YouTubing Nation

We are a nation now of publicity seeking people who, if cannot get to cry on Oprah - because their stories are not juicy enough - try to capture whatever is around them and send it to the world.

Yesterday on the CBS morning show - I think - there was a video taken by a family fleeing a rapid fire in the California mountain. But I think that the woman thought she was Heather from the Blair Witch Project, expressing her fear that, the reporter noted, one could feel.

I can tell you that if I ever were fleeing for dear life, the last think I would do would be to video that flight.

And then we have Pfleger's comments at the Trinity Church and I have to wonder: he was at a church which, presumably, is strongly behind Obama. A church that "circled the wagons" when Rev. Wright was attacked. Why would anyone video the performance and put it on YouTube? Why would anyone attend an Obama's private fund raising event and record and distribute his "bitter" comments?

Same also with Scotty. Again, if he did not like what was happening around him, why didn't he just said so and quit (and, yes, I have done so).

We mocked the Bush campaign when, in 2004, only those who "pledged loyalty" could attend campaign events. But, really, how can political and business leaders expect to rely on their inner circles for sometimes sensitive discussions if they cannot be sure of a lack of a secret recorder?

And before you dismiss these concern as purely Victorian (honor, loyalty) think of where we are headed: A new generation of leaders who will stick to the safe route. Who would never chance a bold move for fear of the deliberations quickly being leaked to the outside world.

In the 30s and 40s the "media" did not report FDR's disability and we might wonder whether he had been elected had this been known.

Or, perhaps, we deserve the leaders who reflect us: whatever, shrug, never jumping to lead, never standing up for what one believes is right but always accommodating everyone, never giving anyone an "F" in school, never offending anyone, one big happy family in the shallow water of mediocrity.