Batista paced the side walk for a few minutes while he pondered a few thoughts that had wandered into mind from an earlier conversation. He'd nod a few times over a few points while moving an empty box onto the curb and stood on top. A smile curled at the corners of his lips as he'd look at a few passing by before starting off with his thoughts.

There has been a bit of conversation in the coffee shops about how street presence is lacking among leaders and those who are housed by them. It's evident that the majority of people would rather endorse a leader who has a reputable presence in The Streets than one who doesn't show much face. However, assuming a leader makes time in their schedule to show up to a few street events and go as far as to share thoughts on a topic; is that all it would take to be seen as great?

I stumbled across some notes from another speaker about two typical leaders and it never rang truer, or so I'd like to believe. What's your opinion on the characteristics of the leaders about now, or better yet, what is the type of leader that would really be appreciated and also successful?

An old philosopher, Machiavelli, had laid out a handful of characteristics to lead a successful reign. These characteristics may not be so practical though.

Being good, happy, and completely truthful is wholly detrimental to your reign just as being the opposite. So where's the happy medium? How can one be loved and feared, also, is it really what we'd admire of a leader? Take a moment to think of our history, notable tyrants and groups who held power and stomped on those on the rise. Utter destruction set upon cities because a sole leader or perhaps many, hell bent on maintaining their rule without allowing the possibility of a rising member in this thing of ours to even attempt to end their reigns.

All in all, my question to the masses is, what makes our leaders so great? We hear several specific lines have their stories told time and time again. The tyrants we all hated but loved. How does one attain such status? Is it possible for just about anyone to reach such heights?

Do not lead by hitting people over the head. That's assault, not leadership.

Dubliner approached somewhat apprehensively. Dubliner knew what kind of person he was and what kind of person he wasn't and never assumed to be privy on the qualities of a leader that are important especially in a line of work such as this. 

I think it's important, and perhaps freeing, if every leader who ever found power one way or another acknowledged that that power will end eventually. Be a decent human being and people will respect you. Be just when necessary, be merciful when warranted. But always be the one to pass the judgement and carryout the sentence. Soldiers will fight harder and with more heart for a leader they respect rather than a leader that they fear. 

Perhaps that's just accurate philosophy in the homeland and not on these shores, but I insist that this is the best way to lead.

On the coattails of Dub's input, Nikki grins. 

"I believe a good indicator may be the repeat appearance of certain lineages. Love them or hate them, if certain regimes hit the top tier time and again, they're doing something right.

Unless, of course, the rumblings are true and the Gods have 'fixed' This Thing Of Ours" she says.

Well first of all you have to make sure that you FIT in. You never want a leader to be spewing out too far, you have to know your limits. A good leader is one that offers SUPPORT in all areas! That said, you also don't want one too COMPRESSING, that can make things very uncomfortable. Which brings me to COMFORT, if you can't be comfortable around your leader, than he's not a good one honey. Nah ah!! Finally you want one that will PUSH you UP to your fill potential!

"i think there's a whole lotta truth to the idea that those who are well-loved and well-loathed are both in over their heads.  If you're gonna be either in this world of ours, it seems to me that you need a lot of iron to cover your backside.  Personally, I like people who are in leadership positions that aren't changing every few days ... really sucks to get to know one guy only to wake up the next morning to a new man in charge - know what I'm saying?  I also like leaders ones who are make sure we're all makin' money, and maybe even one whose people protect my interests, so long as I stay loyal and give him or her their due."

Lucy shakes her head.  "I don't have to like a boss to give 'em respect for doin' the job.  Pretty thankless thing, being a leader, so far as I can tell.  And on the flip side... they don't have to like me, to know that I pull my weight and I'm worth keepin' around.  I figure so long as they and I remember that, anyone could be a good leader."

It's simple, really. Any leader who has JoeKing as a friend/ally equals to instant greatness.

I look for my leaders to protect their people first and foremost. It is often disregarded that a lot of responsibility comes with being the head of the family and it is something that I take quite seriously. Using the recent DonnieTheLionheart/DonaldTrump scenario as an example, their members suffered, needlessly, as a result of their poor decision making. All it would have taken was a rectification of the transgression and a little simple diplomacy and both would probably still be walking the streets, leading their organisations. 

As a counterpoint to this, one of AdmiralAckbar's young thugs tried his hand at a $5,000,000 hit that was hired on one of my men. Obviously the ballsy whippersnapper failed, but the Don of Downtown and I easily settled matters in an expedient way. It was nobody's fault, just as Donnie's member wasn't his fault, but these are tricky situations that require sensible, rational decision making.

Once I know a leader values his people, I then look to see what he's about. What else does he think is important? Where does he stand on issues? How does he handle the naysayers? How does he handle beating a rival? All of these things give insight into how my interactions with that individual are going to be formed.

As to achieving greatness or infamy, that is largely a matter of perspective. Disorder will be a divisive character that will be talked about in the most harsh terms imaginable in one breath by one person and praised just as highly by another. He's reached that point by being "the guy" for a very long time, publicly handling his shit and not sitting on the fence. He has done something with his opportunity at the top and created a legacy that will outlast any person alive today.

Sorry Larry but I reckon you're either deluded enough to actually believe what you say or you're full of shit and you know it.

8/10 for the attempt though.

If a guy makes some effort, I'll put the effort into a worthwhile response - he deserves that. He doesn't deserve to have his discussion railroaded by people with their own personal bullshitathon going on.

I'm sensing bitterness and hostilities here... Maybe these inputs aren't meant for the conversation at hand. Maybe y'all need to quit following people around looking for the next spot to attack leadership. Any chance you get there's always one of you out here complaining even if the topic being discussed doesn't relate to what happened to you. 

Steffy I expected more from you, especially.

"I'm sensing bitterness and hostilities here... "

I can see why they let you live.

These people are murdering complete innocents  and have been for weeks if not months just to satisfy their own paranoia which has arisen from a situation that they created through their own actions and here you are complaining because I and others are speaking our minds where ever we can.

Logic.

There are places to speak your mind; not where legitimate conversations and inputs are being had on a completely separate topic. 

Logic.

And to say that the rogues are completely a creation of leadership is asinine. They aren't forcing you to organize and kill innocents as you rogue groups have. You've killed only one CL in all the attacks we've had. Most of the people you've killed have been Mades+ who are now just victims of circumstance. 

You claim Disorder is the greatest injustice to the common man of our community but evidence shows that it's the rogues who claim to fight against Disorder. Why else would these groups hitlisted a bunch of random people in the community and not Disorder himself or use it in a way that would push your actual agenda. You aren't even thinking anymore; you don't even remember why it is you're mad or who it is you're mad at.

But again I state: This in not the discussion to barge into and change the subject on. If you'd like, pick a different street corner and plead your case. I'm sure I'll be over there eventually to dance circles around you.

"There are places to speak your mind; not where legitimate conversations and inputs are being had on a completely separate topic. "

Yet, its EXACTLY the right place to speak YOUR mind and tell me why you think what I'm doing is wrong and/or tell me where to go to continue banging my head against a wall with you. No thanks, I'll just continue doing what I want.

And last I checked I had claimed nothing of the sort. As for you're attempt to justify the reasoning of the current regime and make our reasoning look downright disgusting...

They murder crew leaders, We murder crew leaders.

They murder innocents, We murder innocents.

They lie, we lie.

We are not here doing what we are to win yours or anyone else's affection or praise but to publicly embarrass yourself by saying what you are is just downright madness.

Ah I see. So you're merely calling yourself the exact same as Disorder. So tell me, why would the general populace decide to depose one "dictator" for another? 

Dub laughs to himself. 

And you don't need to claim that. It's shown by your actions. And we all know the age-old adage about actions.

Thanks for completely justifying your point about this not being the place to discuss such things by continuing to discuss such things in the apparent incorrect place.

However again you are completely barking up the wrong tree with your assumptions but I guess I shouldn't expect any better. The only reason for any comparison between myself and Disorder is that I and my brothers and sisters are only doing what he and his brothers and sisters are doing.

Which is ironic when we are accused of being sad and pathetic.