U.S. President Donald Trump is not a conservative. He is a right-wing populist who thinks in utopian terms. He heralds a return to a misty time when America was great, which apparently it currently is not. Precisely what made America great in his mind is far from clear. Was it military and economic domination, a nation run solely by white males, a time when capitalism ran untrammeled by government regulations? Who knows? 

For St. Thomas More, who wrote the famous book Utopia, utopia meant Nowhere. It was an unachievable fantasy. 

Most national leaders in the last century have been pragmatists, people willing to compromise to advance their policies. Pragmatism, by its nature, is not an ideal philosophy, but it reflects the diversity of opinion, religion and ethnicity of multicultural nations. However, it is likely the best one can do in a sinful world of diverse peoples. One suspects that Heaven itself will not be a utopia. Sin will be erased but diversity will remain.

Utopian leaders have wreaked great havoc, especially since the beginning of the 20th century. Utopians included Lenin, Mao Tse-Tung, Hitler, Idi Amin and others. All are notable for their (vague) visions of a beautiful society. One of the central steps to realizing those visions has been to eliminate some segment of the population that is supposedly a barrier to that vision – Jews, the mentally disabled, immigrants, small farmers, unborn children, the rich and others. Others must die for “the people” to live the good life. Utopians have no respect for civil rights. 

Not only did utopians cause rivers of blood to flow, but they also killed the spirits of the living. For whose spirit can continue to breathe freely when they know they have remained silent in the persecution of others? How many will speak out when they know that raising their voices may have dire consequences for themselves and their families? 

According to conservative philosopher Roger Scruton, conservatism involves first accepting limits on the ruler’s actions imposed by tradition, morality and culture. It sees the accumulation of debt as transferring financial responsibility to future generations. It understands respect for institutions, laws and restraints as essential to freedom, not its enemy. True conservatism refuses to fuel false hopes about the future.

I must add that true conservatism pursues goals of sustainable development, not because the realization of those goals would create an idyllic future, but because one of our responsibilities is to leave the earth as a livable home for future generations. A traditional conservatism would also respect the right to private property while being wary of concentrations of economic and political power. 

None of these marks of conservatism are evident in the actions of Donald Trump. Instead, we see the treatment of some people – immigrants and women, in particular – as objects. To be sure, no mass killings of marginalized people are taking place in the United States, nor has Trump expressed any desire to move in that direction.

Focusing on Trump’s presidency here is important because it shows what a leader should not be. Canadians will soon elect a new government, and they should think about what they want and don’t want in their national leadership.

We will vote for parties that propose policies we agree with, and our views on those policies differ. Moreover, we want leadership we can trust, especially in this time of crisis. 

Trust involves many things. It is built when, once in power, leaders do what they say they will do during the election campaign. If they decide they cannot implement their policies, the leader will level with us and explain why they cannot do so. Good leaders are transparent about their purposes and the information they base their decisions on. When they make mistakes, they admit the mistake and apologize to the people.

A leader may have a great vision but must also manage risk. One cannot eliminate all potential risks but can anticipate and prepare for what might go wrong.

Good leaders use their power for the common good and not for self-aggrandizement. Indeed, they recognize leadership is more about service and responsibility than power. Leaders listen to divergent viewpoints and consult widely. At the same time, the leader must be courageous enough to make the final decision on matters of importance. 

Trust is built slowly and can be wiped out with a single bad action. It is the leader’s most precious possession. Canada needs leaders we can trust.