Tap young minds and skilled people, Lim tells fellow political leaders
09/17/2008 | 02:43 PM
MANILA, Philippines — Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim on Wednesday urged fellow political leaders to tap young and skilled people to actively participate in running the government and not stick to “old colleagues, less skilled and knowledgeable advisers."
Speaking about the social responsibility of the youth before hundreds of students at the Far Eastern University auditorium, the 79-year-old former police general said the duty of senior leaders is to lead the way but give the real work to young people.
“It is time for our government leaders to recruit fresh, young, clean, independent and skillful advisers. This government needs fresh and strategic ideas," he said.
“We should veer away from using people’s muscles but use instead their brains and minds," said Lim, adding that given a break, the youth often show they are the most creative organizers of events and the best formulators of policy.
Lim cited as example former US President Bill Clinton during his campaign in 1991 when he recruited 28-year old George Stephanopoulos as his political adviser, 30-year-old Gene Sperling as his economic adviser; as well as Paul Beggala and James Carville, both in their early 40s, as his political consultants.
“All are independent individuals in the sense that their lives and job security did not depend on Clinton as they could always get attractive jobs elsewhere," he said.
“Their mind and ideas were fresh and straight from the heart. When there were strong disagreements, his advisers just quit, got more attractive jobs and never bothered to blame their former boss," Lim said.
Lim said a good leader is headstrong, but not stubborn and has room for flexibility and negotiation, when necessary. “In fact, great decisions inherently embrace flexibility," he stressed.
He added that a good leader has to have a clear direction. “His/her needle has to point to a clear direction otherwise he/she will bring the nation to a limbo," he added.
He said the lesson for current and future leaders is that “people and domestic affairs are far more important than any other policy option. Any leader who neglects these two issues will severely undermine his leadership, unless he builds his power on a totalitarian basis."
“For as long as young people like you have not lost faith in our nation, who will rise up to the challenge of leading our country to a better state, whose sense of patriotism will propel us towards nationhood, progress and growth," Lim said.
“We can have the very best of intentions, the most thoughtful plans but unless we are willing to lead our people, little of substance is likely to be accomplished," said Lim, one of the most colorful political leaders of the country,
He started his police career as a patrolman and went on to earn a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration in 1951 and Bachelor of Laws in 1963, both at the University of the East. He was the first police general to withdraw his support from the Marcos dictatorship in 1986. Appointed head of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) after his retirement from the police service, he went on to dismantle several drug and other criminal syndicates using violence and persuasion.
Despite charges of ruthlessness when he first became mayor of Manila, he was credited for closing down the city’s notorious “red light district" and promote environmental concerns. He later served as interior secretary and senator before becoming mayor of Manila again last year. - GMANews.TV
Speaking about the social responsibility of the youth before hundreds of students at the Far Eastern University auditorium, the 79-year-old former police general said the duty of senior leaders is to lead the way but give the real work to young people.
“It is time for our government leaders to recruit fresh, young, clean, independent and skillful advisers. This government needs fresh and strategic ideas," he said.
“We should veer away from using people’s muscles but use instead their brains and minds," said Lim, adding that given a break, the youth often show they are the most creative organizers of events and the best formulators of policy.
Lim cited as example former US President Bill Clinton during his campaign in 1991 when he recruited 28-year old George Stephanopoulos as his political adviser, 30-year-old Gene Sperling as his economic adviser; as well as Paul Beggala and James Carville, both in their early 40s, as his political consultants.
“All are independent individuals in the sense that their lives and job security did not depend on Clinton as they could always get attractive jobs elsewhere," he said.
“Their mind and ideas were fresh and straight from the heart. When there were strong disagreements, his advisers just quit, got more attractive jobs and never bothered to blame their former boss," Lim said.
Lim said a good leader is headstrong, but not stubborn and has room for flexibility and negotiation, when necessary. “In fact, great decisions inherently embrace flexibility," he stressed.
He added that a good leader has to have a clear direction. “His/her needle has to point to a clear direction otherwise he/she will bring the nation to a limbo," he added.
He said the lesson for current and future leaders is that “people and domestic affairs are far more important than any other policy option. Any leader who neglects these two issues will severely undermine his leadership, unless he builds his power on a totalitarian basis."
“For as long as young people like you have not lost faith in our nation, who will rise up to the challenge of leading our country to a better state, whose sense of patriotism will propel us towards nationhood, progress and growth," Lim said.
“We can have the very best of intentions, the most thoughtful plans but unless we are willing to lead our people, little of substance is likely to be accomplished," said Lim, one of the most colorful political leaders of the country,
He started his police career as a patrolman and went on to earn a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration in 1951 and Bachelor of Laws in 1963, both at the University of the East. He was the first police general to withdraw his support from the Marcos dictatorship in 1986. Appointed head of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) after his retirement from the police service, he went on to dismantle several drug and other criminal syndicates using violence and persuasion.
Despite charges of ruthlessness when he first became mayor of Manila, he was credited for closing down the city’s notorious “red light district" and promote environmental concerns. He later served as interior secretary and senator before becoming mayor of Manila again last year. - GMANews.TV
