Doing Some House Cleaning…

By Reverend Paul N. Papas II

August 29, 2017

Every so often there comes a time when a reevaluation is needed. Whether you are in charge of a household, a multinational corporation or public official results matter.

It is true that you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. It is also true that a few motivated people working together can accomplish more than a large group working as individuals. I may not be the best speller, but I am certain there is no ‘I’ in team.

In a household someone has to make sure the chores are done, the food is prepared, the laundry is done, and the yard is clean, just to name a few things that help a household member function.

Multinational corporations have many layers of management that have to be informed of and carryout the approved plan of action. Management is judged on their performance as well as how much they brought in or saved the corporation. Corporations exist to make money, if they consistently loose money or take a huge financial loss they could go bankrupt. Some corporations go bankrupt and reopen the next day in a new name with a clean slate. Employees of multinational corporations typically don’t have contracts binding them to their jobs making their tenure subject to the approval of management.

Multinational corporations have to answer to their shareholders, especially those holding large numbers of shares. Large shareholders often have influence over the direction of corporations.

Elected officials have to answer to the voters. Unfortunately those who seek public office often do not have sufficient funds to pay for the campaign process to get elected.  In reality those who seek public office either borrow money or seek donations to pay for the campaign process. There are many lobbyist who are eager to arrange for donations for the candidate with the idea that candidate, once in office, will vote the way the lobbyist wants. The candidate gets donations to pay for the campaign process and the lobbyist buys a vote for his client. The purchased votes can cause the public official to vote against those to whom he or she is supposed to be beholden…the voters.

The purchased votes often make it appear that there is only one party in Congress, some call it a UniParty, and some call it the Establishment.

The good news not all elected officials are bought and paid for. Not all elected officials are infected with the group think disease.

Some could think the elected officials infected with the group think disease have more than one personality (one for the voters and one for their donors) or they could appear to have Borderline Personality Disorder.

See if these symptoms match any current public officials or groups in the news:

“Everyone has problems with emotions or behaviors sometimes. But if you have borderline personality disorder, the problems are severe, repeat over a long time, and disrupt your life. The most common symptoms include:

• Intense emotions and mood swings.
• Harmful, impulsive behaviors. These may include things like substance abuse, binge eating, out-of-control spending, risky sexual behavior, and reckless driving.
• Relationship problems. You may see others as either “good” or “bad” and may shift from one view to the other suddenly, for minor reasons. This can make relationships very difficult.
• Low self-worth.
• A frantic fear of being left alone (abandoned). This fear may lead to frantic attempts to hold on to those around you. Or it may cause you to reject others before they can reject you.
• Aggressive behavior.

Other symptoms may include:

• Feeling empty inside.
• Problems with anger, such as violent temper tantrums.
• Hurting yourself, such as cutting or burning yourself.
• Suicide attempts and suicidal thoughts.
• Times when you feel paranoid or lose a sense of reality (psychosis).

It’s easy to confuse this disorder with other mental illnesses. And they may overlap. So if you think that you or someone you know may have borderline personality disorder, see a doctor. Don’t try to diagnose yourself.” (1)

Some groups or elected officials infected with the group think disease have become violent and threatening of late when someone disagrees with them making them a danger to themselves or to those around them. Behavior which makes them a danger to themselves or to those around them could be a reason to have them properly evaluated.

One of the foundations of the USA is the First Amendment which guarantees USA Citizens the Right to Disagree. Being assaulted for disagreeing with the speaker is not protected by the First Amendment.

There are elected officials who have shown very good leadership ability in bringing people together to accomplish the missions. Then there are others who feel if they harass and harangue they can bully people into carrying out their agenda. Perhaps they have not learned that you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.

Disasters can bring a good insight into an elected official’s leadership ability. In May of 2013 Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin showed her leadership ability when she brought many people together to recover after some pretty devastating tornados within her state. Churches provided much needed places in the communities for communication,  rest, shelter and supplies.  No one was waiting for or looking for Air Force One  (2)

Today we learned at a major briefing that the Texas Governor Greg Abbott has been working and coordinating with the President and his cabinet for more than a week to assist victims of Harvey. The President brought three cabinet members and their chief assistants to Texas with him. (3)  Recovery should begin faster than with Hurricanes Katrina or Sandy as Oklahoma and Texas Governors and the President show a leadership style that is more conducive to accomplishing the mission and putting the people first. Again, churches are providing much needed places in the communities for communication, rest, shelter and supplies.

There was a TV crew shooting live when it came across a two men who needed a rescue. The National Guard helicopter had issues because of the power lines. The second man who lost everything because of Harvey and did not know the first man got in trouble in the fast moving water when he tried to rescue the first man. The TV crew asked the viewers if anyone nearby had a boat to rescue the two men. Within minutes several people with boats showed up and the two men were rescued. (3)

The spirit of Harvey’s victims reminded me of the Katrina victims in the way they look out for and help neighbors and strangers. The aerial view of Harvey’s damage looked very much like the aerial view of Katrina’s damage as I flew in as a volunteer. (4)

In times of need, such as after natural disasters be it hurricanes, tornadoes, or massive snow blizzards I have witnessed neighbors and strangers pull together and help each other out. Yes, there are those who will be antisocial and take advantage of those in need and they can be dealt with.

Groups or elected officials infected with the group think disease whether or not they have become violent and threatening or condone those who have become violent or threatening need to be dealt with. Elected officials can be removed, arrested, or voted out depending on their level of involvement.

If more people thought and acted like the Good Samaritan and not like those who passed the injured man the road we’d live in a much nicer world. Yes, one person can make a difference. What difference will you make today?

Reverend Paul N. Papas II is Pastoral Counselor with Narrow Path Ministries (MA and AZ) and Founder of the Family Renewal Center (AZ) www.narrowpathministries.org and www.familyrenewalcenteraz.org

(1) http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/tc/borderline-personality-disorder-topic-overview#1

(2) https://reclaimourrepublic.wordpress.com/2013/05/22/video-tornadoes-help-available-prayers-answered-womans-dog-emerges-from-rubble-during-tv-interview/

(3) https://reclaimourrepublic.wordpress.com/2017/08/30/video-ready-for-onslaught-45-churches-come-together-dallas-opens-6-shelters-convention-center-for-evacuees

(4) https://preacher01704.wordpress.com/2015/10/02/where-is-your-house-built/

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