Some time ago we came across the website of an educational institute that said it provided “unmatched enrichment opportunities” to an “elite group of outstanding young people” so they can reach “their full leadership potential”.

We wonder what makes the opportunities unmatched. Can the institute offer these opportunities because it has the financial means to do so? Where do the financial means come from? From donations by groups that benefit from perpetuating the present political and socio-economic system? Groups that want a particular kind of leaders to be in charge so as to allow them to continue to be an elite themselves?

What does enrichment stand for? Is it intellectual enrichment or moral enrichment? Intelligence should not be considered to be rich when its main or exclusive aim is to generate income for some, while neglecting the needs of others.

The 2008 financial crisis has shown some peculiar instances of this kind of intelligence. The world was able to gather 20,000 billion dollars to save the financial world, while it has not been able to gather 600 billion dollars a year so as to help the developing world to develop itself and leave poverty and social injustice behind.

The coronavirus crisis has made many governments free billions of emergency funds to restore their economies after the coronavirus has retreated.

Why not spend a large part of those billions or other billions on new humanizing developments instead of on shoring up an economic and financial system and let it go back to business as usual – untenable in the long run?

What this world needs more than anything else is moral intelligence or humanity or human values. They should be the guideline of all leaders. Moral standards are often mentioned in the literature of companies, but when asked about what these standards represent, the description is often very poor indeed. Moral, like green, is often used as a sales argument.

What is meant by elite? Throughout history, the lives of millions have been negatively affected or destroyed by so-called elites that thought they had the right knowledge or – in some cases – the divine right to decide about the fate or even death of people.

Humanity has indeed made tremendous advancements, but too much confidence has been put on the self-regulating capacity of the free market. The market is free only for part of the players. For an elite mainly. We need a new political and socio-economic system that takes solidarity to a new level on a global scale.

What kind of leaders to we need? What kind of young people should be helped to reach their full leadership potential?

The article below contains some hints.

Leaders in 2020 – make it or break it

We need leaders elected by the people.
Not elected by the media.
Not elected by the economic powerhouses.
Not elected by the selfish lobbyists.
Elected by you and me.
Not elected because of having the money.
Not elected because of having the right connections.
Not elected because of having the right colour.
Elected for their qualities.
Elected for standing up for the people.
Elected for defending human values.
Not elected on false premises.
Not elected for their looks.
Not elected for being nice talkers.
Elected for defending Nature.
Elected for protecting Earth.
Elected for avoiding wars.
Not elected through falsifying elections.
Not elected through intimidation.
Not elected on empty promises.
Elected for peace and humanity.
Elected to work together
with all the leaders of the world
to clean up the mess
Humanity created here on Earth.
Together they will make it happen.