Re: Society
There are strong, creative people in every society. No one society is exclusive of them nor is any society without them. Some societies do a better job of creating said people than others.
The leaders play a big role in that but not all of it is reflective on the leader. Courts play a role, so does religion.
I don’t know how I feel with the theory that as a group of people we are like naive children in a dire need of a strong leader. As I see it, leaders have to fulfill the demands of its people not be there to tell them what their demands should be. When the leaders become servants that’s when the society benefits the most. But I don’t think one leader is sufficient to shape how strong a community is/isn’t.
You’re totally right when you say we have appointed through free will leaders that are unfit to rule over us. For one reason or another. But I don’t think the concept of true power lying in the people’s hands is a facade. Arab spring is a recent example. People still can make noticeable impact through participating in the process. We just choose not to. Options are there, though.