"If so many Americans are looking for the government to save them, then it is hard to have a dignified search for a shepherd in chief"

James Bovard's quote, "If a lot of Americans are trying to find the government to save them, then it is hard to have a dignified look for a shepherd in chief", is a critique of the dependency on federal government as a main force in individual lives, and it raises concerns about leadership and autonomy in society.

On one level, Bovard highlights the stress between self-reliance and governmental intervention. By revealing concern about Americans wanting to the federal government for salvation, he suggests that this reliance might undermine the concepts of personal obligation and self-reliance, which are frequently held as cornerstones of American identity. This point of view argues that a population heavily based on government aid may lose the drive to innovate, take initiatives, and cultivate self-sufficiency.

The phrase "shepherd in chief" implies a leader who guides, secures, and takes obligation for his flock, drawing a parallel to the President's function or another high federal government office. Bovard appears doubtful about the efficacy and dignity of such leadership when people are overly reliant on their leaders for instructions and assistance. The expression reflects the concern that the search for a leader is compromised if residents are mainly looking for someone to resolve all their problems instead of electing someone who empowers them to resolve issues themselves.

Bovard's critique might likewise attend to political culture and the electorate's expectations. In democratic societies, leaders are chosen by the people, ideally reflecting a cumulative will. When a big part of the people positions the onus of individual and societal salvation on their federal government, it can cause leaders who promise options that might not be possible or sustainable. Such dynamics could result in governance that prioritizes short-term relief over long-term, systemic solutions.

In effect, Bovard calls for a reevaluation of the cooperative relationship in between the citizenry and their federal government, highlighting a preference for management that motivates personal agency and societal empowerment rather than reliance and passivity.