Larry D. Lauer

In a social media dominated world, here is the way it works when an ill-equipped government is in place:

1. First, when a new administration really believes government is too big, it needs to be careful where and who it cuts.
2. Brutal budget and staff cuts in agencies that are depended on to manage crises, especially health related ones, are big mistakes.
3. And when the people in that administration are there primarily because of their loyalty, and not their expertise, they will always be inclined to underplay the possibility of any crisis.
4. Inexperienced staff and supporters will always model their leader’s tactics. Thus, today they will rush to criticize the traditional news media, and use extreme talk radio, supportive pundits, and social media to attack their political opposition.
5. And when the truth about the danger of any crisis situation finally gets out, as it inevitably does, without the necessary experience and enough expertise on board and ready… everything crashes.

Those who have been saying, “Everyone knows the president lies and makes-up stuff every day… that’s just him,” will now feel the serious consequences of “only I can do it” leadership.

Yes, it’s true that our new digital and social media world is what allowed this to come about. The big lesson now is that we can never let this happen again.