by shay bell

With election season being here, it’s really got me thinking about leadership. What it means to be a leader, how to tell a real leader from ones who are just here for the benefits of being called a leader. Oh sure, the people in leadership positions like to PRETEND they’re leaders, but let me be the first one to tell you a title to your name doesn’t mean a thing if you don’t have the work and proof of responsible leadership behind you. And some of these so-called “leaders” are FAR from responsible.  

We need leaders who are accountable for their actions, not people willing to throw others under the bus in order to save their own skin. We need leaders willing to work with their teams to get results. A leader is someone who listens, who learns, and who makes space for the ones surrounding them. I’m sick and tired of our country, our state, our jobs being “led” by people who don’t have a moral compass and who couldn’t be bothered to understand the difference between right and wrong. 

A leader sees their people struggling and lends a hand to help instead of standing by and watching the work get done. And there’s so much work to be done. Work on issues like immigrant rights, reproductive rights, the right to abortion, affordable housing, climate equity, and the list goes on and on because we, the people, have needs that have not been met in a very, VERY long time. 

I miss the days of 2020 when real leaders held down the Commonwealth. Governed by a strong leader with progressive values meant that unnecessary abortion restrictions were a thing of the past. It meant common sense gun laws and tighter restrictions to protect our community. And it meant a community of equality, allowing for no discrimination based on sexual orientation. The community’s voices were heard, and problems were addressed. No one wants to be governed by a high-level leader with piss-poor leadership. No one wants to be governed by a leader who doesn’t care enough about their constituents to make basic changes to improve their air quality amidst the climate crisis, increase their safety in the face of gun violence, and ensure they have their basic rights. 

I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of sh*t leadership. Let’s start changing it the only way we can: by voting. Check out our 2023 Progressive Voters Guide to help choose our next group of leaders so we can finally get the leadership we deserve.