Thursday, November 04, 2004
Shattered
The wild talk the day after the election hints at the lack of trust many Americans have for the President. Since trust is at the root of communications, there is no way the President can reach these individuals with an effective message. He will have haters for the next four years.
This will be a public relations problem for the president. He needs to seek reasonable individuals in Congress who are willing to negotiate, or he will have to try to force bills through, if he can. It would be better for him and for the country if there were a center.
It is hard to be in opposition and trust, but it can be done. One can dislike another and everything the other stands for but work with that person for the betterment of all. It is a matter of both parties taming their egos and moving forward. Regrettably, this has been forgotten by many, and it makes relationships difficult, if not impossible.
Like it or not, we pursue public relations in an era when relationships are not a primary goal of many citizens' groups. They want power: They won't compromise. Fortunately, our Democracy was set up with divided power, so the strong could not overcome the weak. That was Madison's insight, and weak government has been America's salvation for more than 200 years. It forces relationships to get anything done. But it also means government can remain static and nothing happen -- a real possibility in a divided country. Perhaps we need Rodney King again. "Can't we all just get along?"
This will be a public relations problem for the president. He needs to seek reasonable individuals in Congress who are willing to negotiate, or he will have to try to force bills through, if he can. It would be better for him and for the country if there were a center.
It is hard to be in opposition and trust, but it can be done. One can dislike another and everything the other stands for but work with that person for the betterment of all. It is a matter of both parties taming their egos and moving forward. Regrettably, this has been forgotten by many, and it makes relationships difficult, if not impossible.
Like it or not, we pursue public relations in an era when relationships are not a primary goal of many citizens' groups. They want power: They won't compromise. Fortunately, our Democracy was set up with divided power, so the strong could not overcome the weak. That was Madison's insight, and weak government has been America's salvation for more than 200 years. It forces relationships to get anything done. But it also means government can remain static and nothing happen -- a real possibility in a divided country. Perhaps we need Rodney King again. "Can't we all just get along?"
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