Geoffrey W. Sutton PhD, Psychology and Culture

Park Closed 2023 Geoffrey W. Sutton & Bing AI   It's September 29th and the US is about to shutdown again- -that is, the government closes nonessential operations. Of course, what's "essential" isn't decided by us--the citizens of this great nation. Surely, there is a more effective way to avoid this recurring event and the horrific costs to our financial and wellbeing. I do think our government wastes too much of our money, but shutdowns are not the best way to get change. Every election makes a difference. When we elect big spenders, we pay the price. Sometimes, we may decide some spending is a good idea--depends on our politics. The Cost of A Shutdown - It's Not Just Financial Were you planning a trip to a National Park? They shutdown. The parks will close. You lose planned enjoyment. Some parks are open and some with minimal services. It will require some investigation to know what's available and what is closed. Were you going to fly somewhere? L...

Respect consists of the ways people treat their leaders and other group members. Core features of respect include social status and likeability ( See Psychology of Respect ). Honesty In a 2014 survey by Kouzes and Posner of over 100,000 people, honesty was the highest quality ( CEO ). Honest communication is often supported by facts that can be checked by others. Honesty promotes trust and credibility. One major lapse in integrity can dash a career. Apologies may help but for many, trust is gone forever. Politicians often get little respect because they fail to deliver on their promises. A CEO will be ousted when a promised result doesn’t happen. But politicians seem to get away with failed promises when they can blame the failure on a competitor, opposition party, or foreign power. Golden Rule Leaders gain or lose respect depending on how people perceive them as following the Golden Rule - Treat others as you would like to be treated. Respect is a relational ...