Ethical Interpersonal Communication Scenario

The case focuses on the disagreement about the Bush Era Tax Cuts between Harry Reid, the Senate Majority Leader, and John Boehner, the Speaker of the House. The two leaders take a different stance about the Tax cuts, while Senator Reid believes that the tax cuts policy should focus on people earning less than $250,000 yearly, however, Speaker Boehner disagrees with Reid by believing that tax cuts should be for everyone including wealthiest people in the United States. However, both Boehner, and Reid had problem in arriving at consensus and enhancing effective communication in the past. In essence, both parties are aware that they should not allow the tax cuts policy to expire because allowing the tax cut policy to expire can have a significant detrimental effect on the nation's economic discovery.

Objective of this report is to guide both Reid and Boeher to achieve a productive communication and behaviors that will foster an I-Thou relationship between the two parties, which will allow them working together to resolve the tax cuts amicably and resolving others critical issues facing the nation.

Recommendations

Overview of the case revealed both the Boehner and Reid did not engage in an ethical communication and their communication systems are not based on the technical dialogue which should have brought the outcome of effective communication. Johnson (2012) argues that a communicator should integrate an ethical communication in his or her point-of-view, and the outcome of a communication depends on the attitude an individual towards the other party. Thus, the communication relationship between both the Reid and Boehner is an example of what Johnson, (2012) describes as a monologue communication and I-It relationship.

Spaeth, (2013) point out that "there was apparently no love lost between the negotiations' of principal players, John Boehner and Harry Reid where this happened":

"Go f -- yourself," Boehner sniped as he pointed his finger at Reid, according...

Reid, a bit startled, replied: "What are you talking about? Boehner repeated: "Go f -- yourself."( Spaeth, 2013 p 1).
This type of attitude is an example of I-It relationship. A communicator using the I-It relationship is self-centered and not really interested in the opinion of the other. Similarly, a monologue communicator is a self-centered individual and monologue communication is characterized by manipulation, coercion, exploitation and deception. Thus, the communication between both the Reid and Boehner is an example of a monologue communication system.

The identification of the shortcomings in the communication system between Reid and Boeher makes the paper to suggest that both parties should engage in the I-Thou relationship to arrive amicably on the tax cuts issue and other critical issues facing the country. Typically, both parties should treat one another as unique human being and should genuinely understand the perspective of other communicator. Rather than engaging in monologue communication, both Reid and Boehner should always engage in the dialogue that focuses on understanding of the other partner. Dialogue is the feature of the I-Thou relationship where both parties should strengthen the interpersonal bond to arrive at common agreement. To engage in I-Thou relationships, both the Reid and Boehner should put the misconception between both of them aside.

While I-Thou communication is very critical for both the Reid and Boehner to arrive at a productive communication, both parties still lack the skills in adopting I-Thou relationship in their communication system. This paper provides the strategy that both parties can employ to develop competencies in I-Thou communication.

The first strategy that Boeher and Reid should employ in indulging in productive communication is to always engage in a default dialogue. The default dialogue is the strategy by which both parties commit themselves as a good listener and treat other with respect. Moreover, each one of them should take the advantages…