BEACONS OF HOPE: Democracy by Random Selection

When did politics become a career field?  Why would anyone aspire to become a politician?  I know the answer to the second question.  They work for their interests and special interests, all the while making a great deal of money without producing anything.  In the work they have done, they created a new class called the “elite.”  It’s hard to understand, but some of them now see themselves as modern day rulers.

In the beginning, and for many years, we called this career field public service, didn’t we?  The people who entered the field were called public servants.  Who did they work for?  They worked for us, WE THE PEOPLE.  What did they do?  What did they make?  They swore an oath to the US Constitution, and worked diligently for each American Citizen they represented, and for America as a whole.  Then after they served their term of office, they went back to their career and job.  They returned to the body politic we call WE THE PEOPLE.  Best of all, these public servants were honest.  

Today, I’d like to dedicate this BEACON OF HOPE to the virtues of honesty and public service.  To the public servants we still have, this one’s for you.

WHAT IF WE REPLACED POLITICIANS WITH RANDOMLY SELECTED PEOPLE?

. . .  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 © 2018 by David William Wygant. All rights reserved.  

BEACON OF HOPE - MLK by Kid President

The story of Martin Luther King Jr. by Kid President

What we do today, the things we say and actions we take, build our many tomorrows.  Things don't and won't always be perfect, but like Martin Luther King Jr, with love in our hearts and a clear vision of a better tomorrow, we must always relentless move forward.  God Bless America!!!

. . .  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 © 2017 by David William Wygant. All rights reserved.  

FREEDOM OF SPEECH ALERT

Our most fundamental freedom and right is the right to free speech.  It is articulated in the First Amendment to the US Constitution: 

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

With few exceptions, all speech is protected, including hate speech:

The Supreme Court has identified categories of speech that are unprotected by the First Amendment and may be prohibited entirely. Among them are obscenity, child pornography, and speech that constitutes so-called “fighting words” or “true threats.”

Freedom of speech has a long history in America.  However, now, for the first time, we are experiencing demonstrations that seem to be targeting speech itself.  For example, this is true of recent demonstrations at Berkeley, University of California and at New York University.  They haven’t targeted specific issues, but more dangerously targeted speech itself.  At times, they have been violent all the while claiming freedom of speech for themselves and their actions.  This is wrong.  Freedom of speech does not include a right to assault people or damage property.

Democracy is a marketplace of ideas that relies on the influx of new ideas of all kinds.  When this stream of ideas lessons, democracy begins to die.  Freedom of speech is absolute.  It’s not a partial right.  Giving more of it to someone doesn’t lesson it for someone else.  Like voting, freedom of speech is the birthright of every American citizen, but like all rights, it comes with responsibilities.  For each of us to fully enjoy freedom of speech, it’s critical that we recognize this right for others no matter how they and their ideas are different from ours.  They can say what they want!  We all can!  If we support this right and defend this right for others, then our own is assured. 

ALL PUBLIC SERVANTS AND ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES who swore allegiance to the US Constitution, and to protect it, have a special duty to speak out when freedom of speech is infringed by anyone.  When this happens, and especially when some use violence to prevent speech, those actions are hypocritical, disgusting, and un-American.   

THE MEDIA has a special opportunity and obligation to speak out when the right to free speech is threatened.  Their historical responsibility as the “4th branch of government”  demands condemnation of any action or effort to block speech whether it is from the left, right, or the middle.  In recent times, the media hasn’t alway been unbiased and alert to the importance of fulfilling this role and their responsibility.

AS VOTERS, it is our job to monitor and ensure that the public servants, elected representatives, and the media do their job.  After all, effective voting relies on the right to free speech.  It is the ultimate free speech.  Political disagreements, and losses in elections,  do not impact or lesson our duty to protect this RIGHT.

. . .  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 © 2017 by David William Wygant. All rights reserved.  

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.  

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.  

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.  

Potential-Possibility-Getting Stronger

Beacon #3 states we should listen to what candidates and public servants say about their plans, and their vision for how they will lead.  As VOTERS, this helps us judge the person on their plans and their capacity to lead and inspire.  The current gridlock in our government is at least in part caused by the polar positions on the various issues.  So, one issue at a time, the disagreement deepens.  No one is talking about a vision for the country that puts all the issues and challenges on the table at the same time.

Sometimes when you look at the big picture it’s possible to see opportunities in place of only challenges and problems.  Much like a puzzle, how you put the pieces together is critical to allowing the picture to emerge.  Keep in mind, that most pictures that emerge are quite nice and often inspiring.  Below, I’ve listed a number of big issues of the day.  In my list, I’ve created two categories (along with initial comments) as the first step in helping us look at them differently.  As we move these around, our minds eye begins to see different blending, and the opportunities and energies begin to rise to the surface.  I’ll continue to add detail to this beginning vision and share it in future posts.  Let’s see if any of the candidates this fall are leaders enough to do the same thing.

Potential / Possibility [Unleashing the energy and genius of free men and women ]

• Create a “global best in class” education system by taking state and local actions using global best practices
• Rebuilding our transportation system including roads, bridges and mass transit
• Send a group of men and women to Mars and return them safely to earth by 2024
• Build a 22nd century military capability
• Increase personal liberty by decreasing government size and regulation
• Overhaul our tax system
• Increase legal immigration and stop illegal immigration

Getting Stronger [Taking care of us]

• Turn the Veteran Administration (VA) into a global class health system by inviting in private practices and participation
• Reinforce Social Security and Medicare for the long term 
• Change welfare programs into personal growth programs 
• Adjust the Affordable Care Act (ACA) so that it can achieve the same global class health system status as the VA by re-inserting private practices and participation
• Turn clean environment challenges into growth opportunities with long turn and transitory planning
• Pay off the national debt
• Lead the world with our human values and commitment to freedom and liberty through what we say and the actions we take, remaining always aware that leadership has an action orientation

Spread the word!  Tell your friends about the Voting Alert Beacons!

. . .  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 © 2014 by David William Wygant. All rights reserved.  

Truth and Honesty

Our history as a country has demonstrated time after time that we can accomplish anything when we work together and focus on the mission.  When this happens the beginning is always with truth and honesty in recognizing what the reality is and how we relate to each other.   As a country we need to understand again what these two things are, and once again, put them first in our thinking, discussions and actions. 

Truth can be found in the alignment of our senses with ideas and viewpoints that are supported by facts.  To pursue the truth we need to use our intellect, our spirit and all of our powers of intention.   It has always been a quest, and still is.

Outside of a way of living, talking about something, or in taking an action, honesty doesn’t mean much.  However, it is everything when our lives, the words we speak, and the actions we take line up perfectly with the truth.  The truth, not from only our point of view, but from point of view of others, too.  Our honesty isn’t so much about ourselves as it is about how we treat others, the actions we take, and what we give of ourselves to the world around us.

When we cast our votes for our public servants we will be blessed as a country if we find people who have vision for the truth and the will to fully embrace honesty.

The Voting Alert Beacons are based on, and stand solidly on, truth and honesty!

Spread the word!  Tell your friends about the Voting Alert Beacons!

. . .  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 © 2014 by David William Wygant. All rights reserved. 

The American Dream

Recently there has much discussion about “The American Dream,” and how we can renew and revive it.  In the current campaign for President, both candidates describe it as the right to a job, or, the right to own a house.  Somewhere in the conversation there is usually a reference to the “shrinking” middle class or the notion that everyone should have a method or way of becoming part of the middle class.   Of course, no one really knows what the middle class is.  So we go in circles and this is dead end thinking.  How can we decide what “The American Dream” is?

One idea might be to apply what I call the “Tsunami Test.”  Sadly, because of the events of the past several years, most of us understand what a Tsunami is.  This test says that if a giant Tsunami were to cover America in its entirety and destroy everything, would the American Dream also be destroyed.  According to Candidates Obama and Romney, the dream would be a goner, because all the stuff that would be destroyed is the same stuff they equate with the dream. 

Let’s look at the flip side.  After a Tsunami shouldn’t we focus on what’s left?  What would be left beyond a pile of devastation?  We’d be left, right?  Or, at least some of us, and while it would be a disaster of absolute destruction, our dreams would live on through us, wouldn’t they?  You bet they would, and aren’t we now talking about the real American Dream.

The authentic American Dream is made of stuff like the right to vote, the freedom to succeed or fail, and the freedom or opportunity to be who you want to be and become what you can.  In short, the American Dream makes America the land of opportunity, right?  It still is!

There’s more.  People from the rest of the world are lined up to get here.  They aren’t coming for a house.  Even if it appears that they come for a job, aren’t they really coming for the opportunity represented by the job?  

Bottom Line ---

America is still the place where a nobody can rise from nowhere to become somebody.  Now that is the American Dream!  It is alive and well!


. . .  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 © 2012 by David William Wygant. All rights reserved.