Responsibility and process

A few weeks ago, I conducted a session about conflict management for non-profit managers. It required reworking previously created content and redesigning it for a specific group. I’ve mediated and trained mediators for over 20 years. Mediation and conflict management is about boundaries, following processes, asking questions and expanding thinking. As I worked on the presentation, one statement hit home and relevancy in the current political climate.

“Inappropriate behavior left un-confronted will only escalate.”

The words packed a punch. How many times in our lives with families, friends, colleagues or even in marriages has that happened? Someone we worked with or had a relationship with said or did something inappropriate. It’s a quandary. Do we confront the behavior or remain silent, and move on?

You’ve heard the phrases: “That isn’t fair!” “You’re picking on me!” “What’s the matter, can’t you take a joke?” “No one has ever been treated like this!” “You can’t make me do that.” “The rules don’t apply to me.”

Parents, teachers, employers and organizations have a responsibility to set behavior boundaries, interaction norms and processes for solving problems and disputes.

Demeaning or offensive language deemed unacceptable. Bullying was defined and compliance required. Work rules, processes and expectations were communicated and in place. Failure to comply had consequences.

If you were raised in the church, Sunday School teachers taught the 10 Commandments, the golden rule and parables illustrated the way we were to live our lives.

When I taught middle school, teaching acceptable norms and processes for my classroom were a part of daily instruction. The goal was consistency to establish a productive and safe environment.

Establishing boundaries is important not only for relationships and organizations, but also for the government and a democracy to function effectively.

We’re living at a time when boundaries, norms and responsibilities have been defined constitutionally, but powerful individuals have chosen to ignore the established norms and processes. Claiming ignorance or that the Constitution doesn’t apply to all Americans is unacceptable. No one is above the law.

The United States Constitution created three equal branches of the government: executive, legislative, and judicial. Folks, that’s Government 101 from high school. Co-equal with roles clearly defined within the founding documents. No government branch is more powerful than the others. The executive branch is not exempt. Period.

The executive branch does not have the authority to ignore the judicial branch. The legislative branch has the responsibility to exert power and authority granted by the Constitution. It’s called checks and balances as I recall from high school government.

The GOP, who holds majority in the legislative branch in Washington, D.C., has surrendered power to the executive branch. I don’t understand. Are they afraid to confront the 47th President and suffer from a mean post on X or Truth Social?

Weren’t they elected to be a check and balance on the executive branch? Do they remember the oath they took when assuming office? Are they afraid of the current president, his followers, or a well-funded primary? Both Iowa Senators have stated publicly that this is a “country of laws.” Prove it. Isn’t due process included in legal processes?

We’ve lived with chaos since Inauguration Day. The stock market tanked. Tariffs enacted. Eggs, groceries and gas prices remain high. Deportation of immigrants and arrests of foreign students without due process occurred. Ukraine and Russia still battle. Executive orders skirt the law or claim authority violating the Constitution.

Please make calls to Congressman Zach Nunn, Senator Chuck Grassley’s and Joni Ernst’s offices asking them to exert legislative powers given in the Constitution or hold a town hall meeting and listen to the voices of Iowa. If we are a “country of laws” the executive branch does not get to ignore judicial rulings.

If elected leaders won’t speak up, “We the People” must. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. Silence is not an option.