Should A Wisconsin Face Be On Mount Rushmore?

Okay, so there’s George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, and….Scott Walker? No..no. The Fitzgerald boys? Oh… no.. no.  I know, how about Paul Ryan? Robin Vos? Tommy Thompson? Anyone? Ask yourself this question; did it seem at all ludicrous to even suggest any of these names as candidates to be immortalized in granite next to those already on Mount Rushmore?

I think I can help with the answer, and more importantly, why this should be important to you today…. right now.

According to James O’Toole in his book Leading Change, the answer lays beyond the initial reasons why those on Mount Rushmore were chosen – what they have in common. All were leaders. All were important in the formation and evolution of the country we live in today. All left a profound legacy, and all of them practiced what O’Toole calls, "values-based leadership."

This does not mean family values, nor does it mean steadfast adherence to a political ideology. What is meant by the term, values-based leadership, is a recognition of basic, universally accepted human rights, and using this recognition as the foundation for all leadership acts, decisions, and thoughts.

Biographers of Mount Rushmore’s “Gang of Four” described “their leadership characteristics: courage, authenticity, integrity, vision, passion, conviction, and persistence.” In addition; “the ways they led were said to be similar; they listened to others, encouraged dissenting opinions among their closest advisors, granted ample authority to their subordinates and led by example rather than by power, manipulation or coercion.” Does this sound like ANYONE in Madison?

How do you know when one is exercising values-based leadership? Ask these questions; “when is it appropriate to abuse people? When should we not include people in decisions that directly affect them? When is it right for leaders to break faith with their followers and betray their trust?” If the answer to all of these is never, then “values-based leadership” is being practiced. Madison, how did you answer these questions?

With the union-busting “budget” legislation and now one of the most restrictive voting ID legislation in the country belonging to our beloved state (courtesy of contingency or situational thinking - both of which lack this universal values-based approach) we need to impress upon those in Madison to consider what O’Toole calls “Rushmorean Leadership”- “trustworthiness, respect, promise-keeping, service, faithfulness – these are moral principles.” Come on Madison, give it a try. 

O’Toole’s point is that to affect the transformative, positive change Wisconsin needs, we should know that leadership must be inclusive, not adversarial. It must be compromising, not politically expedient. And regardless of task or crisis, human values should be the basis, the foundation of leadership in every aspect.

That is how you leave a legacy worthy of a granite likeness. And let’s be honest with ourselves, the current crop of individuals warming the seats of leadership in Madison don’t even come close.

This is why we should worry. This is why a Wisconsin face isn’t coming to Mount Rushmore anytime soon.