We need leaders who inspire us to be better—who lift us up, not tear us or others down. True strength is measured in humility, not in volume or venom. It is the weak man—or woman—who tries to feel big by making others feel small.
Yet, we live in a time when anger is mistaken for authenticity, and cruelty for courage. The loudest voice in the room often drowns out the wisest. And too many voters, worn down by uncertainty and fear, turn toward those who promise strength not by offering solutions—but by pointing fingers.
Psychologists call it authoritarian appeal: the phenomenon where individuals under stress or threat gravitate toward dominant, unyielding leaders who express rage without remorse. These leaders project certainty, even when they are wrong. They are never sorry, because to them, apology is weakness. To some, that sounds like leadership. In reality, it’s a mask for insecurity and control…