Tuesday, October 19, 2004
Manifesto
Why is it that the nation's biggest problems are systematically ignored by both political parties?
Take social security. You know it's in trouble. Federal reserve chairman Alan Greenspan has said it's in trouble.
Several bipartisan committees found it's in trouble. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has said it's in trouble.
Yet, where are the solutions?
Both current political parties use demagoguery and rhetoric to throw negatives at the other side, but neither has a concrete solution.
Do you know specifically what either the Republicans or Democrats plan to do to save the system?
And that's not the only issue being ignored.
We all know the education system in America has problems. The poor neighborhoods have terrible schools with no solutions seemingly in sight.
We all know that big money seems to dominate elections so much that only millionaires and celebrities seem to be able to run for office.
Yet, other than John McCain, who is even proposing solutions to the problem?
The current political parties have mastered the system of "transactional politics" where it's easier to put down your opponents rather than offer solutions.
Issues with hard choices are ignored by both parties as a way to focus on lesser "wedge" issues that can get them elected.
Special interests are catered to in order to secure funding to stay in power.
Meanwhile, large problems in our economy and our society are being ignored.
The risk is that America is facing a fiscal crisis that could jeopardize it's standing as the leading economy and leading political power.
America is also facing an increase in the gap between rich and poor that is threatening to destabilize its society and reduce economic growth.
You'll notice we're not talking about foreign policy here. We'll leave those issues alone. Without a strong U.S. economy and stable society, our choices and options of strategy for foreign policy will be reduced.
You'll also notice we're not talking about social issues. You probably have your own feelings on abortion, school prayer, gun control and the rest of the lot. These are not the biggest problems facing the country. Our economic stability is not dependent on their outcome.
We're likely not going to solve them or change your mind any time soon. Let's concentrate on the issues that need to be solved.
It's time for the system of transactional politics to come to an end. There's a growing movement of centrist-minded thinkers who are concerned with getting things done rather than finding the next wedge issue or interest group to satisfy to retain power.
Books such as "The Two Percent Solution" and "The Radical Center" lay out centrist plans. It's time for these ideas to be advanced and put into political action. That's the purpose of this web site.
I'm looking for feedback in a number of areas. I've put forth what I think are the biggest issues facing our country and possible solutions.
Do these seem like the right objectives? Can you knock holes in my proposed solutions? Can you provide information and recent developments that help advance the issues?
And can you help with strategy on how to take these ideas and put them into political action? What should the next step be?
Fire away and let's get this moving. It's too late to help in 2004, but while you are engaged in the current political process let's start to think of what should be happening next time around.
