To be an effective leader, a public official must maintain the highest and moral ethical standards.

Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the statement and explain your reasoning for the position you take. In developing and supporting your position, you should consider ways in which the statement might or might not hold true and explain how these considerations shape your position.

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What is an effective leader? Any great leader must be able to make quick, smart decisions and manage his people well. However in the case of public officials, an effective leader must be able to stir up the public's opinion. Along these lines, I strongly agree to that a public official  must be moral and ethical in order to be an effective leader. Two compelling real-life cases bolster my assertion.

Recently, there was much wringing of hands as well as fulminations by the public around some of Governor Chris Christie's actions in New Jersey. To give an example from many, Gov. Christie blocked off a few lanes in a specific part of New Jersey that caused inconveniences for people. Not only was this found intentional, but it was also found immoral because he had done this egregious thing because of a personal malicious feeling towards the officials in that part of town. The public was enraged. This incident raises the question whether an effective leader must necessarily possess high moral standards. Christie had previously been deemed as an effective leader, in so far as being considered for the presidential nominee. However, this one incident more than piqued the public and its view soured towards him. After this and a couple more similar cases, the public is unlikely to consider Christie an effective leader suited for any better position. A public official must, therefore, maintain his or her scruples.

An analogous case in history is compelling in this regard. Emperor Napoleon is still considered to be among men who amassed the most political power in the history of the world. However, even he, at times, did not show the highest ethics and morals. He was traveling with his troops and stopped at Jaffa, inevitably because most of his troops had been afflicted with an infectious disease. Many were dying. It is said that Napoleon ruthlessly killed off many soldiers so that the disease would be contained. The Emperor is said to have returned to France blaming the disease for the death of most of his troops. Napoleon's immoral acts was not limited to this one event. Although history may have forgotten much of Napoleon's misdoings and remembers him as a once-powerful leader, this must not have been true for the people under his government. For the people who are actually under the person's power, a moral leader would make the effective leader.

In sum, public officials must have high morals to win the hearts of the public, and hence be an effective leader.


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comments:
practice writing more so I'm not lagged in searching for words.
logical structure at the expense of wording is better.