CONSIDER THE DIFFERENCES (Politicians vs. Public Servants vs. Leaders)

Politician President

• This is the pinnacle of my career and power.
• I’m looking forward to the increased retirement and continuing benefits-perks.
• I will work to fulfill the interests of those who voted for me.  
• I will lead on the issues to implement my agenda and my party’s platform.
• I will interpret the rules so that my actions are legal
• I care about what is good for me, my party, and our viewpoint on the issues.

Public Servant President

• I will do my best to put self last and America first. 
• I will work hard to make a contribution, and then move on to give someone else the same opportunity.
• This isn’t my career, and I look forward to returning to mine in private life as a citizen.
• I am embarrassed by all the perks people want to give me.
• I never take credit, but find out who really deserves it, and I give it to them.
• I serve my constituents and will lead them toward consensus on the issues.

Leader President 

• I will lead America toward fulfillment of its potential and destiny.
• I lead all Americans whether they voted for me or not. 
• I lead toward a vision not a position on an issue.
• Leading is my service and my duty.
• The only special interest that matters is America’s.
• I will lead toward leaving America in better shape than she was in when I took office.  

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 © 2016 by David William Wygant. All rights reserved.  

Practice Thinking: Duty Number ONE-SAFETY

“I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

When a newly elected President places his or her hand on the bible, and makes a sacred promise to protect the Constitution of the United States, that moves their duty to protect America to the front of the line and ahead of the many other things a President does in the job.

As voters, we have a responsibility too.  As we listen to the candidates, 1) we all hear what they say, 2) we consider the experience they bring, and  3) develop feelings about how we think they will perform in the job.  This is exactly what we’ve all experienced in seeking jobs for ourselves.  However, now we are doing the hiring.  We should be thoughtful and choose wisely.  The input into our thinking and feelings should be current or from history, but relevant.  In addition, the actions and results of a current President give input as we consider how we feel regarding America’s safety, and our personal safety.  This input shapes our expectations for the 2016 batch of candidates, and our expectations for their possible future performance, doesn’t it?

PRACTICE WITH CURRENCY

Well, so what!  OK, let’s take a real example and practice our thinking:  The current debate on gun control.  There are two very divided sides to this issue, and they are driven further apart by special interests and the politicians.  In any event, the President has chosen this issue as a point of focus, arguing with passion that it will bring increased safety to all of us in America.   The question for each of us as voters is, “WILL IT, REALLY?”  

To begin our “thinking practice,” lets look at this from two perspectives:  1) The big picture or national viewpoint, and 2) The local and more personal viewpoint.  Now ask.  Will compliance with the President’s executive orders make us more safe in fact as a nation, and should you choose to own a gun, make you personally feel more safe because you’ve followed the executive orders, or someone has?  Do you feel confident that others will comply as you might choose to do?  What about the bad guys?  What if they don’t comply?  These are tough questions, to which I’m not suggesting an answer.  I’m only asking you to ask the questions.  

I have faith in voter choices, and I have confidence that Americans will make the best decisions with their votes.  I really believe, and that belief forms the basis of the Voting Alert Beacons.  Do you have the same confidence in your choices, and in the choices of your fellow Americans?  I hope so.

PRACTICE WITH HISTORICAL RELEVANCY

Still practicing, and on the issue of safety, let’s think bigger and give thought to what history might teach us.  Expand your thinking to look back at the serving President’s performance record on national safety.  Consider the following events:

• Doubling the national deficit from $10 to $20 trillion (a key safety driver)
• Continuing cuts in defense spending
• Not putting the missile defense system in Eastern Europe
• Watching as Russia invaded Crimea (later annexed) and the Ukraine
• Not implementing by actions that contribute to energy independence
• Benghazi
• Releasing 6000 convicts from federal prisons
• Iran nuclear agreement
• Syrian refugees
• Continued growth of ISIS
• Not sealing the US borders
• Not taking action on the Syrian chemical weapon redline
• Early withdrawal of forces from Iraq
• Plans to withdraw forces from Afghanistan
• Releasing Guantanomo prisoners (with goal to close the prison)

The controversy around all and each of these continues to swirl.  We all have our own ideas and opinions about them, but let’s go back to my earlier question.  In terms of keeping America SAFE, do you think the serving President has properly balanced actions and responses in each, given how all of these connect to  each other to form a tapestry?  Is that tapestry a warm blanket of safety?  Is America safer?  Is there a unifying vision that runs through all of them?  Finally, finish the process by going back to the beginning, and ask yourself how you feel about gun control now.  Should it even be part of the same historical “tapestry and weave?”  Ask yourself how safe you might feel now if different actions had been taken along the way. 

OK, now carry the learnings and feelings you’ve gotten from this thought experiment, and look at the 2016 candidates.  Consider your choice carefully and be sure to vote!!!  

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 © 2016 by David William Wygant. All rights reserved.  

LET'S TALK ABOUT FREEDOM AND LIBERTY

I've written before about the focus only on FREEDOM and "OUR RIGHTS" that many in America see as the beginning and end of our civic discussions. My earlier writings have emphasized how critical the fulfillment of our "RESPONSIBILITIES" are to the full realization of our rights. You may remember my story of a potbelly stove and the person begging for heat without first doing the work needed to provide the fuel. There is something else which we need to discuss. Freedom is worth very little without this thing.

That thing is LIBERTY. In a phrase, liberty is the lifeblood of freedom. The flow of Liberty through our democracy gives freedom and our  rights effect. This flow of liberty moves the oxygen of self-determination just as our blood provides this life sustaining gas to every part of our bodies.

So, when we see our government at any level (but particularly at the federal level) pass laws and regulations to "govern" any part of our existence we should think carefully whether "we are OK" with that move. Without a doubt, government needs to do certain things. Those basic things are laid out quite nicely in the US Constitution. That document is the contract we have with each other whereby we give up a certain amount of liberty to receive the listed benefits. In the current context, national defense comes to mind.

In any event, we need to avoid that circumstance where our government is doing a poor job in those areas where it should be active (like keeping us safe), and at the same time, becoming active in areas it shouldn't be involved in (like personal rights). The most important thing to remember is that we voters are the government. It is us, not a separate entity. If we don't like what's going on, then the first step is  to look in the mirror and blame that person. Then use that feeling as motivation to VOTE in fulfill our most basic civic responsibility.

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 © 2016 by David William Wygant. All rights reserved.  

Fixing the BROKEN FOURTH BRANCH

In recent years there has been much commentary about how the three branches of our government are “broken.”  The media itself has reported that, no matter the political point of view, most voters are tired of the inability of government to function effectively, and solve the nation’s problems.  Citizens have also become “media skeptics.”  This has clearly come into focus during some of the Republican debates when moderators underperformed, and consequently did not meet their responsibilities within the important role media has in our democracy.  

The Media has often been called the "Fourth Branch of Government."  When the other three branches of government can't or won't come forward with the truth, the Media often has.   This “honesty” mechanism was designed into the US Constitution by the writers.  

James Madison said, “A popular government without popular information or the means of acquiring it is but a prologue to a farce, or a tragedy, or perhaps both.”  If George Washington is considered father of our nation, then James Madison is regarded as father of the constitution, and he was the First Amendment author.

It’s time for the media to REMEMBER its important role.  The media has a professional and patriotic duty to not be biased.  Second only to when citizens use their right to vote, the Media has the ability to keep our democracy safe, and change history in America.  

The media is critical to keeping our government honest, and in helping us elect and refresh government through our right to vote.  In the exercise of their personal First Amendment  rights, when journalists and commentators are expressing an opinion, they should clearly declare their bias.  Otherwise, they, or media outlets and sources, should remain unbiased and dedicated to fulfilling their important role in our democracy.

WHAT THE MEDIA SHOULD DO TO FULFILL THEIR ROLE?

• Publish only what candidates say about THEMSELVES.  See Voting Alert Beacon #3.
• Don't publish what they say about OTHERS.  See Voting Alert Beacon #3.
• Publish regular reports of candidate campaign contributions, and positively highlight the small contributions while negatively highlighting large contributions.  Especially, shine a negative highlight on pacts, special interests, and other "non-human" contributions.  See Voting Alert Beacon #5.
• On interview programs, invite only regular citizens for comment, not political pundits or commentators.
• Stop taking and publishing polls.  See Voting Alert Beacon #4.

SHOULD NOT DO

Media SHOULD NOT endorse candidates or take positions on the issues.  If and when they do, they change from fulfilling their special role and responsibility as the “Fourth Branch of Government” to becoming JUST ANOTHER SPECIAL INTEREST.

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.  

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.