Euphemisms / Political Correctness / or something else?

[actaeon277]

I'm guessing about 3 minutes after the word "leader" was invented.

C'mon.

If we want to be nuanced, elected executives are supposed to be leaders.

Leaders of their departments.
Not leaders of the "people".

The President, is the leader of the Executive Branch.
A citie's Chief of Police, is the leader of that citie's police department.
A Senator, is the leader of his office..etc.

 

[2A_Tom]

I noticed something strange not long ago.

When did politicians start being referred to as "leaders"? They're just politicians (mayors, governors, sheriffs, prosecutors, senators, etc.). Politicians are incapable of leading an alcoholic into a bar. They are no more a "leader" than I'm an astrophysicist (I'm not).

From what I understand politicians are supposed to be elected by the people to represent them. Not lead them.

It could be an attempt to anthropromorphize.

 

[Hawkeye7br]

Politicians are rarely leaders. They won a popularity contest, too often, they cater to only one demographic and are just one step up from homecoming queen. The minimum qualification is nothing more significant than age.

 

[BigRed]

Politicians are rarely leaders. They won a popularity contest, too often, they cater to only one demographic and are just one step up from homecoming queen. The minimum qualification is nothing more significant than age.

Kamala Harris would submit that there are more skills than just age that help with the popularity contest.

 

[JettaKnight]

Politicians are rarely leaders. They won a popularity contest, too often, they cater to only one demographic and are just one step up from homecoming queen. The minimum qualification is nothing more significant than age.

I'd say more my reality show contestants (or hosts), but yeah, agreed...

 

[2A_Tom]

Wasn't there a reality show host that ran for President a few years ago?

 

[Twangbanger]

It's pointless to have this semantic discussion among "churchy" types, but if the OP really wants the answer: listen to any Sunday preacher. They don't say, "Pray for our politicians." It's, "...and Lord, we pray for our leaders, that you would give them wisdom,..." blah blah blah.

No field of endeavor has a monopoly on sillyass euphemisms. They are everywhere. It's like people have a basic human yearning for it. We simply cannot say the truth. We have to dress it up and call it something different.