Forwarding the Conversation

Last week, President Obama outlined his agenda to a joint session of Congress. He will tackle green jobs, health care, education, and will slash the budget deficit. I’ve spoken with a number of people who have watched the speech and I’ve heard mixed reviews. Some thought it was too broad, while others thought it was just right. Some said there weren’t enough specifics, while others reported feeling hopeful and inspired by rhetoric.

Whether you thought the speech was effective or not it doesn’t matter. Our new President has outlined a bold agenda for the next four years. I believe that by giving a speech – void of the minutiae – he appealed to our highest ideals. He was saying that we are on a journey for which there is no charted course. He was saying that while we may not know the territory, we do know the destination. Isn’t that what JFK did when he challenged America to land a man on the moon before the end of the 1960s? At the time he had no idea how we would get there, and in 1969 we landed a man on the moon.

Big dreams and high ideals make America great, and Obama’s speech left filled me with hope and optimism. I don’t quite know how we’ll get there, but I know that we will – somehow… someway.

In this TED Talk Ben Schwartz delves into what got us into this current economic crisis and gives us some suggestions on how we may find our way out of it. Here are some questions to think about as you watch this talk:

• Does your organization give you the flexibility to be wise?
• How – if at all – can government play a role in creating wise citizens?
• What does ‘practical  wisdom’ mean in your life?

In this TEDTalk author Elizabeth Gilbert takes a new look at genius and creativity. As you watch this video think about the following question:

• How do you relate to your own personal genius?
• Where does your inspiration come from?
• How can you alter the relationship with your genius?

This TedTalk – by Sherwin Nuland – is a meditation on hope.

“A man, to be greatly good, must imagine intensely and comprehensively; he must put himself in the place of another and of many others; the pains and pleasure of his species must become his own.” – Percy Shelley

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

As I watch this video I can’t help but think, what is this kid going to be when he gets older? What will he think if he looks back and sees this video? What kind of contribution will he make to the world?

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.

Recently a friend of mine turned me on to a martial art called Aikido. Aikido’s wikipedia page describes it as:

Aikido (合気道 aikidō^?) is a Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba as a synthesis of his martial studies, philosophy, and religious beliefs. Aikido is often translated as “the Way of unifying (with) life energy“^[1] or as “the Way of harmonious spirit.”^[2] Ueshiba’s goal was to create an art that practitioners could use to defend themselves while also protecting their attacker from injury.

Aikido is performed by blending with the motion of the attacker and redirecting the force of the attack rather than opposing it head-on. This requires very little physical energy, as the aikidōka (aikido practitioner) “leads” the attacker’s momentum using entering and turning movements. The techniques are completed with various throws or joint locks.^[3] Aikido can be categorized under the general umbrella of grappling arts.

What really excites me about the possibilities with Aikido is the fact that through motion one can learn to fully present in a moment and unify the mind, body, and spirit. The idea behind Aikido is that you do not harm your opponent. That you can disarm and disable an attacker by simply using their own momentum to your advantage. 

I believe that Aikido is a great metaphor for life that we can only achieve mastery of the world through mastery of self. The video below shows an incredible scene of Stephen Segal practicing Aikido as three people attack him at the same time.

Answer: In this Ted Talk Ken Robinson argues that schools designed with the purpose of educating children for an industrial economy prioritize certain types of learning over others. This prioritization means that certain skills, capacities, etc that a child may have are either de-valued or stigmatized. So yes, in many ways schools – as they exist today – can kill creativity.

Another anecdote that may provide interesting context to this video. During my year in the Coro Fellowship in Public Affairs I conducted a series of interviews (close to 30) with various stakeholders in the area of education. The purpose of these interviews was to determine ‘what was missing?’ from St. Louis’ collective conversation about education. What I found is that – in all but two interviews – the interviewee did not speak about what was in the best interest of the students until we were 45 minutes into our session. My questions were broad and open-ended, and I neither attempted to steer my interview subjects in that or another direction – I simply allowed them to go where they pleased. 

Everyone says that they care about the issue of education. All individuals who work in the field of education say – when asked – that their primary concerns are with the students. What is missing from this picture?