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"Leadership" programs

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"Leadership" programs

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Joe42 Posted: Thu, Sep 1 2011 2:24 PM

There are a number of of leadership programs available to youngsters:
- National Student Leadership Conference
- National Youth Leadership Forum
- National Teen Leadership Program
- National Leadership Institute
- Disney Leadership Program
- LeadAmerica Youth Leadership
et cetera...

Hypothetical explanation and risk:
High minimum wage means kids aren't being hired. High barrier to entry (permits, certifications, restrictions) means kids aren't starting businesses. As a whole they are not becoming skilled laborers. Parents want their kids to be ready for the future, but since kids don't have the freedom to try leading first-hand programs are invented to teach leadership. I'm guessing programs like these tend to have a lot of financial support. Kids in such programs may be dined on public dollars, teaching them a deeper lesson about the personal gains of government sponsorship.

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Neodoxy replied on Thu, Sep 1 2011 2:49 PM

I think it comes down to the fact that that kids would work below the minimum wage even if they could. They don't want their kids to do that, kids don't want to do that. However, the idea of leadership is an illustrious one. No one wants to be in the lower strata or an average laborer or worker. It is seen as a good way to get to a higher and more important place in society through leadership. It's just that it is seen as the way to go more or less.

At last those coming came and they never looked back With blinding stars in their eyes but all they saw was black...
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FleetCenturion replied on Wed, Sep 7 2011 6:34 AM

Whenever you see a program or class that displays the word "leadership", substitute the term "useful idiot".  These programs have nothing whatsoever to do with leadership or management in any way; only the blind obedience to the program doctrine-- whch would be the exact opposite of leadership.  "Youth", "students", and "teens" are hardly qualified to lead anyone anywhere or to manage anything important.  It is useful idiot training and nothing more.

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Wheylous replied on Wed, Sep 7 2011 11:03 AM

I agree that youth programs are generally not as useful as they might seem at first glance, but I do disagree that teens cannot be leaders. Is age a requirement to spread the ideas of freedom and liberty?

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Nielsio replied on Wed, Sep 7 2011 11:53 AM

Scouting prepares you to be a soldier, and 'Leadership' prepares you to be a politician.

Production and value creation is of no concern here.

VforVoluntary.com | Youtube.com/Nielsio | Reddit.com/r/austrian_economics
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James replied on Wed, Sep 7 2011 6:36 PM

I agree that youth programs are generally not as useful as they might seem at first glance, but I do disagree that teens cannot be leaders. Is age a requirement to spread the ideas of freedom and liberty?

One does generally need some time to get their wits about them when they arrive in the lunatic asylum.

The essential point is that leaders are those who people choose to follow...  Not people who are good at kissing ass, which is all they encourage at things like this.

Non bene pro toto libertas venditur auro
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Wheylous replied on Wed, Sep 7 2011 9:05 PM

Have you been to any such programs? I haven't, and am interested as to what they do there.

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TANSTAAFL replied on Thu, Sep 8 2011 8:03 AM

I had to take a one credit "leadership" course in college. It was a joke. It was presided over by a retired navy commander and his wife. The whole thing was based on the idea of "leading from the rear." Whatever the heck that is. Beware of leadership being spun to how to be a good follower.

 

 

For you young guys that might be off to college soon, Young Americans for Liberty does have a leadership program thing they offer.

http://www.yaliberty.org/

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FleetCenturion replied on Thu, Sep 8 2011 9:44 AM

TANSTAAFL:
The whole thing was based on the idea of "leading from the rear."

Try living through that notion every single day.  Not fun.  If that wording was actually used, I at least give him credit for his honesty.  Those of us not safe in cozy command centers when it’s time to get our hands dirty use that phrase as a bad joke.

 

 

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Sieben replied on Thu, Sep 8 2011 10:18 AM

My industry, oil&gas, is probably one of the most private industries. They still fap over leadership. The student president of SPE at my school normally gets one of the best jobs, even though they don't really have to do anything particularly difficult.

I think it comes down to the fact that you can stack regular laborers fairly lineraly. If you need 50 wells managed, 1 guy can manage all 50 or 50 guys can manage 1 each. Or anything inbetween. But managing 50 employees cannot be indefinitely split. In management, the only way to improve is to maximize the quality of a small number of individuals.

So why are most "leaders" absolute derps? Because they have to deal with derps. Most regular laborers are poorly skilled, unmotivated, and unambitious. Empirically it that the worst brand superficial brown-nosing users are successful in managing your typical workers.

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Wheylous replied on Thu, Sep 8 2011 8:24 PM

yaliberty

This is on their leadership team application page:

 
What issues are most important to you? Check all that apply. 
9/11 Truth (If you check this box, please don't waste your time filling out the rest of this form)
 
 
 
 
I am not a Truther, but I respect research members on this board have done and I respect the idea of challenging mainstream ideas. I don't like how this organization immediately marginalizes this group of people. I myself have not formed an opinion on this issue as I have not read nearly enough to do so, so I cannot side with anyone, but I do not like that they do.

 

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