Why We Follow Bad Leaders: A Story of a Chicken and a Watchman

 We often ask a simple question: Why do we want honest leaders, but so often end up following corrupt ones?

Two short stories explain this problem perfectly. The first is a wise saying from Osho. The second is a dark story about Hitler.

When you put these two stories together, they open our eyes. They show us how power really works, and how we can be tricked.

Part 1: The Honest Watchman (What We Want)

The mystic Osho once said:

"The power of honesty is so great, that even a dishonest man wants to keep an honest watchman for his own house."

What does this mean?

It's simple. Imagine a thief who has stolen a lot of money. When he needs to hire someone to guard that money, who does he hire? Does he hire another thief?

No. He hires an honest person.

Why? Because he is afraid the other thief will steal from him.

This story shows us a powerful truth: Everyone, even a bad person, knows that trust and honesty are the most valuable things.

We are all like that. In our hearts, we all want an "honest guard" to protect us, our families, and our country.

Part 2: The Plucked Chicken (How We Get Tricked)

Now, here is the second, much darker story.

One day, Hitler brought a live chicken to a meeting.

  • Step 1: In front of everyone, he began to pull out the chicken's feathers, one by one. The chicken screamed in pain and tried to run, but he held it down until it was completely bare, bleeding, and trembling.

  • Step 2: He then threw the badly hurt, featherless chicken on the floor.

  • Step 3: After that, he reached into his pocket, took out a handful of grain, and started to walk away, dropping a few grains as he went.

What did the chicken do?

Despite the torture, the chicken limped after Hitler. It pecked at the few grains of food. It followed him around the room, desperate for the food, completely dependent on its torturer.

Hitler then told his men:

"People are like this chicken. First, you hurt them. You take everything from them. You make them weak and helpless. Then, you give them just a little bit of what they need. They will be so desperate, they will forget you hurt them and follow you as their savior."

Connecting the Two Stories (The Main Lesson)

These two stories show us the fight inside all of us.

  • The "Honest Watchman" story shows what we want: A strong, trustworthy leader.

  • The "Plucked Chicken" story shows what we do when we are desperate: We follow anyone who gives us scraps.

Here is the main idea, and it is very important:

A corrupt leader's main job is to turn you from a person seeking an "Honest Watchman" into a "Plucked Chicken."

Think about it.

A person who has their "feathers"—a good job, a safe life, a justice system that works—will demand an honest leader. They have the power to be picky.

But what if you are "plucked"?

What if you are poor?

What if you are scared?

What if the system is broken and you can't get justice or even a simple document?

When you are desperate, you stop looking for an honest leader. You just look for anyone who can help you survive. You will follow the person who gives you the "grains."

A Real-Life Example (Like in Nepal)

This is not just a story. It happens in the real world. Think about how a system of political patronage (source-force) works.

  1. The Plucking (Taking Your Feathers): First, corrupt leaders "pluck" the people. They do this by breaking the systems that give you power. They make the courts slow. They make it hard to get a job based on your skills (merit). They fill offices with their own people, so you can't get a passport or a license without a connection. They take away your rights and your power, leaving you weak and helpless.

  2. The Grains (Giving You Scraps): After they break the system, these same leaders offer you "grains." What are the grains?

    • A small favor.

    • Using their "source-force" to help you skip a line.

    • Getting a job for your cousin (in exchange for your vote).

    • A small government handout.

  3. The Following (Your Loyalty): You feel you have no choice. To survive in the broken system, you must follow this corrupt leader. You become loyal to the person who gives you the "favor" (the grain).

You forget to ask the most important question: "Why was the system broken in the first place?"

You have been turned into a plucked chicken, grateful for the scraps from the same person who plucked you.

How to Protect Yourself

How do we stop this from happening to us?

The answer is to protect your feathers.

Your "feathers" are your power. They are:

  • Your Mind: Think for yourself. Always ask questions. When a leader gives you a small favor, ask: "Is this just a grain? Did this person help break the system that made me need this favor?"

  • Your Independence: Try to be self-reliant. Do not depend on one politician for your survival. The more independent you are, the less they can control you.

  • Your Values: Remember that you deserve an "honest guard." Do not settle for a "grain-thrower."

The world is full of leaders who want to pluck us and feed us grains. Do not be a chicken fighting for scraps. Be a citizen who demands a system that is fair for everyone.

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