Federal intervention and restrictions assert in incorrect perspective that Federal representatives are the leaders and we are their servants.

When we see injury and destruction from natural disasters it falls upon the people to help each other.  We are free to establish our own organizations such as the Red Cross or various religious organizations to provide emergency aid, food and shelter to our neighbors within our own communities or in other states.  There is no role for government action other than to ensure that the people are not restricted from serving each other.

When we desire to provide an education to our children it falls upon the people to see paths to that goal.  There is no proper role for Federal intervention and restriction (or for that matter Federal funding) to affect the people's decisions in how they wish to establish educational options for their children.  If the people wish to pursue state-level guidelines for education, then they are free to do so (within the boundaries and limitations that their state Constitutions allow) but there is no role for Federal guidance, requirements, or intervention of any kind.

When we see poverty imposing limitations upon people through restricted options for housing, health care or nutrition then it is up to the people to find and provide their own remedies for each other through direct intervention, charities, or even local government policies and programs.  Again, there is no role for Federal intervention which is too distant from the individual to serve their needs.

When the Federal government takes on the responsibilities of the people to do these things, it has the effect of separating the people from their neighbors.  It establishes an expectation that "someone else" will take care of the problems that require local solutions.  Federal intervention severs the individual from their moral responsibilities and the leadership roles they are supposed to step into.