Larry D. Lauer

A nation’s institutions embody, protect, and make real its most cherished core values. Therefore, effective presidents and prime ministers will build and nourish their country’s institutions.

The strength of a country’s institutions will also determine its preparedness for international leadership. Conversely, leaders who continually attack their institutions will facilitate their country’s decline in the eyes of the rest of the world.

The Government… Prior to the recent hurricanes, wholesale cuts in homeland security and state department budgets weakened the nation. Emergency funding has helped. But an internally decimated government cannot consistently lead itself out of crises, let alone lead the world.

Legislatures…  Politicians are elected based on party ideology. Once in the legislature a democratic republic requires them to become statesmen, putting the country’s greater good above party. Extremism and polarization will irreparably weaken any nation.

News Media… Freedom of the press is guaranteed in the US constitution. Constructive media criticism is expected and necessary. But relentlessly attacking professional news organizations as “fake news” is destructive… and seriously weakens this nation.

Courts… Courts exist in a democratic republic to guarantee justice for all. To appoint judges based on politics undermines their role. Attacking their decisions based on politics does too. A judiciary subjected to political influence substantially weakens any nation.

Police…  To protest police violence, a minority football player dropped on his knee while facing the flag during the national anthem. This was seen by many as anti-patriotic. Some voiced their opinions, but widespread protests never occurred. But when the president openly attacked the practice, the situation became explosive. Groups took sides. The racial divide became worse. And as a result the country could be severely damaged. Divisive presidents weaken nations.

Public Schools…  Picking on schools and teachers is fair game in our society. When criticism is informed and constructive, the nation is strengthened. But when public education is continually attacked by politicians and political appointees in Washington the nation is weakened.

Universities… Universities are much like small cities. They have many of the same problems, i.e. ongoing crime, occasional protests, endless controversies, and sometimes weak leadership. But the vast majority of students still achieve better quality lives and productive careers. And many show their gratitude with lifelong donations over and above the tuition they paid. Attacking universities relentlessly for their flaws, and suggesting they are failing to do their job for the country, weakens the nation… especially when these institutions are actually the envy of the world.

Nonprofits…  Service organizations are easily criticized. They rarely have the resources and staff necessary to perform at a their peak. But when you need them you are really glad they are there. Supporting them brings stability to a nation. Tearing them down weakens that nation.

Churches… Church and state in many parts of the world are basically one entity. The US, however, was founded based on the separation of church and state. This was a promise of complete religious freedom for everyone. Thus, acting like one religion is more important than another is contrary to the founders’ intent, and weakens the nation.

Think about it. A strong nation really is the sum total of strong institutions. Building them up leads to the admiration and prestige necessary for global leadership. Constantly tearing them down guarantees international disappointment… and will eventually lead to global insignificance.

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Some are pointing out that Trump’s speech was fairly well drafted. It clarified a possible world view. Comparing it to past presidential UN addresses, some saw it pretty much as harmless boilerplate. But it was antagonistic. The tone was as much “Trump first” as “America first.” And it did not reestablish the values-based leadership role the US has had in the world.

Later, at a meeting with delegates from Africa he named a country that doesn’t exist and went on to talk about what a great healthcare system it has, raising the same questions many have had about Trump as world leader. World view is one thing. Competent leadership is something else.

In his major address Trump described his ideal world as a collection of independent nation-states, all with leaders asserting that their country comes first, just as he has. He explained this demonstrates that citizen happiness is their primary goal and that this will lead to world peace. The problem with such a world view is that world history, current international conflicts, terrorism, and the cultural diversity of nations, all teach that realistic world problem-solving requires collaboration, compromise, experience, and values-based leadership.

Many think the speech was largely the work of Stephen Miller, Trump’s senior advisor for policy. And while it might provide a clearer explanation for what Trump thinks he believes, he has demonstrated in the first months of his presidency that he does not have the vocabulary, patience, experience, or knowledge of history and international issues, required to lead complex problem-solving.

World view aside, the speech also goes on to viciously attack North Korea, Iran, Syria, Cuba, and Venezuela. In the case of North Korea he threatens total destruction and continues mocking its leader by calling him rocket man. For the others, he promises aggressive intervention if they do not establish democracies. Putting aside the fact that there are not enough ambassadors or professionals left in the state department to take all this on, with a series of destructive storms pounding US cities; military commitments already made in Afghanistan, South Korea, Qatar, and elsewhere; and upgrades needed in military training and technology; how could the US handle or finance any of this?

So what we have here is a worldview that ignores the influence of history, cultures, religions, ancient tribes, autocracies, communication lessons, and much more. It also ignores the firmly entrenched international agreements from global warming to world trade that meet the needs of so many other countries. For many, this speech will reinforce why they voted for him. But for many others it was simplistic, antagonistic, and even frightening.

The critical question is will Trump’s antagonistic tone result in war? Much will depend on the experience and influence of the generals around him, and most especially the ability of allies and others to make increased North Korean sanctions work.

Certainly, the tone of Trump’s UN speech was not helpful. But believe me, it could have been much worse.

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Here’s a typical daily scenario to think about:

1. The president sends out another off-the-wall and destabilizing tweet.
2. Television news puts it on the screen, making it a highly visible HEADLINE.
3. Then opinion writers, on-line news commentators, talk radio hosts, bloggers, magazine writers, book authors, and even preachers and teachers rant and rave about it, turning a glut of information into confusing clutter.
4. Soon a major portion of society becomes hopelessly confused, and with experts and pundits disagreeing on every channel, people simply reach for the “off switch” in their brain.
5. Wait! Suddenly we see a small inkling of reality in the president’s behavior and we begin to think maybe he is changing. Maybe this time is different. But not likely.
6. People everywhere are finally wearing out. Many feel numb. Some are in denial. Others are burying their heads in the sand. Are we now coming face-to-face with the possibility that a self-serving, wanna-be autocrat, might actually be able to continue indefinitely with his destructive bumbling?

Are there any alternatives? Well, legislators could come to their senses and become statesmen. Democrats could stop dividing against each other and put forth a unifying and inspiring vision for the country. Or as in France, an enlightened independent might find the resources to rise above this mess and mount a campaign to reestablish Thomas Jefferson’s values-based vision of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness!

Now we can see what happened. Politicians became extreme, mean, and hopelessly polarized. Media revolution innovations produced more clutter and confusion than clarity. People left behind by globalization chose the wrong leader. Truthfully, everyone helped build Trump’s swamp. Now, everyone must help drain it.

There are two important communication lessons here: (1) A 70-year-old, self-serving, amoral, mean-spirited plutocrat, simply is not likely to change. And (2) an autocratic, always angry, relentless tweeter, can eventually damage a values-based country beyond repair. So now what?

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The benefits are clear: The latest technology tracks storms more accurately than ever. Potential victims get early warnings and important information. Dramatic pictures underscore the seriousness of the situation. Big events such as this deliver large audiences for scientists to tell us what they are discovering about global warming and increasing numbers of intense storms. And the general audience gets to have a vicarious experience of the turmoil without suffering the consequences.

But there also can be unintended consequences for those destined to be victims. Early warning information can be misleading. As accurate as tracking has become, it usually changes at the last-minute. Many can wind up in traffic jams, without enough food, water and fuel, and headed in the wrong direction. And when power is lost they can be out of touch. Can better preparation long before a storm be helpful?

For example, could a digital device with a supply of extra batteries be developed for potential victims that can keep them in constant communication with officials wherever they are? And could people living in storm-prone areas be given an official list and then required to certify that they have stock-piled essential supplies, located already assigned shelters, and rehearsed appropriate responses?

When it comes to the larger mass audience TV producers just can’t resist dramatic possibilities. For example, is it really necessary for journalists to wade into deep and debris-filled flooded areas, expose themselves to blinding wind blasts, stand out in sheets of rain pounding down on their heads, and getting way too close to life-threatening walls of surging water… all while shouting out play-by-play commentary? And is it really necessary for meteorologists surrounded by science-fiction looking apparatus to be giving out the same information over and over, hour after hour. When presented at a fast pace, watching all this can be hypnotic and mesmerizing. But it also is emotionally exhausting and stress producing for many. Wouldn’t regularly scheduled updates be responsible enough news reporting?

Of course, keeping people glued to their screens is the life-blood of 24/7 cable channels. But when main stream broadcasters join in the nonstop coverage it’s easy to see how competition increases to find the most spectacular images. So wouldn’t it be wise for us to now step back and review what actually works best for the victims, and for the larger television audience?

The best use of television and film I believe is to produce after-the-fact news documentaries. This is when entire true stories can be told as stand-alone dramatic presentations with specific lessons to teach. Documentaries can explain how rescue teams work, how neighborhoods can become fertile ground for producing terrorists , or even how 9/11 firefighters became victims themselves. Using television and film to tell these kinds of stories can be dramatic without being misleading.

In an age when a bad-mouthed reality TV star with no governing experience can become president, we obviously still have a lot to learn about this bewildering medium… its positive benefits, and its potential harmful psychic and social consequences.

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September 11, 2017.  What a day!

We paused today to remember the horrible world trade center disaster, which all of us watched unfold live on television. And how could it be that on the anniversary of that horrible event we are watching still another devastating event on television, this time a second destructive hurricane in as many weeks.

The mysterious nature of this medium allows us to watch news unfold before our very eyes, and then involve us emotionally and helplessly in the experience. But there are also interesting questions about television’s unique capacity to become a part of the event itself, and then go on to mislead us in unintended ways.

This week I reached a milestone of 400 posts about media and the way they influence social change. And I am more mindful than ever of two media facts that continue to dominate my thinking:

1. Media Revolutions Change Everything.  After this week and during the months ahead I will broaden my thinking beyond tragic events, leadership, politics, government, and foreign affairs, to include families, individuals, values, religion, education, and more.
2. Communication Always Fails. And I will also continue to explore the perplexing challenges of trying to communicate effectively in this overwhelming, information cluttered, digital media world.

COMING SOON: My reflections on both the benefits and problems of following Irma on TV. And then, onward.

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