(Most) Politicians Are People Too!

Although it's kind of obvious to the people who have seen their share of political embarassment within the past decade, it needs to be said that there's a difference between leaders and politicians. Not only is it that not all Congressmen fit the bill of a real leadership role, but it's gotten to the point where politicians and leaders are completely different people doing completely different things. Good politicians lead the government, but good leaders lead people. The fact is that the federal and even some state governments have distanced themselves from the lowly citizen, and it seems like their actions have become more for the sake of the country, and not that of the individual. Whenever and wherever this happens, the systems (or rather, the people running them) simply corrupt themselves. They have forgotten or ignored who they're really in power for. They decide to experiment with their influence, pushing the laws past their limits, and pursuing their own interests.

Which brings us to the current scandal, and the role our "leaders" and our laws play in it. We are all guaranteed and protected by the same basic rights within the Constitution, including the right to privacy. With these freedoms, however, come consequences should you infringe upon the rights of another human being - consequences that everyone is subject to, regardless of political standpoint or power. Simple enough, you say? Well, don't forget the ever-popular notion that government leaders should be scrutinized more closely than the rest. If we feel the need to watch the people who watch out for us, can we really say we made the right choice in our leaders, the ones who set an example for an entire nation?

School performance is a somewhat different matter. It's important for teachers to understand and relate to any problems a student might be having, so that they can be helped. This help should not come in the form of a sugar-coated sympathy grade; such an action will not solve any problem the student may have, present or future. The conflict or mental block must be removed through nothing but good old thoughtfulness of words and actions.