Forwarding the Conversation

This afternoon, in typical Sunday afternoon fashion I found something incredibly trivial to do with my spare time. So, my girlfriend and I went to redbox and rented Milk.  It was a great movie, and somewhere in the middle Harvey Milk speaks about the words engraved in the pedastel of the Statue of Liberty. Below is the full poem, I wanted to post it because I think that it truly reflects not only my own ideals and values, but those of our Nation.

While I don’t like to take political stands on this blog, I feel that this humorous video gets to the heart of much of what is wrong in our country right now. While separation of church and state is not overtly written into the Constitution, one of our founding fathers – and author of the Delcaraton of Independence and Constitution – coined the term “separation of church and state.” Thomas Jefferson had the opportunity to see – first-hand – the awful and destructive power that organized religion can have when it is used to promote intolerance. Many of our country’s founding fathers had forebears who left Great Britain due to religious persecution that ranged from legal sanctions to death. 

This video tells this story in a painful and humorous way.

Questioner: How can we put into practice what you are telling us?

 

Krishnamurti: You hear something which you think is right and you want to carry it out in your everyday life; so there is a gap between what you think and what you do, is there not? You think one thing, and you are doing something else. But you want to put into practice what you think, so there is this gap between action and thought; and you ask how to bridge this gap, how to link your thinking into action.

 

Now, when you want to do something very much, you do it, don’t you? When you want to go and play cricket, or do some other thing in which you are interested, you find ways and means of doing it; you never ask how to put it into practice. You do it because you are eager, because your whole being, your whole heart and mind are in it.

Think on These Things   Krishnamurti

With unemployment increasing by over 500,000 people each month it’s more important now than ever to be cognizant about how others see you. If you are on facebook, check out this video.

I have decided to start posting the President’s Weekly Address to the Nation. I will create a new category that – at some point – will become an archive of all of President Obama’s weekly addresses. I know that others will also be doing this, but it’s just one more way to record the history of these extraordinary times.

How to Win in the Age of Obama:

Inspired by “How to Beat a Republican” by Rahm Emanuel

Start with Your Plan and Stick to it…

After eight years of George W. Bush in the White House, the American people are ready for a different type of leadership. People are tired of “divide and conquer” politics and rigid adherence to ideology. In the midst of one of the worst economic downturns since the Great Depression, the American people are looking for solutions that work.

Barring another terrorist attack on American soil, the next four years are all about the economy. Anyone who can coherently link their ideas/issues with job-creation and economic growth will be successful. Partisan games will not be tolerated. Right now there is a four-year window for ambitious overhauls of arcane institutions and social programs. The American people have lost faith in their governing structures, and are ready for their leaders to make a major investment in the long-term health of this country.

On issues ranging from infrastructure to healthcare, social security to education people are worried about their children’s future. This desire for solutions translates to an electorate with no patience for partisan rhetoric or negative campaigning. There will always be candidates willing to tap into people’s fears and biases to get elected, but in the Age of Obama practicality trumps the status quo.

A Winning Roadmap.

No two districts or races are the same. Be wary of comparisons to races of the past because you are running on the present and future. Meet voters where they are both physically and mentally. Always stay within yourself by knowing who you are and who you are not.

Always Look Forward. Always keep proposals, solutions, and rhetoric forward-looking. Stay away from the arguments of yesterday by always looking for new ways to frame the issues.  Instead of “restoring” Medicaid cuts, talk about cutting costs by tapping into new investments in promising technologies. You will never please everyone, but people respect “common sense” solutions.

Use Common Sense. Everyone wants what is best for the country, and most individuals subscribe to a particular ideological framework. Use your opponent’s record of partisanship as leverage to contrast your record of finding real solutions for real people. Nobody will vote for the Democrat or Republican who toes party-line when a proven reformer is on the ballot. When dealing with systemic issues like education or healthcare reform leave all options on the table. Use a “whatever it takes” approach to solving problems.

 Listen. Meet people where they are and give them a voice in the campaign. Invite input and feedback by giving voters access to all members of the staff and the candidate. Once you have gathered voices use them in the formulation of strategy and policy.  Once you have figured out what you want to say, tests it out. The key is listening; people want to feel like they are a part of something. Listening is an invitation to possibility.

Be Inclusive. Barack Obama takes office with approval ratings in the high 70% range because of his willingness to work with whoever shares his vision. Democrats, Republicans and all those in-between have different solutions to problems, and it is vital to make sure that all are included in the process. Remember that people are looking for solutions and neither party has all the right answers. Take the best ideas from both sides of the aisle and make them your own.

Utilize Technology. Do not simply adhere to the Obama technology/organizing model. Add to that model by taking advantage of new technologies and tactics. Know your own strengths and weaknesses; Obama’s campaign was partly successful due to cult of personality. In your online organizing know that what worked for Obama may not work for you.  Find creative ways to use existing online networks to spread your message and engage people. Remember that it’s important to invite people into your process.

Select a Committed Staff. Even with the best campaign plan there is no replacing committed, hardworking, campaign staff. Beware of high profile consultants. They may have a lot of interesting ideas, but in most cases they will not be around when the rubber meets the road. A committed group staff will be there for you through good times and bad. They will make some mistakes, and by the end of the campaign they will reward your investment, in them, with loyalty – one of the scarcest commodities in politics.

Run to Govern. Always remember that once the campaign is over that you have to govern. Know what you want to achieve before you even begin the campaign. This will give you a clear picture of the campaign that you want to run. Never do anything on the trail that will jeopardize you or your opponent’s ability to govern. Always remember you are running to be a public servant. 

Why Should I Vote for You?

The election of Barack Obama will inspire individuals to run for elected office who will unsuccessfully try to replicate his campaign principles and structure. Most will miss the major lessons by focusing on organizing techniques, methods, and style. This leaves a lot of space for candidates who truly understand the basic conceptual framework of the Open Campaign, which has been described above.

The basic question that voters will ask is ‘why should I vote for you?’ Everybody can see that the structures that have governed us for the last 40 years are beginning to crumble. You need to show people that you understand their struggles. Respond to challenges by showing that you have the mental flexibility and acuity to respond to the new challenges just beyond the horizon.

Written by: Ross D. Rocketto

Much like the Pheonix – today – America rose from the ashes as we swore in a new President. Regardless of what you think of the eight Bush years America was – and is – ready for change. Bush’s approval ratings are some of the lowest of any outgoing President – ever. Congress also has a low approval rating right now in the wake of blatant scandal, atrophy, and the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP).

Today, with the swearing in of our 44th President – Barack Hussein Obama – Americans will finally have the opportunity to see hope and change in action. Throughout the entire day I’ve been hearing from the news, internet, blogs, etc about the historic significance of this event. Yesterday I blogged about my take on the historic context of today’s inauguration. In this entry I don’t want to focus on the historic significance of the event, rather I want talk about the significance of President Obama’s words.

President Obama’s twenty-minute address touched on a series of issues and clearly defined where our new President stands on the greatest issues facing us today. No, he did not lay out any specific policy perscriptions; what he did was attempt to transfer – to us – his vision of America. This speech was the culmination of important moments in his career dating back to when he first stole the spotlight at the 2004 Democratic National Convention.  In that speech Obama painted his worldview with broad brushstrokes – showing us that he believed in an untapped spirit of possibility and unity that was dormant at the time. In his “Yes We Can” speech he forecefully proclaimed that America was indeed ready to elect an African American President. At the nominating convention Obama cooly stared into the television cameras as he boldly invited his Republican counterpart to bring it on.

Today President Obama told us a little bit more about his vision of America. In the speech he challenged each of us to assume responsibility not just for ourselves but for each other and for the rest of the world. Obama appears to believe that what makes America special is our sense of shared purpose and faith in American ideals. To me, the most telling words of the morning came when Obama quoted George Washington:

At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:’Let it be told to the future world … that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive … that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it].’

This speech indicates to me that Obama believes that in the depths of winter that we will move forward – as one nation – with a common purpose to preserve freedom and opportunity for all. Obama goes on to finish his inaugural by saying:

In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children’s children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God’s grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.

Obama’s words are significant because they represent a call for renewal.  In order to answer this call each of us must act – in our own way – to brave the icy currents of history by hobbling towards the ideals of freedom and equality of opportunity. We may never get there, but each step we take in that direction moves us closer to that ultimate vision that Jefferson glimpsed when he wrote:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. 

Below you will find Obama’s inaugural address in its entirety. Click here for the transcript.

This post is in honor of three individuals whose purposes are connected and whose paths will cross tomorrow. This post is in honor of the MLK, RFK, and Barack Obama.

Nearly forty years ago Bobby Kennedy stood before an almost exclusively African American crowd in Indianapolis and informed them that Martin Luther King had just been assassinated. You can see the video below and read the transcript by clicking here.

Now here we are on the fortieth anniversary of Martin Luther King’s death – the eve of the innauguration of the 44th President of the United States, and the first African American President. Nearly forty years ago Kennedy stood before a crowd and uttered the words:

What we need in the United States is not division; what we need in the United States is not hatred; what we need in the United States is not violence or lawlessness; but love and wisdom, and compassion toward one another, and a feeling of justice toward those who still suffer within our country, whether they be white or they be black.

Forty years later that message has been resurrected by Barack Obama who proclaimed in his 2004 DNC convention speech (which you can watch below)

there is not a liberal America and a conservative America — there is the United States of America. There is not a Black America and a White America and Latino America and Asian America — there’s the United States of America.

Barack Obama has sounded the call – yet again – for each of us to summon our better angels. He has summoned us to have love one another and to treat others as we want to be treated. He has summoned us to look at what unites us instead of what divides us. Obama appeals to a part of our humanity that no individual has been able to reach for forty years. Obama calls for each of us to “be the change we want to see in the world.” He calls us now to action because he knew as Kennedy did that:

Few will have the greatness to bend history itself, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation. 

King inspired a nation to Dream. Kennedy dared to bring that dream into reality. Now Obama stands upon the shoulders of all those who came before him poised to move King’s dream closer to reality. Tomorrow at noon Barack Hussein Obama will be sworn in as our 44th President.  King’s Dream is still alive and we’re not there yet.

I want to start by thanking all of those who provided their feedback by either posting on the comments section or sent me an e-mail individually. This process has been both incredibly valuable and humbling. So – I would like to thank each of you again for supporting this journey.

I’ve taken the last few weeks off from posting and really thinking too much about anything in particular because I needed to clear my head. I felt like things were beginning to get all jumbled up and I really just needed some time away fom everything. Now, I am back and would like to use this first post of the New Year to synthesize what I’ve heard, answer a few questions, and then ask some more questions. If you need to be refreshed about the original idea click here.

Below are some of the most common question/ideas/themes:

1. Logistics:
   1. How will all of the information be compiled? Who will compile all of the information?
   2. Who will write the summaries of the legislation? How will they go about doing this in an objective way? Is it even possible to do this in an objective way?
   3. Will ALL legislation really be included? If so, how will people be aware of the context of the local legislation: meaning, how will people know how State Constitutions/Regulations impacted the local legislation?
2. Design:
   1. Who is the target audience? 
   2. Who are potential partners? What are the key relationships?
   3. Beyond the target audience – who can potentially benefit?
   4. How will the scaling process work?
   5. How is this site going to make money?
   6. How will the organization be structured?

So these are the big themes/associated questions that I’ve seen so far (if I am leaving off anything big please let me know). 

I do have some answers and even more questions – I will start with the answers.

Answers

I don’t believe I can break up the answers into bullets because everything is interrelated. I want to start by saying that I believe that the site should start with a small pilot project. This project would focus on a specific state and a specific issue within that state. Right now I am thinking the state will be California and the issue will be the Environment and the Green Economy. There is a lot going on in California now, especially with respect to Green Jobs – I’ve also seen that there may be some traction here. 

With regard to who will be compiling this information – I am looking to create a relationship with the organization housed in the California Assembly that is responsible for drafting legislation and ensuring that it works with all exisiting law. The hope is that they would provide a resource to get the database started. With regards to localities we would start with the 5 major population centers and would add their respective counties at a later date. At this moment there are sites out there that do provide access to all federal legislation, and the hope is to create a partnership that somehow works with one of these sites to make all federal legislation easily accessible. 

Right now I think that the target audiences for the pilot will be students, researchers, and anyone who needs access to policy. Ultimately, what I would like to do is use this information – in the scaling process – is add another state that is doing interesting things on the issue of the Environment and Green Economy and then begin to recruit state legislators to join the site. The purpose of their joining will be to trade best-practices, legislative ideas, etc. 

At this point this is as far as I’ve gotten. I again invite any questions, comments, concerns, etc. Below you will find some of the outstanding questions that I’ve not yet answered.

Questions

1. Beyond the target audience – who can potentially benefit?
2. How will the scaling process work?
3. How is this site going to make money?
4. How will the organization be structured?
5. How does the policy analysis part work? Does this become an open-source component of the site? 

Thanks so much for your support so far!

I want to start by thanking everyone for posting their feedback, questions, comments, concerns, etc on The Great Experiment post (below). If you’ve read it and have not posted please feel free to do so – this process of receiving feedback is really important to me.

I leave on a trip to Jordan (yes the country) on Saturday so I will not be updating as frequently between December 20 and 28. When I get back I will synthesize all of the feedback and then post what I have been hearing.  Again – thank you and I’d like to leave you with a beautiful quote that I read yesterday. It is the opening of the Mayan creation story:

This is the account of how
all was in suspense,
all calm, 
 in silence;
all motionless,
all pulsating, 
and empty was the expanse of the sky.