LEADERS HAVE VISION!

On their websites, in their speeches, in what they have written, in interviews, in their public and private performance records, and according to what they have said, or probably will talk about, at debates, the current crop of Presidential candidates have included the following as priorities for our country:  

Jobs, education, national and personal security, improved standard of living, increasing the GDP, military capacity and national defense, strong diplomacy, immigration, tax reform, environmental protection and preservation, and reform of government to increase efficiency and effectiveness.  I may have missed a few, but this is a long list of the most important things.

Here’s a question, without regard to any political position on the issues, but only focused on generally finding improvement for our country in these areas …

WHY HAVEN’T ANY OF THE CANDIDATES PROPOSED THAT WE SEND A CREW TO MARS AND RETURN THEM SAFELY?

It is an act of leadership to see the challenges now and ahead, and propose a vision that takes us safely and confidently forward.  It is an act of leadership to call upon us as a nation to focus on doing something really difficult.  It is an act of leadership to stand up and with a strong character say, “follow me.”

Such a goal would not only cause America to focus on the trail forward, but we would reclaim our leadership position in the world.  I am quite sure that Russian, Iran, ISIS, and the rest of the evil actors would take notice.

The nay-sayers will hide behind the cost of such a mission.  I don’t know if it would take another $10 billion or $100 billion or even $500 billion.  I do know that any of those costs are small compared to the tangible and intangible returns from such a mission.  I do know that any of those costs are small compared to the amount our national debt has increased since 2000.  Finally, I do know that based on books and research easily available, that the “moon landing” in 1969, and what it took to accomplish that, is almost fully responsible for the America we live in today.

Let’s learn from history!   LISTEN TO WHAT ONE OF OUR GREATEST PRESIDENTS SAID WHEN HE SET THE GOAL OF GOING TO THE MOON:

WE THE PEOPLE need to ask the candidates for their Mars vision!  Remember Beacon #3 (Listen/Ignore).  It is fair for us to ask many questions and expect them to respond so we can "listen."

Honesty and public service are the gears that drive our democracy, and we turn those gears with our RIGHT TO VOTE.   LET’S ALL VOTE!

. . .  remember that America’s best days aren’t behind her.   America’s best days are ahead of her.  They always have been and always will be.

Dave

Copyright © 2015 by David William Wygant. All rights reserved.  

A FEW CHANGES!

A LIGHTHOUSE TO KEEP DEMOCRACY SAFE (new subtitle)

The Voting Alert Beacons were born during the spring of 2012.  Their purpose and direction  has remained constant.  However, after two national election cycles, with a third now upon us, their velocity continues to increase, and the voter  actions they advocate are even more relevant than ever.

Another gratifying happenstance is that international interest has been increasing.  Fully one half of the people who have viewed The Voting Alert Beacons have been from places outside the USA.  This list includes Europe, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.  

A special note about India must include three interesting facts:  1)  If America is the oldest working democracy (beginning in 1776), then India is the largest (1+ billion people), 2)  The preamble to both the US Constitution and the Indian Constitution begins with WE THE PEOPLE, and 3)  History will record that at a time when mankind is awkwardly stumbling into the future, both American and India provided solid democratic anchors on opposite sides of the planet (a fact world leaders may not yet recognize and appreciate).

LISTEN / IGNORE SWITCH 

Take note of the new graphic on the Beacon #3 page.  Hopefully, the “switch” will give you a strong visual reminder to Listen to positive candidates who have a positive message, and talk positively.  In reverse, remember to Ignore or “turn off” those candidates who DON’T.

Honesty and public service are the gears that drive our democracy, and we turn those gears with our RIGHT TO VOTE.   LET’S ALL VOTE!

. . .  remember that America’s best days aren’t behind her.   America’s best days are ahead of her.  They always have been and always will be.

Dave

Copyright © 2015 by David William Wygant. All rights reserved.  

GET OFF THE BANDWAGON TO VOTE

What is a bandwagon?

As we do so often these days, I took the question to “Mr./Ms. Google Search.”  Because most of us view Merriam-Webster as a reliable dictionary, I picked that response.

Merriam-Webster says that a “bandwagon” is: 1)  a usually ornate and high wagon for a band of musicians, especially in a circus parade, 2)  a popular party, faction, or cause that attracts growing support —often used in such phrases as jump on the bandwagon, or 3)  a popular activity, effort, cause, etc., that attracts growing support. 

Honestly, I could see any or all of the Merriam-Webster elements defining a political campaign and/or a political party.  I’m not saying this is good or bad.  I’ll let you pick one for yourself.  

Ok, why did I just type all of that?

Well, in a campaign of any kind (anywhere) the people who own the bandwagon want you to get on theirs.  In a political campaign for elective office, this means that they want you to vote for them — while you’re on the bandwagon.  Their ultimate goal would be to get everyone on their bandwagon, and keep them there.  Of course, in reality there are other bandwagons, and people get on all of them.  

Well, not everyone actually.  In America, we have two major parties.  While, a lot of people get on those wagons, there’s another group called “independents.”  They don’t get on anyone’s wagon.  Or, if they do, they switch back and forth frequently.  Quite often they cast their votes while not on anyone's bandwagon, but while they are standing on solid ground.  They can teach us something!

Here’s part of the lesson.  Voting Alert Beacon #7 - In Secret, tells us to keep our vote(s) a secret.  In effect, it says, “Ride a bandwagon if you want, but get off the wagon to cast your vote.”  In a perfect world, the bandwagons might carry the information and messaging, but we would all get off the wagon to vote while standing on solid ground like the independents always have.  Alas, many people vote while they are standing on someone’s wagon, and they declare (brag) what they’ve done to pollsters.

DO THIS:  All of us always need to vote, and thusly exercise/preserve our RIGHT TO VOTE, but within the right, there’s something else.  We need to vote independently.  Independent in the sense of using our own mind (thoughts) and heart (conscience) to decide.  It is this independence that gives our vote the POWER it is capable of generating.

VOTE IN SECRET!  TELL NO ONE!

Honesty and public service are the gears that drive our democracy, and we turn those gears with our RIGHT TO VOTE.   LET’S ALL VOTE!

. . .  remember that America’s best days aren’t behind her.   America’s best days are ahead of her.  They always have been and always will be.

Dave

Copyright © 2015 by David William Wygant. All rights reserved.  

AMERICA IS LIKE NO OTHER PLACE

In recent years, our elections have been defined by issues.  Accordingly, we’ve become more and more divided.  The campaigns have turned into win/loss slugfests instead of productive competitions between visions and ideas.  Somewhere in this we’ve forgotten that we’re all Americans.  Somewhere in this we’ve stopped reaching to do hard things because we’re focused inward.

We need to remember once again that America is like no other place.  History tells us that.  Our accomplishments demonstrate that what we can do and create is only limited by the size of our dreams, and the reach of our imaginations.  As we pick the next President, lets find a leader who will challenge us again to dream big dreams, and lead us to expand our national imagination.  

In his course, TO LEAD A NATION, The Presidency in the Twentieth Century, Robert Dallek discusses the reasons why some of the Presidents of the Twentieth Century (Theodore Roosevelt through Ronald Reagan) rose to greatness, while most of us can’t remember who the others were.  

Mr. Dallek identifies several things that the “great Presidents” consistently score high in.  This list of items includes:  Vision, charisma, pragmatism, consensus building, trust or credibility, and luck.

So, now lets start watching the Presidential candidates with all of this in mind.  Let’s look for those who have the capacity to dream big dreams, and imaginations with a long reach.  These are sure signs of leadership.  Also, look for the attributes the Mr. Dallek identified.  If we focus on finding a leader, then that leader will help us find agreement on the many issues.  

Honesty and public service are the gears that drive our democracy, and we turn those gears with our RIGHT TO VOTE.   LET’S ALL VOTE!

. . .  remember that America’s best days aren’t behind her.   America’s best days are ahead of her.  They always have been and always will be.

Dave

Copyright © 2015 by David William Wygant. All rights reserved.  

LOOKING FOR AUTHENTIC PUBLIC SERVANTS!

I started to write another article about polls, but my thoughts drifted into many interweaving and related areas.  Finally, I ended up with notes comparing the thinking, activities and actions of politicians and public servants.  My list(s) are below.

I’m glad I took this detour given that the first Presidential debates are tomorrow.  In addition to using your Listen/Ignore table from yesterday’s post to keep score, ask yourself how each candidate rates according to the points below.  Are they a politician or a public servant?  By my count, there are only three candidates who can fairly call themselves public servants.  See what you think.

Politician

• Pursues and accepts money from special interests, organizations and wealthy individuals in ever increasing amounts.
• They like polls, and can make a negative poll look good, and use a positive poll for negative purposes.  Their focus on polls is strategic in terms of helping them divide voters into groups as they look for our votes.  The terms “divide and conquer” come to mind.
• Use the influence that comes with their office and responsibilities for the benefit of special interests.
• They view their elective office as a career with some taking the word incumbent to the next step of entitlement.
• They are generally willing to sacrifice national progress to further their own interests, or that of the party.
• Views “perks” of their office as required and deserved.  Always in the ready to create more.

Public Servant

• Accepts campaign funding only from individual voters.
• Ignores polls and talks directly with voters.  Their leadership and ideas are based on direct contact with their constituents and their imaginations.
• Voters are the only special interest they serve, and use the influence of their office for.
• They look forward to returning to the careers they left behind to serve in elective office.
• Seek win-win, and compromise, in the interest of America and progress.
• Pursue consensus in word and deed.
• Happy with expense reimbursement and personal benefits during the time they serve, but they leave those behind when they return to their lives back home.
• They have a retirement program back home, and don’t expect one as a result of their relatively brief public service.

DISCLAIMER:  The lists above are mine, but I believe I could objectively find  numerous examples of each point.  Although, it would be more difficult for the public servant points.  Nonetheless, as a responsible voter, please form your own opinion(s), and then vote in secret.

Elective office is a public service opportunity, not a career!

. . .  remember that America’s best days aren’t behind her.   America’s best days are ahead of her.  They always have been and always will be.

Dave

Copyright © 2015 by David William Wygant. All rights reserved.  

SCORING THE FIRST DEBATE

The first Presidential debate of the 2016 campaign season is hosted by Fox News.  It will be in Cleveland, Ohio on August 6th, beginning at 5:00pm ET.  Only two more days!  

For this first Republican debate, the good news is that finally all of the candidates will be in one spot, making it easier for we Voters to gauge their experience and capability.  By-the-way, it is also good news that there are so many of them.  Hopefully, more will become Democratic candidates soon.  Having a wide selection of opinions and personalities is good for the country, and makes our job as Voters more interesting.  

The bad news is that it could get noisy.  Will the candidates talk about the issues we’re interested in?  Look for candidates that seem to have we Voters in mind.  Or, will the debate devolve into a discussion that they’re having with themselves?  Look for candidates that directly talk to us.

First remember: Voting Alert Beacon #3:  Listen/Ignore

This is a great opportunity to “listen” to positive candidates and “ignore” negative candidates.  Before the debate, take a moment to review Beacon #3, but the gist of it is that we should listen intently to those candidates who talk only about their leadership ability, experience and position (plan) on the issues.  Just as intently, we should ignore candidates that talk about the other candidates “stuff.”  

For the debate, create a scorecard with two boxes next to each candidate’s name.  Label the boxes as Listen and Ignore.  When a candidate talks only about their stuff, put a check mark in the Listen box.  If they talk about the other candidates stuff put a check mark in the Ignore box.  When they make negative comments of any kind about the other candidate (s), that should also earn them an Ignore checkmark.  

Then after the debate, for each candidate, subtract the number of check marks in the Ignore box from the number of check marks in the Listen box.  Presto, you have the score for each candidate.  Lastly, see who has the largest score, and then think about how you feel about their positions on the issues.

Second remember:  Voter Alert Beacon #7:  Keep It A Secret

Now your done.  You watched the debate.  You kept score using Beacon #3.  You have a candidate high score, and you’re thinking about what they said about the issues.  Keep all of your scoring, and your thoughts or feelings secret.  They belong to only you!  As long as they are your secret, they are powerful, and your vote will be.

Third remember:  Voter Alert Beacon #4:  Polls

Talk with your friends.  Discuss the issues.  Combine information and all learn together.  Just be sure you don’t respond to candidates, media, or organizations who are conducting polls and want your opinion.  If you respond, you lessen your power as a voter, and of your vote directly.

Honesty and public service are the gears that drive our democracy, and we turn those gears with our RIGHT TO VOTE.   LET’S ALL VOTE!

. . .  remember that America’s best days aren’t behind her.   America’s best days are ahead of her.  They always have been and always will be.

Dave

Copyright © 2015 by David William Wygant. All rights reserved.  

IT’S THE IDEA! (without the word stupid)

Do you remember the phrase, “It’s the economy, stupid?”  I don’t recall who coined the phrase or which election, but it has resurfaced in most if not all the elections since it was first uttered.

I know of an economist whose articles I read on Facebook.  He has good ideas and thoughtful presentations.  They are worth listening to, thinking about, and otherwise absorbing.  Except, he surrounds his ideas with many negative comments about the other political party, accusing them of lying.  I’m not sure why he does this.  He causes a dark cloud of negativity to descend over his ideas, and they become lost.  

Guess what, the other party has good ideas too. We need competition between ideas, not between people.  We need public servants not politicians.  A public servant will look for the right question, and the matching solution, no matter where the trail leads.  A politician only sees the process as a sport and game to be won.  Even if they win occasionally, we voters always lose when we play their game.

Think about it this way.  Have you ever had an idea?  Whether you pass it on, or not, it’s alive, right?  In many ways, it is another one of your children, isn’t it?  It lives because of you, and it’s normal to feel like you want to protect it.  We put all our effort into helping our children develop until they can finally stand on their own two feet.  In the end, no matter how they grow, we always love them, right?  

• Do you like it when someone or something attacks one of your children?
• Do you like it when they say their children are somehow better than yours?
• Aren’t all children beautiful and deserving?

Well, so are ideas!  Maybe, like we try to teach our children to work together, we can also find ways for our ideas to blend and strengthen each other.  The third option really can be the best option.

It’s the idea!  Think about it without the word “stupid.”

Honesty and public service are the gears that drive our democracy, and we turn those gears with our RIGHT TO VOTE.   LET’S ALL VOTE!  Remember that America’s best days aren’t behind her.   America’s best days are ahead of her.  They always have been and always will be.

Dave

Copyright © 2015 by David William Wygant. All rights reserved.