Paul BoudreauMy Political New Years Resolutions
January 3rd 2011 16:44
:
A Political New Year
New Years Resolutions
RESOLVED: Let it be accepted that we have entered a new year. 2010, the year of the Tea Party, Republican Revolution version 2.0, Health Care Reform, Lame Duck Holiday madness and Democratic somnolence is officially behind us. Soon may it be forgotten. So, with new beginnings the theme of the season, Id like to look ahead at 2011 with a few goals, hopes, dreams, predictions and, yes, resolutions for the coming 12 months.
1. Resolution the first, foremost, and most personal- you will be hearing more from little old me. Thats right, I can admit to being neglectful. The holiday season being the bear of obligations to family and friends that it is ( I also just moved to a new city large changes in the life of Paul), I have been remiss in my blogging duties for the last several weeks. No more. For better or for worse I hereby commit to you, my readers, that I will be putting up at least a post a week going forward. So you get to enjoy more of my rambling, long-winded, opinionated commentary than ever before. Jump for Joy!
2. Responsible Government (part 1)- This ones for the Tea Party and, more importantly, the representatives they sent to the Capitol in November. I know I slag them here and there (and will continue to do so) but even their critics have to face the reality that they are now in Washington and are being entrusted with the running of the Federal Government they claim to despise. Suffice to say this does not bode well for the fragile U.S. economic and social situation. If the Tea Party does not make a commitment, very quickly, to putting forth a legitimate effort to focusing on governing the country and not just obstructing the policies coming out of the White House, then they are going to be putting the slow economic recovery and long-term general health of their nation at risk. They must learn to think long term, step back from their principles and compromise for the good of their country, and remember that they are representatives of the nation, not voices for parochial interest groups whose concerns may or may not be in the best interest of the populace as a whole.
3. Leaders have to lead- This one goes for political, business and social leaders in both the U.S. and around the world. For too long supposed leaders of all stripes have subscribed to what John Ralston Saul describes as managerial coupon clipping. What I mean by this is that the people at the heart of the decision making process have focused on the easy answers- mergers instead of new growth, political pork-barreling and deferring decision to future generations of leaders instead of hard choices, populist pandering instead of new ideas, blaming predecessors instead of setting new agendas. The people elected to both the cabinet room and the boardroom are sent there with the expectation that they will utilize their powers to foment some kind of change and take some element of risk to do so, and they need, in 2011, to show the courage required to take us out of the stagnation that threatens both the economic and political spheres around the globe.
4. Responsible Government (part 2)- This one goes out to my friends the Democrats. 2010 was a weird year for you guys. You managed to get a decent amount accomplished in terms of Health Care reform, Wall Street reform, some civil rights work (the DADT repeal) etc. However you have managed to do so without fanfare, the publics support (by and large) or any real boost in terms of your long-term electability. Not impressive. What I need to see from you, as a the party which still controls the Senate and the White House, is a commitment to two things. The first is the economic recovery. You NEED to make the kitchen table your one and only focus for the next 22 months. Not only is the next election going to be decided, more than likely, on bread and butter issues such as jobs, taxes, the deficit etc. but, beyond politics, the economy and national confidence were left in such a fragile state by the plundering and borrowing of the Gingrich-Bush years (thats right Newt, you and your deregulating congress deserve a share of the blame too) that you (and the country) cannot afford to be timid when it comes to trying to stabilize the mess you are in. Taxes need to be examined in a meaningful way, entitlement spending has to be reformed in such a way that the vital low end consumer confidence the safety net creates is not undermined, while still not passing the cost on to future generations of tax-payers. This all goes back to the leadership issue. If you cannot make hard decisions you should not run for decision-making roles. Being an elected official is about making those decisions, not getting reelected, and if you cannot make that distinction or take the necessary risks, you should not be elected. Simple as that.
That being said, the second part of the responsible government issue you need to deal with is messaging. The President has said it (although he sounds a little whiny when he does) often enough and its true: You are not communicating effectively. In the last two years, since the 09 inauguration, you have managed to begin some of the most important reforms of American society, designed to help the majority of the populace, in 40 years, and yet you are still allowing yourselves to be characterized and defined by your opponents. In spite of controlling the majority of decision making positions in the country for two years, you allowed people like Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck, Newt Gingrich and Rush Limbaugh to control the microphone. You need to sell your people and your policies on a daily basis, shout about your accomplishments, stop the internal bickering, and point out realities that make your points. The Republicans say Wall Street is suffering from too much regulation and that endangers the economy? Why are the corporate profits hitting record numbers across the board while unemployment grows then. The GOP accuses you of fomenting class warfare? Point to the rapidly growing disparity in incomes and the people whose tax cuts they fight for and say yes were in a class war and look whos on the side of the elite who arent concerned with anything other than their own wallets. There are political points to be won out there, and the people are waiting for you to at least attempt to reach for the brass ring. GO FOR IT.
5. Responsible Government (part 3)-Last governance related one, and this ones for the GOP establishment. Talk about being caught between a rock and a hard place (or several). On one side you have a Democratic party plotting your demise while asking for compromise in order to attempt to govern the country. On another you have your own increasingly radicalizing base demanding that you obstruct every move of your opponents and move further to the right. In still another direction you have the American people, exhausted by partisan bickering and demanding solutions to a growing and increasingly complex number of problems. And finally you have to consider the fact that you have to be elected by the majority after surviving a primary fight with the minority while being judged on your record of solving the problems that they disagree on the methodology of fixing. I know everyone sees 2012 as a challenge for Democrats, but I certainly would hate to be a pragmatic, moderate Republican. Get ready for turmoil. At the end of the day all one can ask of them is that they take their responsibilities to govern and work for the people seriously, do not bow to partisan pressure to simply obstruct the Democratic agenda over working towards meaningful solutions, and engage in a realistic conversation with their base about moving the country forward. Hopefully the political climate will become a little less volatile and they have an opportunity to do their jobs without having to fight for their political lives every single day.
6. Develop some patience (and restraint)- This ones for everyone. One of the most destructive effects of the high-speed, on-demand, instant messaging nature of the times we live in is a prevailing desire for instant gratification. The pervasiveness of this attitude within the whole of the American body-politic has, perversely, been one of the single most influential factors in the gridlock that has stopped meaningful change and problem solving in the last several decades. Politicians are expected to campaign on platforms of quick fixes and held to hopelessly high standards of effectiveness by their partisan backers, the media, and the people at large over a dramatically short period of time. The ridiculously short tenure of congressional representatives requires them to begin campaigning almost immediately after they are sworn in, and the ever increasing cost of getting elected means that they have to spend far too much time (and political capital) fund-raising and working for the interests that elect them as opposed to working towards being responsible officials. The populace as a whole, and especially the media and its ever growing number of pundits and talking heads, need to step back, take a deep breath, and stop fomenting discord and warfare among the people who are supposed to be able to spend their terms being collegial, honest decision makers, not interest based partisan warriors. Politics is not entertainment or a race, it is serious business, namely the business of governance. Rome wasnt built in a day, and the problems effecting American society cannot be solved that quickly either. The sooner this is recognized, the better the system will work and the better off the world will be.
Well folks, that seems to be a good end point for this post. I hope everyone had an enjoyable holiday season, and heres hoping for a 2011 that sees a new and more productive and positive Washington. Not that that is likely (or, for bloggers like myself who need a little drama to drive readership, even desirable). But, we can always hope.
Cheers, and Happy New Year.
PSRB.
RESOLVED: Let it be accepted that we have entered a new year. 2010, the year of the Tea Party, Republican Revolution version 2.0, Health Care Reform, Lame Duck Holiday madness and Democratic somnolence is officially behind us. Soon may it be forgotten. So, with new beginnings the theme of the season, Id like to look ahead at 2011 with a few goals, hopes, dreams, predictions and, yes, resolutions for the coming 12 months.
1. Resolution the first, foremost, and most personal- you will be hearing more from little old me. Thats right, I can admit to being neglectful. The holiday season being the bear of obligations to family and friends that it is ( I also just moved to a new city large changes in the life of Paul), I have been remiss in my blogging duties for the last several weeks. No more. For better or for worse I hereby commit to you, my readers, that I will be putting up at least a post a week going forward. So you get to enjoy more of my rambling, long-winded, opinionated commentary than ever before. Jump for Joy!
2. Responsible Government (part 1)- This ones for the Tea Party and, more importantly, the representatives they sent to the Capitol in November. I know I slag them here and there (and will continue to do so) but even their critics have to face the reality that they are now in Washington and are being entrusted with the running of the Federal Government they claim to despise. Suffice to say this does not bode well for the fragile U.S. economic and social situation. If the Tea Party does not make a commitment, very quickly, to putting forth a legitimate effort to focusing on governing the country and not just obstructing the policies coming out of the White House, then they are going to be putting the slow economic recovery and long-term general health of their nation at risk. They must learn to think long term, step back from their principles and compromise for the good of their country, and remember that they are representatives of the nation, not voices for parochial interest groups whose concerns may or may not be in the best interest of the populace as a whole.
3. Leaders have to lead- This one goes for political, business and social leaders in both the U.S. and around the world. For too long supposed leaders of all stripes have subscribed to what John Ralston Saul describes as managerial coupon clipping. What I mean by this is that the people at the heart of the decision making process have focused on the easy answers- mergers instead of new growth, political pork-barreling and deferring decision to future generations of leaders instead of hard choices, populist pandering instead of new ideas, blaming predecessors instead of setting new agendas. The people elected to both the cabinet room and the boardroom are sent there with the expectation that they will utilize their powers to foment some kind of change and take some element of risk to do so, and they need, in 2011, to show the courage required to take us out of the stagnation that threatens both the economic and political spheres around the globe.
4. Responsible Government (part 2)- This one goes out to my friends the Democrats. 2010 was a weird year for you guys. You managed to get a decent amount accomplished in terms of Health Care reform, Wall Street reform, some civil rights work (the DADT repeal) etc. However you have managed to do so without fanfare, the publics support (by and large) or any real boost in terms of your long-term electability. Not impressive. What I need to see from you, as a the party which still controls the Senate and the White House, is a commitment to two things. The first is the economic recovery. You NEED to make the kitchen table your one and only focus for the next 22 months. Not only is the next election going to be decided, more than likely, on bread and butter issues such as jobs, taxes, the deficit etc. but, beyond politics, the economy and national confidence were left in such a fragile state by the plundering and borrowing of the Gingrich-Bush years (thats right Newt, you and your deregulating congress deserve a share of the blame too) that you (and the country) cannot afford to be timid when it comes to trying to stabilize the mess you are in. Taxes need to be examined in a meaningful way, entitlement spending has to be reformed in such a way that the vital low end consumer confidence the safety net creates is not undermined, while still not passing the cost on to future generations of tax-payers. This all goes back to the leadership issue. If you cannot make hard decisions you should not run for decision-making roles. Being an elected official is about making those decisions, not getting reelected, and if you cannot make that distinction or take the necessary risks, you should not be elected. Simple as that.
That being said, the second part of the responsible government issue you need to deal with is messaging. The President has said it (although he sounds a little whiny when he does) often enough and its true: You are not communicating effectively. In the last two years, since the 09 inauguration, you have managed to begin some of the most important reforms of American society, designed to help the majority of the populace, in 40 years, and yet you are still allowing yourselves to be characterized and defined by your opponents. In spite of controlling the majority of decision making positions in the country for two years, you allowed people like Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck, Newt Gingrich and Rush Limbaugh to control the microphone. You need to sell your people and your policies on a daily basis, shout about your accomplishments, stop the internal bickering, and point out realities that make your points. The Republicans say Wall Street is suffering from too much regulation and that endangers the economy? Why are the corporate profits hitting record numbers across the board while unemployment grows then. The GOP accuses you of fomenting class warfare? Point to the rapidly growing disparity in incomes and the people whose tax cuts they fight for and say yes were in a class war and look whos on the side of the elite who arent concerned with anything other than their own wallets. There are political points to be won out there, and the people are waiting for you to at least attempt to reach for the brass ring. GO FOR IT.
5. Responsible Government (part 3)-Last governance related one, and this ones for the GOP establishment. Talk about being caught between a rock and a hard place (or several). On one side you have a Democratic party plotting your demise while asking for compromise in order to attempt to govern the country. On another you have your own increasingly radicalizing base demanding that you obstruct every move of your opponents and move further to the right. In still another direction you have the American people, exhausted by partisan bickering and demanding solutions to a growing and increasingly complex number of problems. And finally you have to consider the fact that you have to be elected by the majority after surviving a primary fight with the minority while being judged on your record of solving the problems that they disagree on the methodology of fixing. I know everyone sees 2012 as a challenge for Democrats, but I certainly would hate to be a pragmatic, moderate Republican. Get ready for turmoil. At the end of the day all one can ask of them is that they take their responsibilities to govern and work for the people seriously, do not bow to partisan pressure to simply obstruct the Democratic agenda over working towards meaningful solutions, and engage in a realistic conversation with their base about moving the country forward. Hopefully the political climate will become a little less volatile and they have an opportunity to do their jobs without having to fight for their political lives every single day.
6. Develop some patience (and restraint)- This ones for everyone. One of the most destructive effects of the high-speed, on-demand, instant messaging nature of the times we live in is a prevailing desire for instant gratification. The pervasiveness of this attitude within the whole of the American body-politic has, perversely, been one of the single most influential factors in the gridlock that has stopped meaningful change and problem solving in the last several decades. Politicians are expected to campaign on platforms of quick fixes and held to hopelessly high standards of effectiveness by their partisan backers, the media, and the people at large over a dramatically short period of time. The ridiculously short tenure of congressional representatives requires them to begin campaigning almost immediately after they are sworn in, and the ever increasing cost of getting elected means that they have to spend far too much time (and political capital) fund-raising and working for the interests that elect them as opposed to working towards being responsible officials. The populace as a whole, and especially the media and its ever growing number of pundits and talking heads, need to step back, take a deep breath, and stop fomenting discord and warfare among the people who are supposed to be able to spend their terms being collegial, honest decision makers, not interest based partisan warriors. Politics is not entertainment or a race, it is serious business, namely the business of governance. Rome wasnt built in a day, and the problems effecting American society cannot be solved that quickly either. The sooner this is recognized, the better the system will work and the better off the world will be.
Well folks, that seems to be a good end point for this post. I hope everyone had an enjoyable holiday season, and heres hoping for a 2011 that sees a new and more productive and positive Washington. Not that that is likely (or, for bloggers like myself who need a little drama to drive readership, even desirable). But, we can always hope.
Cheers, and Happy New Year.
PSRB.
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