Small town politics: just the mention of those three words often leaves people shaking their heads.  Those words are a reminder that sometimes the least qualified are in a position to have the greatest influence.  In his book Good to Great, author Jim Collins makes the point that having the right people in the right seats on the bus is critical to success.  Often organizations do not have the vision to, or the luxury of, putting the right people in the right seats.  For example, in a democracy, people often get voted in,  whether they’re capable or not.  By the way, I’d still rather live in a democracy run by the not so bright, rather than a dictatorship run by a college grad.  However, the problem is often compounded when poorly qualified people are elected to govern and turn to the wrong people for advice.  When that happens, a perfect storm of leadership incompetence forms, with everyone involved telling each other how smart they are.