Could Mayors Do A Better Job?

I promise you won't regret spending the 18 minutes needed to listen to Mr. Barber.  You will see it as time well spent. 

In his TED presentation, Benjamin Barber offers a thoughtful analysis on why democracy seems to be in trouble in America and around the globe.  His thoughts connect well and make sense.  See what you think!

http://www.ted.com/talks/benjamin_barber_why_mayors_should_rule_the_world.html

What do you think about his idea of "changing the subject?"  Do you believe him when he says that mayors already rule the world?

In my previous post, I proposed we keep our Senators and Representatives in our states and districts more than we send them to Washington DC.  If we do, won't they feel the need to get things done just like mayors?  Perhaps, they will learn from the mayors. 

What would happen if we were to cast our votes as if voting for city mayors or council people?   Use the Voting Alert Beacons to increase the power of your 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 © 2014 by David William Wygant. All rights reserved.

A New Vision - Bring Them Home

What if Representatives and Senators moved their principal office from Washington DC back to their districts and states?  With the transportation and communications systems available in this modern era, there are many reasons why it would work and even more reasons why it would be a good step for better public service and good government.  Keep in mind that very profitable companies now work daily on a global distributive model.

What does some of the fine print look like?  What does this mean?  In terms of the week, this might mean our public servants are in Washington DC on Monday and Tuesday.  For the remainder of the week, they are close to their constituents.  In terms of staying in touch, keep in mind that individuals and groups of people are now routinely connected with each other no matter where they are on the face of the planet. 

What else might change? 

The most important high level change is that they are closer to who they represent.  It is easier for them to remember where they come from.  Their “memberships” in the political parties will be correctly balanced by proximity to their constituents.  Their representation of us becomes stronger then their allegiance to issues and parties. 

The Representatives and Senators are also closer to their state government counterparts.  When they properly work together, they form an important counter weight to the accumulation of power in the federal government.  State’s rights is reinforced.

Special interests would have a more difficult time asserting influence.  The special interests will find it difficult and costly establishing a lobby office in each state.  Now they just set up one office in Washington DC.

Local media becomes more important and pronounced.  National media will have some of the same problems as special interests.

There will be important practical advantages too.  It will be less expensive to set up state or district office versus a very expensive and egocentric DC office.  The perks of office will likely be more normal if the Representative and Senators are close to their constituents.

Goal:  Work toward a time when great ideas will cast a show on the accumulation of great power.

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. 

IS AMERICAN DEMOCRACY DEAD?

On the CNN news website today, Julian Zelizer posted an opinion article that raised very serious questions about the health of democracy in America because of the influence of money.   It’s hard not to feel a little apprehension after reading it.

In the first paragraph, Mr. Zelizer identifies the problem and underlines its seriousness.  Throughout the article he recalls the history of how we “got here.”  He states what all of us know to be true based on what we see happening around us.

Read his article for yourself here.

It is the season to act!

We voters can do something about this problem.  We can fix it one vote at a time (THINK THE POWER OF ONE).  Voting Alert Beacon #5 drives a stake through the heart of special interests money, and their effect on our democracy.

It’s very simple!  First we all need to vote.  Second, if we follow the basic steps that the Voting Alert Beacons lay out in making our selections in the voting booth, we can shut down the special interest money like a water faucet that doesn’t leak.

Some would say that the Beacons are too simple.  I would say that is the very reason why they will work cleanly and effectively with dramatic effects.

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. 

LIMITS ON DONATIONS REMOVED

This week the US Supreme Court removed the limits on campaign donations by wealthy individuals while leaving the individual candidate limit intact.  The ruling means a wealthy liberal or conservative donor can give as much money as desired to federal election candidates across the country, as long as no single candidate receives more than the $5,200 cap.  Most commentary agrees that this opens the flood gates to large increases in private election donations.  As strange as my thinking seemed to even me, it finally made sense to me that the court decision is a good one.  We don’t need laws that limit any of our constitutional rights, we need to powerfully use our right to vote to elect public servants that are honest and willing to consistently “just say no” to money and special interests.

For years, politicians (all kinds) have sponsored and passed laws in an attempt to limit the amount of money spent in our election campaigns.  However, the amount of money spent in elections has never trended down, but has continued to rise.  Over time most of these laws, or parts of them, have been ruled unconstitutional as against the right to free speech. 

Neither the legislative branch or the judicial branch have been able to find an effective limiting process.  Then, as demonstrated by the 2012 Presidential election where the combined dollars spend by both major candidates was almost $2 Billion, the executive branch doesn’t have the tools or inclination to solve this money problem either.  

Now, we voters need to take our turn.  As voters we simple need to apply the steps in Voting Alert Beacon #5:  The Money.  It may take several elections, but if we follow the steps, we can begin to take the money out of the system so that honesty and public service can rush back in.

NOTE:  Moral laws don’t make moral men and women, but moral and honest men and women can make moral laws.  With the power of our individual vote, we can elect the honest men and women that we desperately need.

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. 

EXCEPTIONAL-ISM

In the process of justifying what’s happening to Crimea, President Putin, from the Russian Federation, has complained about something called American Exceptional-ism.  Generally, I don’t think we Americans think about ourselves as being exceptional.  Instead, most of us in our day to day lives just go about getting the job done.  Like most people in the world we want to take care of our families, and find happiness in what we do with our lives.  Perhaps, we could point to our democracy and the foundational right to vote. 

Then, if anything is exceptional, it would be the spirit of freedom and liberty that was given to us in the beginning by our founding fathers and mothers.  If we are guilty of anything, it is only that we wish others around the globe might enjoy the same blessings that we enjoy.  We might also be guilty of our conviction that everyone has the right to rise to their own potential without restraint and restriction other than the limits of their own efforts and desires.

Here’s one expression of our American conviction.  Enjoy!

MY CREED ...by Dean Alfange (Flying "W" Ranch)

“I do not choose to be a common man. It is my right to be uncommon.  I seek opportunity to develop whatever talents God gave me, not security.  I do not wish to be a kept citizen, humbled and dulled by having the state look after me.  I want to take the calculated risk; to dream and to build, to fail and to succeed.  I refuse to barter incentive for a dole.  I prefer the challenges of life to the guaranteed existence; the thrill of fulfillment to the stale calm of utopia.  I will not trade freedom for beneficence nor my dignity for a handout.  I will never cower before any earthly master nor bend to any threat.  It is my heritage to stand erect, proud and unafraid; to think and act myself, enjoy the benefit of my creations and to face the world boldly and say-----This , with God's help, I have done." 

All this is what it means to be an American. 

Mr. Putin, you should give this a try.  You might even find some success.

. . .  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. 

OUR “CALL TO DUTY” AS VOTERS IS RINGING NOW

It’s already started.  

We’re now fully immersed in the 2014 election cycle.  Parties and politicians are throwing mud with both hands.  Instead, wouldn’t it be refreshing if party or person were to spend their time and energy offering positive solutions, and a little simple honesty?  Everyone spends too much time talking about what’s wrong with the “other” position or person, and not enough time on what they will do to solve problems if they get a chance.

It’s time for we voters to begin practicing our listening skills.  Voting Alert Beacon #3 (Listen / Ignore) offers a simple approach that will help us decide who to vote for.  LISTEN to what candidates say about themselves and their positions on the issues.  IGNORE what they say about their opponents and their opponent's positions on the issues.

Another feature of election cycles that adds energy to the “mud-slinging” is the opinion poll.  Have you ever noticed how there’s an opinion poll for everything?  Polls enable the candidates to take positions for the sole purpose of gaining our votes.  They allow the parties and persons to do what they think enough voters want them to do so they can win the election. 

When you get that telephone call, you hear a knock on the door, or someone stops you on the street, just say “no.”  Voting Alert Beacon #4 (The Polls) is simple and clear on what we need to do.  DO NOT participate in polls except the National Census every ten years. Poll driven positions on the issues would cease to exist, and the candidates would be pushed toward thoughtful consideration of what they need to do and what should be done.

A final area for voters to keep a close eye on throughout the 2014 election cycle, and after when our elected public servants begin to work, is in problem solving and solution finding.  History shows us that sometimes they try to fix things that aren’t broken, or they do it in a way that breaks what was working pretty well, while increasing the size and seriousness of the original problem.  As a result, costs go up and the government grows larger.

Remember, Listen / Ignore and Just Say No!

. . .  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.