system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
Is there a chance possibility of another General of MacArthur or Patton's notability appearing in the US?

I was recalling a history professor telling us of MacArthur's influence over the country during his tenure and realised that there hasn't been any General with that kind of influence since then(unless I'm wrong). Would it take another World War-scale war to happen for this to occur?
gpt
Leadership theories suggest that most most of the qualities held by military officials become extraordinarily potent during extreme circumstances such as a crisis (natural disaster, terrorist attack, etc). During a crisis, followers seek out and judge leaders by their decisiveness, and their ability to take concrete and bold actions (Hunt, Boal & Dodge, 1999); much more than visionary leaders. Modern leadership theory suggests that effective leadership is in the eye of the beholder (i.e., the follower) but that the situation determines the criteria by which we determine the effectiveness of the leader. In highly volatile, uncertain, or threatening situations, followers look to leaders to provide sanctuary (see Bligh, Kohles, & Pillai, 2011). Thus, leaders are judged by their ability to alleviate this uncertainty (i.e., taking concrete steps to alleviate it). 

Therefore, the qualities most demonstrated by military generals - such as taking decisive actions - will not become important to followers until negative emotions are elevated (e.g., through crisis or assault). (also see Pillai & Meindl, 1998)