True leadership and Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat: Life is not meant to be easy - so for things to get better from here will be a long and difficult path

Since things are in a bad way, and since this has been continuing and accelerating for at least two generations (half a century); then it will certainly be a long and difficult matter to reverse and roll-back the badness; and (as always) things will have to get worse before they get better - because that fact (and the avoidance of immediate difficulties) is what keeps things worsening.

So from where we are actually starting - which is here, now, and as things are - a basic test of the truth and knowledge of any putative genuine leader is their understanding and teaching on this point.

Like Winston Churchill any honest leader with a chance of being effective must offer a path requiring of us "blood, toil, tears and sweat" - and this must be accepted as a reality and a necessity by sufficient people to make a movement .

This cannot be imposed - and fake leaders will be abundant, offering false and ineffectual secular salvations that do not require of ourselves any significant effort or hardship (the only sacrifices required are from 'other people').

BTTS must indeed be willingly embraced in a spirit of joy, because BTTS is not the whole story. Life is serious - hence the requirement for BTTS - but the recognition of the seriousness of life is also and at the same time the possibility of genuine joy, deep and lasting motivation, and a valid sense of achievement.

Anyone who can inspire enough people willingly and happily (on the whole) to embark on a path to the future embracing the necessity for blood, toil, sweat and tears; will be a true leader who offers at least the possibility of real improvement.

Otherwise, not.