Saturday, April 19, 2008

Funkhouser gets the citizen treatment

Last month during the city budget debate, Mayor Funkhouser wrote a letter to the K.C. Chamber of Commerce criticizing them for not giving due consideration to his learned opinion on the matter:
“I am outraged that my input was not sought in the development of the chamber’s recent resolution on the city’s budget. I saw it for the first time when it was introduced at the board meeting. I raised concerns about the resolution. You and your board members listened politely and then called for questions and further discussion. There was none, and the motion to adopt the resolution was summarily approved.”
While Funk fan Yael Abouhalkah wrote “good for the mayor,” The K.C. Blue Blog emphasized the arrogant tone of a letter “full of nothing but sentences bragging about his education level.”

Now, I would like to put my spin on it that has nothing to do with either the budget or the Mayor’s lack of savoir-faire, but with something that might be even more important: governance in Kansas City.

As someone who has been on the receiving end of one “ram through” after another (most recently by the Parks Board and City Council), Funkhouser’s complaint sounds very familiar. It’s business as usual in this town. Let’s turn it into an English lesson. Just fill in the blanks...

“My input was not sought in the development of _________.”

Of course not. Your input doesn’t count. The decision was made before the facade of public debate began.

“I saw the ________ for the first time when it was introduced at the meeting.”

Because they don’t care what you think about it.

“There were no questions and there was no discussion, and a motion to adopt it was summarily approved.”

Because we have a democracy in form, but not in substance; that’s the bottom line, and there is no prospect for changing that on our flat Midwestern horizon.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Our mayor and co-mayor are psychotic . . .

Consider the following excerpts from the Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). Further proof that our city is being lead by a mayor and co-mayor not fit for governing and should be removed for cause:

"Shared Psychotic Disorder". Also known as "Folie à Deux", this "seldom" diagnosed, but all-too-commonly observed type of psychosis occurs when an otherwise healthy person develops delusions after associating with one or more independently psychotic delusional people (Mark & Gloria). In other words, this diagnosis applies to people who have been isolated and "brainwashed" by people or groups with delusional and dogmatic agendas. The cure for this condition is social; patients need to be separated from their delusional associate(s)( i.e. Mark goes to work at City Hall and Gloria stays home), and shown the inconsistency and irrationality of their delusional beliefs. This task becomes more complicated when patients' delusions involve religious themes (i.e. Gloria states in Bates deposition that Mark's position has be ordained by GOD)because religious convictions cannot be argued in rational, logical terms; they are instead articles of faith.

According to the DSM-IV-TR:
A) A delusion develops in an individual in the context of a close relationship with another person(s), who has an already-established delusion.
B) The delusion is similar in content to that of the person who already has the established delusion.
C) The disturbance is not better accounted for by another Psychotic Disorder (e.g., Schizophrenia), or a Mood Disorder With Psychotic Features and is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition.

The psychotic disorder described above and exhibited by our dynamic duo is further complicated by their own individual personality disorders - Mark (Narcissistic) and Co-mayor Gloria (Histrionic personality disorder ).

Again, consider the following from the DSM-IV:
According to the DSM-IV, individuals (Gloria) with histrionic personality possess at least five of the following symptoms or personality features:
• a need to be the center of attention
• inappropriate, sexually seductive, or provocative behavior while interacting with others (i.e.Gloria's sexual innuendos)
• rapidly changing emotions and superficial expression of emotions
• vague and impressionistic speech (gives opinions without any supporting details)(very evident n both Mark & Gloria's despositions)
• easily influenced by others
• believes relationships are more intimate than they are.

Finally, according to the DSM-IV individuals (Mark Funkhouser) with Narcissistic behavior exhibit
a pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, and lack of empathy, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:
(1)has a grandiose sense of self-importance (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements)(i.e. Mayor's top 10 priorities)
(2)is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love (Gloria)
(3)believes that he or she is "special" and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people (or institutions)
(4)requires excessive admiration
(5)has a sense of entitlement, i.e., unreasonable expectations of especially favorable treatment or automatic compliance with his or her expectations
(6)is interpersonally exploitative, i.e., takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends (i.e. I bet Asjes, Simons, Noties, George Blackwood,Wolf, Miller, Bates, and many other former supporters now feel taken advantage of by the dynamic duo)
(7)lacks empathy: is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others
(8)is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her
(9)shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes

Simply put our dynamic duo is crazy and should be recalled or removed from office immediately.

William Volker