scary leaders

Eisenhower, who when he was president of the United States held the life and death of the world in his hands, destiny was dependant on him not pushing the nuclear button during the cold war, was reading a cowboy book when he died - West of the Pecos, by Zane Grey. Scary thought!  What might the shape of political leadership be like if instead he could have read the Analects of Confucius.  As long ago as 500 BC Confucius championed moral government, polite social relationships, gentlemanly behaviour, justice and sincerity, and this unifying philosphy prevailed throughout the Han Dynasty (206BC to AD 220) and in fact was inflential in China right up until the changes wrought by Mao in the 20th Century. Perhaps it is time to once more consider the qualities of leadership, the ethics and morality, rather than the drive for legalistic changes that mark current political puposes.