Is Donald Trump a good leader?
Is Joe Biden a good leader? 

— J.X Mason’s Blog of 8-4-20
— J.X. Mason is the Author of The Book of Continuing Creation

The ancient book of Taoist wisdom, the Tao Te Ching,
is composed of  just 81 short prose-poems (called “Chapters”).
About one-third of them are devoted to “Leadership.”
Below are 3 of the its Chapters on Leadership: #17, #30, & #59.
How do Trump and Biden stack up when we hold them against
the Tao Te Ching’s concept of good leadership?  You be the judge!
…Of course, you may diagree with the Tao Te Ching’s standards.

The Tao Te Ching, Chapter #17

When the Master governs, the people
are hardly aware that he exists.
Next best is a leader who is loved.
Next, one who is feared.
The worst is one who is despised.
If you don’t trust the people,
you make them untrustworthy.
The Master doesn’t talk, he acts.
When his work is done,
the people say, “Amazing:
we did it, all by ourselves!”

The Tao Te Ching, Chapter #30

Whoever relies on the Tao in governing men
doesn’t try to force issues
or defeat enemies by force of arms.
For every force there is a counterforce.
Violence, even well intentioned,
always rebounds upon itself.
The Master does her job
and then stops.
She understands that the universe
is forever out of control,
and that trying to dominate events
goes against the current of the Tao.
Because she believes in herself,
she doesn’t try to convince others.
Because she is content with herself,
she doesn’t need others’ approval
Because she accepts herself,
the whole world accepts her.

The Tao Te Ching, Chapter #59

For governing a country well,
there is nothing better than moderation.
The mark of a moderate man
is freedon from his own ideas.
Tolerant like the sky,
all-pervading like sunlight,
firm like a mountain,
supple like a tree in the wind,
he has no destination in view
and makes use of anything
life happens to bring his way.
Nothing is impossible for him.
Because he has let go,
he can care for other people’s welfare
as a mother cares for her child

Note: Quoted from the Tao Te Ching, translated by Stephen Mitchel, Harper, 1988.
Line spacing has been adapted for J.X. Mason’s Blog.
Mason’s website: www.continuingcreation.org