The Character Test
When feeble men and narcissists govern
Today is Election Day in the United States.
But I want to start in Spain.
It’s been a week since heavy rains caused widespread destruction in the Valencia region. Flash floods turned scenic villages into muddy dystopias. Many died in their cars trying to get home. They were never warned.
The Spanish government was noticeably absent in the first 72 hours—the critical time window in most search and rescue missions. This video shows a French firefighter in disbelief that he had arrived to Valencia before Spanish first responders. The Generalitat (local government) and the central government are from different political parties. Instead of banding together for the good of their citizens, they were playing a game of political chicken.
Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, had the gall to say in a press conference on Saturday that the local government would receive more resources if they asked for them1, opting for this posture instead of declaring a national emergency, which would have given the central government logistical command of search and rescue efforts. Meanwhile, the President of the Generalitat, Carlos Mazón, has failed to take accountability for not giving citizens proper warning, and now has conflicting stories on when he asked the central government for help.
What is clear for all Spaniards to see is that their leaders were dithering about who should be accountable instead of taking action and saving hundreds of lives. The negligence of these feeble men, at the hour when their citizens needed them the most, will live in infamy.
Spaniards have grown disillusioned with this stunning dereliction of duty and have taken matters into their own hands. Farmers bringing their tractors. Citizens coming from Madrid and other regions in Spain with supplies.
“El pueblo salva al pueblo,”2 has become the refrain of this catastrophe.
Now, I want to take you to Colombia.
In the last presidential election, Colombia was presented with two bad choices: The belligerent, erratic, unprepared right-wing candidate, Rodolfo Hernandez, or the arrogant, lying, narcissistic left-wing candidate, Gustavo Petro. Petro won, giving Colombia its first leftist government in 80 years.
Once Petro won, I committed to giving him a fair chance. Believing his speech about plurality and a broad coalition to change Colombia’s future from war-stricken and impoverished, to a nation worthy of the beauty that it holds within its borders.
But narcissists are going to be narcissists.
His former presidential campaign is embroiled in corruption scandals. High-ranking members in his cabinet are embroiled in corruption scandals. His hostile rhetoric towards journalists has eroded trust in the media, and put in danger the lives of journalists. Criminal groups have become emboldened. The health system is spiraling. Meanwhile, he spends his time tweeting to attack his detractors and share misinformation.
When I look at who governs Spain and Colombia, I look at the character of their leaders. I see how their words and actions fracture the faith we need to have in our systems of government. I see the apathy and disillusionment of voters, who feel neither represented nor respected, and I can’t help but to see how it just creates a vicious cycle where our indifference towards those who govern us allows them to entrench themselves deeper into power.
To disassociate character from policy is convenient when we don’t like the character of our leaders, but we may align with them on a policy that is particularly important to us. Yet, ignoring the character of those who govern us is a Faustian bargain.
Today is Election Day in the United States.
I casted my vote based on character, because character informs policy. And one candidate has consistently shown a disregard for the rule of law, for institutions, for women, and for individuals who don’t look like them. One candidate has spent most of the campaign blurting out an incalculable amount of lies, platforming people who see my ethnicity as a danger to this country, and whose policies are either conceptual, poorly designed, or placate to the interests of a few.
Character matters, lest we allow ourselves to be governed by feeble men and narcissists.
From Sanchez’s press conference: “Si [La Generalitat] necesita más recursos, que los pida.”
Roughly translates to “the people save the people.”
Your argument for why character matters was very refreshing, as I've heard a fair bit of the opposite, that character doesn't really matter and we should just focus on policy. Character is a mark of inner governance, and if one can't pull that off, how can we expect them to govern a damn nation?
Heartbroken for Valencia, one of my adopted homes. And worried that not enough of the U.S. will also vote on character. A stressful week to say the least. But you’re completely right — a bit of empathy and integrity would go a long way. Thanks for sharing your perspective.