Quote for today … “The share of Americans who say that democracy is a ‘fairly bad’ or ‘very bad’ system of government is rising sharply.” … David Brooks, New York Times columnist: “Is Our Country as Good as Our Athletes Are?”

Another quote for today … “We keep getting reasons not to trust. Maybe it was ever thus. Maybe those with power or money always found ways to wheedle into every aspect of policy-making and skew things in their interests for their benefit, and we, perhaps naively, were simply not aware.” – John Baer, Philadelphia Inquirer columnist: “Our trust deficit just keeps growing.”

Columbia Borough School Board of Directors vice president Kathleen Hohenadel and the others who spoke up at Thursday’s school school board meeting tackled the issues of trust, credibility, integrity and  self-interest head-on. It’s time for those in leadership roles to understand that citizens are part of the team. Leaders – unfettered, unaccompanied and unchallenged – often morph into bullies, tyrants and, sometimes, violators of the law.

Our elected public servants often stay in office too long. Cincinnatus’s “immediate resignation of his near-absolute authority with the end of the crisis has often been cited as an example of outstanding leadership, service to the greater good, civic virtue, lack of personal ambition, and modesty.” – Wikipedia

Citizens, too, have responsibility to demand results, accountability, commitment, conflict and trust. That means getting involved by attending meetings, finding and reading meeting agendas and minutes (as well as all the supporting documents filled with minutia … and details). And volunteering! Our form of democracy requires participation by everyone. If we’re not there, we just don’t care. The filled room on Thursday night shows we care.

Graphic from tomorrowsreflections.com referencing Patrick Lencioni’s book The Five Dysfunctions of a Team.

• Columbia High School to add 5 individuals and 1956 basketball team to Hall of Fame [NOTE: The correct date is September 16.] – Lancaster Online

• Easton substitute teacher “free on bail” after she “admits she had sex with student in cemetery.” | That’s often not the case in Lancaster County.

• Take a five minute virtual stroll with Pennlive‘s Pennsylvania’s Most Famous Personalities by County.

• He steals from Special Olympics and keeps his job at his church where he steals $156,000. – Pennlive [C’mon … get real! The church hires someone who was a convicted thief, evidently applies no fiscal controls and, probably, pays no “in-lieu-of-tax” payments to the municipality that provides fire, police and other services. No fiscal controls allows this kind of “trusted staffer” theft again and again.]

• Leadership and character showed up at August 18 school board meeting – Columbia news, views & reviews

So when did lying become de rigueur? Elected public servants; juiced up professional athletes … and now olympic athletes?

Pinocchio was an amateur when compared to modern day liars!

• “10 Ways Grocery Stores Rip You Off – When it comes to food shopping, knowledge goes a long way.” – AlterNet

Fourth Friday August Highlights – Ice Cream Social in Marietta today