Empathy and the Government Shutdown

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Empathy – the experience of understanding another person’s thoughts, feelings, and condition from his or her point of view, rather than from one’s own

Authoritarian Leadership (Autocratic) is strongly focused on both command by the leader and control of the members. There is also a clear hierarchy. Autocratic leaders make decisions independently with little or no input from others. Authoritarian leadership may be viewed as an abuse of power by a leader who is controlling, bossy, and dictatorial. Authoritarian leadership is best applied to situations where there is little time for group decision-making or where the leader is the most knowledgeable member of the group.

The United States of America has three branches of government – Legislative, Executive, and Judicial.  Each branch has specific functions with checks and balances put into place to ensure democracy and freedom. I submit that bipartisanship and thirst for power are allowing an authoritarian leader to continue to inflate his fragile ego. From arrests and indictments of numerous cabinet members, to employing inexperienced family members in key roles, to likely conflicts of interest in business dealings, we must be more vigilant in protecting democracy. I believe the temporary reopening of the federal government was to distract us from yet another criminal indictment.

Donald Trump, his family, and his companies have benefited from the immigration system he claims is a national emergency. The Trump companies have employed undocumented workers. Donald Trump is the son of an immigrant mother. Donald Trump’s three wives were all immigrants. Additionally, there has been no mention from the White House about how to combat home grown terrorism.  For those who support gun control and assert that mass shooters have unaddressed mental health issues, there has been no move to improve our mental health system. It is for these reasons and others that I do not believe that the longest furlough in government history has anything to do with protecting our borders.  The divide between the wealthiest and the poorest Americans continues to increase. I believe that capitalism and increased profits for select Americans – private prisons and immigrant detention centers, private school voucher systems, restricting health care coverage, attacks on labor unions and the media, termination of sexual assault protections in higher education, etc. – is the goal of this administration.  Honestly, the main reason that I do not support this administration is because I believe the policies enacted are creating a permanent underclass. This harsh reality is the reason I continue to speak out as an American, a Social Worker, a mother, a minority, an entrepreneur, and as an Empath.  (An Empath is someone with the strong ability to feel the thoughts, emotions, and energy of others sometimes to the point of debilitation.)

The true national emergency was created by the government shutdown. There was very little genuine empathy for the government workers, government contractors, public assistance recipients, and businesses directly impacted. Over the next three weeks, Congress must put the needs of our country before the tyranny and thirst for power. Do your job! Stop the president who has already said he will likely not sign anything that isn’t exactly what he wants. He is unwilling to compromise even when other measures may be more effective.

End the government shutdown permanently.

Related:

Can I Thrive During the Government Shutdown?

Happy 90th Birthday Dr. King

Nicki Sanders, MSW, is a travel and cupcake lover with a passion for self-discovery and career advancement. She has an extensive background in developing and managing interns and successful internship programs. She is an accomplished supervisor, professor, coach, trainer, and group facilitator who has merged her Master of Social Work degree and 20 years of diverse work experience into a thriving business.  Nicki Sanders Consulting helps businesses increase employee recruitment and retention and helps managers uplevel their leadership skills.  

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