Out of Touch Leadership

Power blocks empathy and hence being understanding of others

Today, 34 days into the government shutdown and one day away from the second missed pay period for 800,000 federal workers, U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross stated that he saw no reason why these unpaid workers were going to food banks and shelters.  According to Ross, all they simply needed to do was get a loan to tide them over.  Then, later in the day, the President offered to clarify what he meant and explained that all these federal workers are local folks, so they can go to their local banks and local landlords and local mortgage lenders and work out a deal.  I got paid this month, I am very grateful for that.  But if I hadn’t and needed a helpful local loan, no such thing would be coming, not quickly for sure.  The last bank refinance I did took weeks for the bank to process and required a zillion copies of every financial document I owned.  Even though the decision was based on a job I had held for over 20 years and was still securely employed in that same job, I waited weeks for approval!  So much for a quick “tide you over loan.” 

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