We Need Better Leaders

So Let's Stop Driving Them Away

It’s election season, and we're caught in a destructive loop.

Every day, headlines, tweets, and TikToks seem dedicated to tearing politicians apart: nitpicking their clothing choices, dissecting every awkward phrase, and mocking minor missteps. Prime Minister Trudeau wears his sweater backwards, and it becomes national news (it was, admittedly, pretty funny). Another politician stumbles slightly over a word, and it's immortalized into viral memes. Every bite they take, every post they make, is analyzed under a microscope of ruthless scrutiny.

While accountability in leadership is essential, our current obsession with petty criticism isn't just counterproductive; it is harmful. This culture of over-scrutiny and incessant criticism does not just demean individual politicians; it actively discourages the competent, humble, and morally grounded individuals we desperately need in leadership roles.

Think about it. What sane, capable person would willingly subject themselves and their families to a relentless barrage of ridicule, criticism, and invasion of privacy? What reasonable individual, filled with good intentions and the skills to improve society, would volunteer for a life spent under a magnifying glass, where their every misstep is blown wildly out of proportion? I personally could never handle something like that.

The harsh reality is clear: our obsession with trivial criticisms, our desire to meme-ify everything, and our clinginess to WhatsApp-group-virality, is creating an environment hostile to genuine leadership. Instead, it's producing a new breed of leader, those who are either too egotistical to care about criticism, who have no shame whatsoever, or who actively seek attention regardless of how negative it might be. These aren't necessarily the leaders we want; they're just the only ones left willing to endure the madness.

Moses’ humility

In Judaism, there's a powerful lesson about leadership rooted in humility, demonstrated profoundly in the origin story of Moses. When chosen by God to lead (standing before a bush that burned but that was not consumed), Moses didn't jump eagerly at the chance; he declined, questioned his own abilities, and even pleaded for someone else to assume the role. His reluctance wasn't a sign of weakness or cowardice. His not wanting to take on the vitally important role of leading his people out of Egypt was a demonstration of true humility and an understanding of the gravity of leadership. He then went on to become the best leader in Jewish history and tradition.

Moses’ hesitation teaches us something essential: the best leaders aren't those clamoring for power or attention. Rather, they're the ones who understand the immense responsibility leadership entails and accept it cautiously, even reluctantly, out of a deep sense of duty. These are precisely the people we need leading today, who are individuals driven not by ego or ambition, but by genuine compassion, competence, and moral clarity.

Why such a fixation on trivialities?

But here's the problem: our current tear-down culture is repelling potential leaders like Moses. Our constant ridicule and relentless criticism punish humility and elevate shamelessness. We mock leaders who admit mistakes and reward those who double down even when wrong. In doing so, we're systematically eliminating precisely the characteristics we should cherish most in our leaders.

We must then ask ourselves: why have we become so fixated on trivialities? Is it because it's easier to criticize superficial flaws than grapple with complex policy issues or the true demands of leadership? Have we replaced meaningful accountability with mere spectacle? I would argue, yes. Hell yes.

True accountability isn't found in mocking sweaters or nitpicking social media posts. It’s found in scrutinizing decisions that genuinely impact lives, which includes policy choices, moral actions, and ethical judgment. But we're so distracted by the trivial that we've lost sight of what actually matters.

What should we do?

If we genuinely desire better leadership, our cultural values around scrutiny and criticism must shift. Instead of treating politicians like reality TV characters meant for entertainment, let's evaluate them by their merits: integrity, competence, humility, and a demonstrated ability to lead effectively.

This shift demands courage and patience. It requires all of us - voters, media, and influencers - to consciously resist the cheap thrill of trivial criticism and commit instead to focusing on substance. It means praising humility and authenticity instead of ridiculing vulnerability. It means creating a public discourse that values seriousness over sensationalism, quality over spectacle.

By changing our cultural attitudes toward leadership and scrutiny, we create space for precisely those people who are reluctant to lead - those like Moses, who might not seek power, but are prepared, out of duty and genuine compassion, to serve their communities. These are the leaders who are thoughtful, reflective, and morally grounded, who genuinely want to do good rather than merely look good.

Imagine

Imagine a society led by such individuals. Imagine political debates that prioritize wisdom over wit, humility over hubris, and genuine policy discussion over performative outrage. Imagine leaders who are celebrated not for their ability to deflect criticism but for their courage to acknowledge mistakes, learn from them, and move forward constructively.

I will personally do my best, at least in the coming weeks until election day - April 28 - to stop using hyperbolic and inflammatory language that serves no cause other than getting a laugh or a nod from an ally. I know who I am voting for - I’m a Conservative at heart, and will be voting that way - but I obviously respect those who lean Liberal, and people who approach the political discourse with sincerely held views and beliefs. At the very least, I don’t need to be unnecessarily dismissive of them because they lean one way or another (unless they’re anti-Israel, which is an entirely other story and litmus test on humanity and morality more broadly. See here).

We are at a pivotal moment. If we continue down our current path, leadership positions will increasingly be dominated by those least qualified to hold them. The partisan blinders we all wear will become more permanently affixed to our heads. The win-lose mentality that has dominated American politics will hit here, ferociously, unnecessarily.

If, however, we consciously shift our approach, emphasizing genuine merit and thoughtful humility over superficial criticism - and at the very least, guard our tongues - we will foster an environment where the best among us feel empowered, and not deterred, to step forward and lead.

Let's choose wisely. The future of leadership, of Canada, and our communities, depends upon it.

Shabbat shalom