Recently, Jim Kreider, Speaker Pro Tem in the Missouri House of Representatives, wrote an article, "Even Leaders Make Mistakes" which was printed in the May 12th issue of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

The article was written in response to Missouri General Assembly leader, Rep. Mark Richardson, Republican leader of the House, stepping down after being arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated.

Kreider seemed to empathisize with Richardson in a manner that really ticked this writer off. Any family suffers from a money-earning member of a household who is charged with driving while intoxicated. Any individual's career can be damaged by the charges.

Kreider further seems to support the idea that leaders, including politicians, teachers, policemen, and members of the press should be above reproach when he stated "...leaders from time to time are going to make mistakes and poor decisions."

The writer strongly disagrees with this. Any leader can affect the lives of thousands of young people. What they do is what the young people may copy. Thus, if for no other reason, leaders, and other influencial people such as pro-atheletes, should not be above reproach.

Forget the idea that "to err is human". Errors, mistakes, are made due to bad judgement and choosing to do the wrong thing. Behaviors that are not above reproach are almost always a matter of personal choice. E.g., no person has to drive while intoxicated.

This writer was an alcoholic for 32 years and never, not once, was there a time that he did not know he was choosing to break the law when he got behind the wheel after two or three ounces of alcohol. Many, many times, known locations of law enforcement officers were avoided because he knew he was violating the law.

In the last few years of being an alcoholic (he chose to not be a drinker over four years ago), the writer quit going out to drink, or, if he did, someone else drove, providing the person wasn't too drunk to do so. He had grown tired of breaking the law. That was his choice, just as it is any leader's choice.

As another example, anytime a person misuses funds, such as Gingrich admitted to, the person knows exactly what he is doing. It is a matter of personal choice, not a mistake. Normally, it boils down to what the odds are of being caught and, if caught, will I get away with it? It is not much different than any common thief's decision making.

The writer, while getting established in commissioned sales, had many opportunities to misuse funds. However, he did not. It was a matter of personal choice and the writer didn't wish to violate laws. Thus, any politician, any leader, can make the same choice.

The writer also committed adultery on many occasions, as did his ex-wife. Both knew that it was not the right way to behave but did it anyway. Some might call it a mistake, particularly if either had been a leader, but the simple truth is that the activities were a matter of personal choice.

When the writer was a teacher (Jr. and Sr. high), however, he knew that he could affect his students if it were known that he committed, or was committing, adultery. So, the writer elected to NOT go out with other women and be a "family man" for the duration of his contract. Again, a matter of personal choice.

It is time leaders, if they can muster up the intestinal fortitude necessary, make decisions in a like-manner. There is not any reason any person can give the writer to excuse away transgressions by our leaders, regardless of the circumstances. It is simply choosing between right and wrong.

Besides, Ladies and Gentlemen, if leaders can't control their own lives, private or otherwise, should they have positions of influence and control which affect us all?