THUGGERY LEADERSHIP: CAN WE THE PEOPLE COACH OUR LEADERS TO CHANGE?

[FCTP]

Shirley Sherrod is another victim of a White House Administration that uses surface information, micromanagement and thuggery to get their way.

In the last two years, this administration and Congress has used this type of leadership to push through legislation, failed to understand the consequences of the bills and used thuggery to get the votes they needed to further their ideology.

What happened to Shirley is a terrible thing and we hope she will find restitution in the fact that she has been exonerated and made whole again.

What happened to America and We the People will forever change the way we live our lives and we are still waiting for an apology from this administration and Congress.

They have pushed through way too many bills we do not want and they have put us further into debt against our wishes.

One example is the massive healthcare bill that was passed without fully understanding the consequences and without reading it. Ideology instead of cold hard facts permeated the passing of this bill. The people did not want the healthcare bill to be passed without reading it first. We expected our representatives and our President to fully understand the implications of their decision to pass this huge entitlement program. They did not take the time to do so and just like Shirley, we were faced with thuggery of the worst kind on the American people.

We stood outside the halls of Congress and begged them to read the bill and to stop and take the time to know what was in it. Instead of listening, carefully reading and understanding the implications of their vote, they walked through the crowd with a mallet in their hand and shunned the American people.

Nancy Pelosi said, “We need to pass the bill so you can know what’s in it.” Well Ms. Pelosi – we now know what’s in it and it is horrible. It will ruin the best healthcare system in the world and the reason it passed is because you and others used that mallet to get your way. Thuggery leadership is the norm in Washington, DC and you and our other leaders use it well.

We know Thuggery Leadership played a major role in the passing of this bill and many others too.

Thuggery leadership never wins. It might for a while but it does not last long term. As a coach to leaders, when we see this type of leadership on an executive team, we have two options:

1. Develop a Leadership Development program for the executive

2. Fire the executive

Most CEOs will choose option #1 and will invest in their people to salvage their careers. Choice #2 shows up when the executive fails to change.

When the CEO, himself, is the thug – this becomes a more difficult experience. When we realize it is actually the CEO who is the issue, we share with them how they are coming across, what the consequences of this type of leadership will do for them and their company and what they need to do to change. If the CEO wants to change – they usually do because they see the devastation this behavior is having on their business and their bottom line. If the CEO does not want to change and does not see he is wrong, we fire the CEO as a client because there is no reason for us to be there.

In this past week, Thuggery Leadership has come to the front of the American stage and it is time for all of us to stand up and demand change.

The NAACP used Thuggery Leadership to slam the Tea Party Movement and we did not fall for it. We knew we were not racists and we stood up and said, “Enough.”

The White House used Thuggery Leadership on Shirley Sherrod and she held her head high, told the truth and said “Enough.”

Whites, blacks, browns, and all colors of the American people deserve better leadership. Thuggery Leadership in America is not working and it is time for all of us to stand up and say “Enough.”

As your coach, We the People see some changes this Administration and Congress can make to right the wrongs and change how they are leading us. Those changes are:

1. Read our founding documents and focus on the blood that has been shed and the sacrifices made by so many to create a free America. Remember the pledge you made to uphold those documents – so help you God.

2. Hold yourselves accountable to each other and the American people by keeping your promises – not to special interests – but to the contract we have with you…the Constitution. Stop manipulating it and shoving it aside to pass legislation that you or your buddies want.

3. Apologize to the American people and ask our forgiveness for this shameful behavior. We are a cool country because we will forgive you IF you show real change in your behaviors moving forward.

4. Stop passing legislation without sitting down together, fully understanding the consequences, putting aside your own personal agendas and stop taking bribes and money from special interest groups.

5. Stop apologizing to foreign countries about our way of life. We have had enough of that and it is time to stand up and say how great we are – because we are.

6. Focus on the real issues at hand and get us out of this mess that YOU created. We did not create it – you did. Be a man and admit you caused this problem and stop blaming others. A great leader admits mistakes and does everything possible to make them right.

7. Listen to us. Answer your phones and sit down and listen to our calls and concerns. Stop sending form letters that do not even address the real concerns. Do not use your boot or your mallet on the America people anymore. Try using a word of encouragement to us who love this country and a strong arm against those who hate us.

If you can follow these simple guidelines, you can keep your jobs. You will be better leaders and you will find the American people will follow your lead.

If you cannot follow these seven guidelines, we will fire you. That is our only option and we will use it.

We have faith in you and are an optimistic people so we are praying that you will heed our message. It will be easier on you and on us if you do so. And, candidly, Thuggery Leadership has no place in America and serves no good purpose.

Will you listen to us this time? Will you make the changes necessary to save this great country from debt, despair and depression?

We are counting on you and counting down the days to November 2nd too. That is the day we will determine if you can continue to lead us and if you have made the changes necessary to Serve the People instead of harm the people. May God Save the USA.

[tamara stephenson]

I like that term -- free marketeers. I will officially borrow it. as for square foot gardening, that is what my husband and i do, and of course, we involve the kids. this year, we grew tomatoes, squash, eggplant, cucumbers, romaine lettuce, peppers, potatoes, thyme, rosemary, basil and cilantro. it is truly rewarding and we eat fresh vegetables all the time. another way to support the small farms is by purchasing produce at local farmers' markets. but, back to the original idea: no corporate or private welfare! ugh!

[Marjorie Lapinsky]

Thanks John (-: I will....and your right about free marketeers...that's what our goal has to be...if we can get the govt back where it needs to be maybe we'd see some of that good ole pull yourself up by your bootstraps and get it done Americanism...lol ( is that a word) come back...

[Marjorie Lapinsky]

And I keep saying I am going to start my OWN garden LOL..."keep saying" being the key words here..

[Marjorie Lapinsky]

Thanks John...I will read the article and I love to learn and debate so I ask you this? Kind of getting off the Shirley Sherrod thing here I think but...I understand, for example, the peanut farmer makes more not growing peanuts than growing peanuts, and I understand your point about the sugar farmers but WHY don't the peanut farmers just start growing sugar? Because the govt. has said they can't....the govt. is going to control who grows certain amounts of certain things....It really all comes back to government control I think and to control the population what better to start with than our food. From what I have heard local farmers here in the south say, they are not ALLOWED to grow certain things....so they either go under or grow what they can, hang onto the family acreage....sell out to a Builder, as so many have ended up doing...and I am sure alot of them are fine with that...me too...it's thier land....but it's an infrastructure that at one time was really a major staple for our country and we need that again...

[Marjorie Lapinsky]

Do you understand that the govt stepped in years ago and "forced" our farmers out of business...where was the outrage when AMERICAN farmers were told "if you grow more than what we decree you will be fined"...in the name of outsourcing our FOOD to foreign countries...there are plenty of farmers who still want to FARM and cannot...let's put the farming back here in the USA where it belongs and our Farmers wouldn't have to choose between hanging onto thier family business or finding something else to do...my point...they are being "forced" out...we should NOT be at the mercy of our basic staples coming from other countries...NONE...and I try NOT to buy Chinese either LOL

[tamara stephenson]

Marjorie, I will have to disagree with you on your last point. I think the whole point of deciding who gets the hand out is who needs it; i.e., if you have money, you don't need it. I think her job was to make decisions on rich vs. poor, which is probably what she is supposed to do. My point is this: why are we handing out money to farmers to keep farming when there are those who can make it without help? Farming is like any other business, if you can't make it, then you shouldn't be in the business. that's how it works in my world. that's how it should work for everybody.

[tamara stephenson]

John, I totally agree. this government is all about handing out money. Shirley Shirrad was just a minion handing out the welfare check. It doesn't matter to whom it goes -- white, black, young or old. Stop the entitlement programs!

[Marjorie Lapinsky]

My point really was Shirley Sherrod still has a terrible dilemma in her mind IMO and it jeopardizes her ability to make a fair and unbiased decisions. She needed to be held accountable for her attitude and again my only issue is the way she was "asked" to leave. She should be making decisions in her position based on several issues but whether someone has more money than the next guy, doesn't and shouldn't be the make or break point on who would get help.

[Marjorie Lapinsky]

I still don't buy the rich against poor analogy as valid thinking for a person in her position. Everyone in this country has the same exact opportunity as the next. HARD WORK...so if I work HARD and I get what some would call rich (and I would ask you "who's defintion of rich are we working with here?") why should that be a criteria at all in her mind. She's coming to a conclusion IMO that "it's about rich against poor in this country"!!!! WRONG....It's about getting up off your INDIVIDUAL butt and WORKING HARD...go to school....start at the bottom...there are no race barriers left in this country and most of the "so called" rich people I know bust thier butts...but the poor ones I know are content to sit and complain instead of doing what it takes to better themselves...I deeply resent being forced to get into my pocket to support people who won't support or HELP themselves...that's the big problem with most of the "poor" people in this country...they don't recognize opportunity when it knocks on thier door....because it's dressed in coveralls....in other words folks:
Success takes HARD work...so don't reach into my pocket against MY will and tell me what I shouldn't have that I HAVE WORKED FOR....

[Steven D.Upshaw]

These people have used the race card so much for so many things that they have lost the meaning of the word, Every time things don't go the way they wish or they paint themselves into a corner they start screaming racism. It has become a fire escape for them. in the past it has worked well for them. Now people of all colors are starting to see them for what they are ( thugs) and the race thing just don't wash anymore. Wow! it is really great that the people of this country are finally smelling the coffee. Its about control people! Do you want to control the government or do you want the government to control you? It is your choice and you can exercise that choice in 102 days.