Why can’t we just get along? I don’t know how many times I’ve rhetorically asked that simple question of Congress. I guess it’s not as easy as we think. Over the years our two political parties have taken on distinct personalities and I can’t see any change coming soon. I’m not certain that these personalities are true representations of what the parties believe, but it does explain why they won’t (can’t) compromise with each other. A typical example of their personalities comes shining through when we look at their reaction to some recent phenomena: Occupy Wall Street and Tea Party activism.

Occupy Wall Street is a grass roots protest movement against income inequality, unemployment, greed and corporate (especially the financial service sector) influence on Government. The movement’s slogan is “We are the 99%” which refers to the vast concentration of wealth among the top 1% of income earners compared to the other 99 percent, and indicates that most people are paying the price for the mistakes of a tiny minority. Irrespective of the validity of their assertions, the Occupy Wall Street movement is embraced by the President and the Democratic Party.

The Tea Party is a grass roots movement against inherent government excesses such as government spending and taxation. It seeks to reduce government spending and the national debt; it opposes taxation in varying degrees and promotes an originalist interpretation of the United States Constitution. Similarly, irrespective of the validity of their position, the Republican Party embraces the Tea Party movement.

So, tell me: where is there room for compromise between these two positions? Democrats can compromise with themselves within the framework of Occupy Wall Street. Republicans can compromise with themselves within the framework of the Tea Party. But it would be heretical for a Democrat to embrace reduced government spending; similarly, it would be heretical for a Republican to support higher taxation. So where is the room for compromise?

My take on it is that as a country we will need to go in one of two basic directions: one party rule or one fundamental understanding of the relationship between the public and private sectors. In one party rule 50–55% of the population (the majority) will determine the direction of the country. The remaining percentage of the population, 45-49%, will be disaffected. There will be no need to compromise with the Party out of power. The people will generally vote with their pocketbooks. When the population has a majority of economically satisfied citizens, the tendency will be to stay the course politically and gradually increase the role of government to more equitably redistribute wealth. This is the inexorable movement of the nation to European-style democratic socialism. This is our recent history. In the second direction the two political parties have a common understanding of the relationship between government and free enterprise. The common understanding is based on either limited government principles or expanding government principles. Based on this commonality they engage in the give-and-take of satisfying varying interests and reach a mutually acceptable compromise. This requires men and women of opposing parties to associate with one another professionally and socially. Our country’s history is based on limited government principles. But as Bob Dillon, the cultural spokesman of the 60’s, sang “these times they are a’changin.” A common understanding around limited government principles is the harder course and, consequently, the less likely.

So, why can’t we just get along? There just aren’t enough Jethro Tull freaks left who want to “go living in the past.” We want progress. We want to move forward. Who needs to read old books? C.S. Lewis famously said that “the only pallative was to keep the clean sea breeze of the centuries blowing through our minds.” And the only way to do that was to read old books. But, we all know that you can’t trust anyone over 40.

Here’s some interesting data to chew on:

Breakdown of Income and Taxes Paid by Category
Income category	2009 AGI	Percent of All Income	Percent of Taxes Paid
Top 1 %	Over $ 343,927	17 %	37 %
Top 5 %	Over $ 154,643	32 %	59 %
Top 10 %	Over $ 112,124	43 %	70 %
Top 25 %	Over $ 66,193	66 %	87 %
Top 50 %	Over $ 32,396	87 %	98 %
Bottom 50%	Under $ 32, 396	13 %	2 %

Great comments on our jokevof a healthcare system from Elizabeth Warren.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=LeYCk5ooNvY

Finding Peace in a Mad World

Some days I wake up, read the news of the day, and marvel at how angry everyone seems to be. I know everyone isn’t angry but the news makes me think otherwise. Anger is newsworthy; peace doesn’t sell. At a basic level I’m really quite impressed with the anger because it shows passion for something. People are angry that the government bailed out the financial system and all that the people got was a stable (yet feeble) economy while investment bankers continue to make millions. People are angry that Joe Paterno is still coaching Penn State. People are angry that the government continues to wrack up debt. People are angry that Republicans are heartless. People are angry that Democrats are secret socialists. People are angry that the President hates Israel. People are angry that Herman Cain’s campaign manger smokes. I mean there is a lot of anger out there. Sure it might seem misplaced to you or to me, but to the people feeling it…rest assured, it is real.

If I let myself, I can be angry too. But I don’t want to be angry. I want to be at peace. So I choose to be at peace. Easy for me to say? Not really. I’d like to explore the idea of why I’m at peace. It has very little to do with economics. I think there are a bunch of reasons but the big one is that I am convinced that I am not my body. What? I’m talking about me personally, the essence of me, the real me, the me that is inside my head. That me is an immortal being, a real personal something that outlasts my body. There’s a great quote by a 20^th century Jesuit named Teilhard de Chardin, “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience, we are spiritual beings havng a human experience.” Let that sink in.

If you come to the place in your thought where you are convinced that you actually live forever, it does change how you view the anger of this world. You can be in the world, yet not of the world. Once you are at peace with immortality, then the focus becomes the nature of that immortal existence and that is a wonderful journey. The fruit of that journey takes us back to Main Street and we can ever so slightly ease the pain.

Behind The Occupy Movement

I have spoken to a number of people about the occupy movement sweeping the globe in recent days. Today I was on a call with Peter Block and John McKnight of Abundant community. The conversation among participants was robust and the insights valuable relating to this event.

Back in February I wrote a post called “Egypt Thou Art Me.” The premise was that we Americans should not watch Egypt’s citizen movement passively but rather be inspired by it and remain mindful of our own strife and internal challenges.

Occupy Wall street is what this blog and that post are about…people having a sense of the need to regain local control and power over their lives. In constitutional terms it is referred to as the sovereign right to economic, social, educational and spiritual liberty.

The occupy movement runs deeper than the redistribution of wealth or compensation. It is a rebellion against a culture organized around interests, rights and entitlements. An increasing number of people are feeling compelled to go because they feel isolated in their lives, without control of economic, social, educational and spiritual issues. They hope to connect and reestablish a local conversation to consider their alternatives. They are finding each other at these events all across the country and world.

To the participants Wall Street and Washington are the same and synonymous with taking away their individual voice. Both have become out of reach or too big to fail or something, and have blatantly ignored our individual citizen and consumer interests in favor of their own. Instinctively occupiers understand that the decisions and governance of these two behemoths are affecting their lives…they feel swept up in it all…powerless and are not willing to take it anymore.

Occupy is an attempt at restoration of citizen local control. It is a rebellion against the value of nothing...where mortgages that have no value are combined and called an asset. Where debt is bundled and is called an asset. Where corporations limit choices and ask more for less. Where political parties argue ideology and maneuver for power and accomplish nothing. Occupiers are no longer willing to tolerate the result of such actions that benefit the few yet so severely impact the many. They seek to reestablish a connection to their own real assets with real value and locally control the transfer of value in those things to money or currency…to engage in local food, business, banking, education, neighborhoods and trade.

They are criticized for not being able to articulate what they want. But they are smart to not get into specifics and stay on a set of principles which only our democracy can address. They understand that if they do get issue specific they will be no better than a political party. Then like all special interests, they will find themselves in an argument, which will divert the point. This movement is not to be underestimated and will not go away anytime soon.

Congressional Reform Act of 2011

The 26th amendment (granting the right to vote for 18 year-olds) took only 3 months and 8 days to be ratified! Why? Simple! The American people demanded it. That was in 1971...before computers, before e-mail, before cell phones, and before 24 hour cable TV news cycles.

Of the 27 amendments to the Constitution, seven (7) took 1 year or less to become the law of the land...all because of public pressure.

Based on numerous recent conversations with colleagues, friends and others I cross paths with everyday it is clear that average Americans are ready to apply a high level of public pressure to clean up Washington's legislative behavior and return to governance that is by the people for the people. The problem is busy average Americans just don't know how to go about this. They are not clear on how to move beyond polls and the voting booth to organize and focus public pressure that can break through Washington's screamingly idiotic dysfunctional approach to running our government and country. They are frustrated and feel powerless.

Here is one idea that came to me from a friend, and really should be passed around.

Congressional Reform Act of 2011

1. A Congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office. No Tenure / No Pension.

2. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security. All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the American people. It may not be used for any other purpose.

3. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.

4. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.

5. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.

6. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people..

7. All contracts with past and present Congressmen are void effective 1/1/12. The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen. Congressmen made all these contracts for themselves. Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, so ours should serve their term(s), then go home and back to work.

If each person who reads this contacts a minimum of twenty people then it will only take three days for most people (in the U.S. ) to receive the message.

It is time.

News Corp and Watergate

Are there comparisons to be made between the Murdoch News Corp. hacking scandal and the Nixon administrations Watergate scandal? Albeit this is the media not a sitting US President, yet the gravity, consequence and nefarious nature resonates. Illicit payments, attempts at cover-up, wiretapping / hacking, desire for power control and leaders who insulate themselves from "specific knowledge" of illegal activity.

Will there be a smoking gun?

Why Mitt Romney should be the Republican Nominee

Mitt Romney should be the Republican’s choice to challenge President Obama in 2012. Why?

In my opinion he should have been the choice in 2008. He might actually have won. But at a minimum the debate between Obama and Romney around what is best for America would have started closer to the middle as opposed to on the left and right ideological fringe.

Our country needs a principled centrist debate about real solutions to the real needs and real problems in 2012. The kind where neither side is beholden to focus mostly on issues important only to a nut bag extreme base. This exists on both sides and it is time the left and right of center voices debate and be heard.

Both these men have moderate governance backgrounds demonstrating a willingness to reject their ideological base in favor of solving real problems. Although there might be little evidence of this during the primary season, it would be unavoidable in the general election.

Where is the compromise?

It looks like we might once again miss an opportunity to take a major step toward solving our countries fiscal problems. First of all everyone in Washington has understood for some time that the debt ceiling will be raised. Although the idea of hinging tax and spending policy to raising the debt ceiling felt too political to me at first, the far reaching bi partisan debt reduction agreement that Speaker Boehner and President Obama put together earlier in the week felt more like... perhaps this is a good time to force the issue. The deal was a darn good start and sure looked like it had promise. It kind of felt like Tip O’Neal and Ronald Regan were back.

But clearly the “tax pledge” signers in congress have put themselves in a box and can’t compromise even if it means getting a whole lot of what they say they want. No one likes taxes but arguably there are some pretty egregious holes in our tax code that favor those who clearly are not using the advantage to create jobs.

What pledge? Now we elect and send them down there with a script? Why don’t we just take the word compromise out of the dictionary?

The “everything on the table” approach that Obama and Boehner were after seemed like a pretty good compromise for addressing real problems. A great way for both sides to take on many of the entitlement cuts we need right now along with balancing the budget. But unfortunately Speaker Boehner had to back away. I don't blame him as his reach seems limited. But for Eric Cantor and the rest of the legislative body to let this opportunity slide because of a tax pledge is more than annoying and frankly irresponsible. So I guess we continue to stay politically safe, hold onto power and in search of the perfect ideological solution for our small base while letting our country continue to deteriorate. What do you call that? How about stupid...

CNN vs CNN

Having spent the better part of a week in China within the last month and two weeks in India a couple of years back, I had opportunity to watch CNN International. Now let me say...in both countries I found CNN's International broadcast to be a robust and informative dialogue filled with important International news... delivered by high integrity professional journalists that informed me about news and current events that mattered to me as an American citizen feeling a bit isolated in a foreign country. I valued that broadcast greatly.

Now I compare that news gathering experience to the latest cycle delivered on CNN's US broadcast with Wolf Blitzer... asking us before going to commercial to "stay tuned" because he had" breaking news about Sarah Palin's potential run for the Presidency".

Let me first state that at no time have I seed Wolf Blitzer and his "breaking news " on the CNN broadcasts in China, India or Europe. So... my question to the American Cable media is simple ....Really? Are Wolf, Shawn, Bill and Chris the best you can do? It is clear from my travels that your parent companies know the difference between what you do every night and real journalism which delivers the people of the world information they need and are interested in!

All of which leaves me feeling...somebody please save me from the American Cable Media stations and the Jersey Shore mentality of their audiences!

Coming out of President Obama's speech yesterday on the "Arab Spring" in the middle East and North Africa, I find it annoying that the only thing the media and loyal opposition seem to want to comment on is the perennial mess between Israel and The Palestinians. In my lifetime....this problem has been a joke with neither side able to keep an agreement in good faith. It by far...has less promise of success than the other Arab states that are experiencing unrest.

I thought the speech comprehensive and thorough, as he laid out part of his world view.

Some key phrases included "American values squarely align with this movement" and "real reform will not just come from the ballot box" and "the US was founded on the principals that the people should govern themselves"

Although we feel we have historical license to instruct the middle east on these principals, citizen participation and aptitude to act on them remains elusive here at home.

Personal Responsibilty

Those who continue to insist on language that harps on the Presidents citizenship are just so not with the program. Want to complain about his fiscal policy, domestic policy or foreign policy and now three wars?...please have at it. Questioning these issues is your right and responsibility as an American citizen. But this return to McCarthy style endless questioning of the legitimacy of his birth certificate is both irresponsible and transparent as a cheap low minded, reality TV style trick intended only to marginalize the Obama Presidency. My God we so have other challenges to worry about...

Shifting the Context for Community

As I watch the morning news I'm reminded again of how much politics and in particular, politicians, are so removed from their communities - us. They talk about raising money to get elected, to make changes, to help Americans live better lives. I would offer that they largely fail because their primary focus in on the money and not the change. This is their theme, over and over. Peter Block says the following in his book: Community To make a difference in our community, we must begin by naming the existing context and evolving to a way of thinking that leads to new conversations that produce a new context. It is the shift in conversation that increases social capital. Every time we gather becomes a model of the future we want to create. I don't hear any new conversations coming out of politicians' or news broadcasters' mouths. It is imperative that "we", the public, continue to push our agendas and pursue the change. Let the revolution begin!

New Links

We have added some links to other blogs you may enjoy. Some are blogs you have suggested. They offer some diverse opinions and are mature and well written with excellent contributors and followings. Take a look.

Threats to Individual Freedom?

Of the items that have dominated the news and our legislators discourse and debate over the last couple of years, which represent a significant threat to our individual sovereignty, liberty and freedom? Why?

• Wall Street Casino’s
• Social Security and Medicare Entitlement Programs
• Unions
• Natural Disasters and Environmentalism
• Global Terrorism
• Unrest in Oil Rich Arab States
• Taxes and the Economy
• Technology as a threat to privacy
• Governmental support for organizations like NPR, Planned Parenthood, National Endowment for the Arts

A Good Start?

The new Continuing Resolution bill from congress reduces spending by $60 billion over earlier projections, but falls short of the $100 billion some, particularly conservatives, had hoped for.

The cuts include a ban on funds for projects backed by President Obama such as the health care overhaul and Planned Parenthood, blocks regulations on greenhouse gas emissions, for-profit colleges and the net neutrality Internet rules of the Federal Communications Commission. It also reduced spending on almost all areas of government from education to transportation, foreign humanitarian aid, medical research, border security, new military equipment and farm assistance.

Unlike the pundits, I refuse to take a position as to which party will gain or lose support in the next political cycle based on this legislation. That discourse takes us off point and only fuels the partisan, philosophical debate which divides the country and drives win lose budget thinking, often at the well being of our citizens. All I care about is that the American people are not spending 60 billion they don’t have.

But I do care that congress is not digging deep enough. I am concerned that the cuts, although necessary, are just show, without benefit of collective thought to determine how cuts or spending is intended to support a comprehensive plan for the country. I do not see a corresponding dialogue taking place on how the specifics of this will set our economy on the right course, promote growth, health, jobs and protect the basic rights of our citizens. If that is happening it is not clear to me. The evidence seems to be in how both parties have run from the comprehensive recommendations delivered several months ago by the bi partisan National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. http://www.fiscalcommission.gov/

It seems to me that it is the responsibility of our government to hold a vigorous debate on our budget. Each area ought to be debated by legislators in both parties in the context of what we as a nation need accomplish to stay safe and competitive in the world. This should be easy if they use an approach to spending and cuts similar to that employed by business.

When businesses cut the cloth to fit the pattern they first determine how much they need save or trim to remain viable. Leaders know that “job one” is to remain viable. They then move to sort of a phase two set of decisions designed to achieve growth and fiscal health. The first step is to apply a simple test to each area and asks the question, “Do we need this expenditure at all?” If not it is gone.

The second phase in determining cuts is a bit more discerning and tied to giving the business the best opportunity for success. They look at all remaining expenditures and ask “will this make us stronger and more competitive in the short and long term, or can we safely reduce it or do without it for now?”

The correlation here is that in times of fiscal crisis the business process for cutting expense has little or nothing to do with preserving business leader’s power, pet projects or philosophical experiments. It is driven first by viability and second by positioning the business to be financially healthy and competitive over time.

It is almost universally accepted in this country that the budget must be brought under control. Between now and the 2012 elections the buzz coming out of the beltway will be much about cuts and spending. So although progress is being made with this bill, I guess I am more fearful that in the big picture it will translate into hot air. That instead of debating what we don’t need and eliminating it, and suitably funding what will make us stronger as a country at home and abroad now and in the future, members of congress will vote or not vote for cuts and spending based on their political party alliance and ideology.

Don’t get me wrong, I have a healthy respect for ideological difference and debate. But this plan looks pretty much the same to me. It is the same plan of Democrats and Republicans doing just enough to sell voters on the benefits of their actions as pleasing sound bites leading up to the next election cycle.

What is missing? I can’t see a primary and sincere motive in our congress to do what is best for the long term prospects of the country and its citizens. We are still without benefit of a reasoned, measured toe to toe bipartisan debate on domestic, military, foreign, education and infrastructure requirements for America to stay viable and strong going forward.

But enough from me…For a list of spending cuts in this latest bill go tohttp://appropriations.house.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=259

To view the full contents go to http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c112:H.R.1:

Egypt-thou art me

It has been a while since anything has posted. This is the New Year and everyone is busy planning the measures and actions that will create return on our investments of time, effort and money in 2011. Thankfully we have the freedom to make those choices and take those actions. Unlike Egyptians in years past we are afforded the luxury of hope that our efforts will prove fruitful. We march forward void of any obvious concern that a governmental body, politician, political party or unscrupulous fellow citizen will set upon us and actively interfere with the successful execution of our plan.

The people of Egypt now can have such hope too. In fact like our forefathers they seem willing to pledge blood, treasure and even their lives to achieve these freedoms for future generations. For me it is natural to reflect and wonder why it took all these years for this to happen. Likely because keeping people who already feel economically or politically powerless, in a fearful state of mind, afraid to take action in their own interest, has always been unproblematic for a ruling power. After all these folks are already vulnerable… afraid that pushing too hard for what they want will meet and be crushed by a powerful, self-preserving force ready to do most anything to prevail and maintain power. It is that fear that the Egyptian people have now seemingly overcome.

Although the citizens of many Middle Eastern countries have been less than self actualized while living in such fear and under the rule of powerful dictators or theocracies, they have not perceived it to be so bad as to take the risks described above. This makes me marvel at the proud, determined, courageous and strong group of young Egyptian activists who have accomplished so much in the last 18 days. And watching their jubilation is an awesome sight. Interestingly it has captured the attention and curiosity of the young people in my life. Although I am not convinced they fully grasp the reach of this event.

For purposes of our theme on this blog, the Egyptian march toward democratic principles was not spurred on by a government, nor led by a politician, nor is it the result of ideological partisan voting by a political block or party. It was not even brought on by a well organized special interest group. No...the people did it. They strengthened their resolve as individuals and demanded to be heard as a group on the issue of their individual freedoms. They did it the right way…the only way that in the end has ever provided meaningful and lasting change for individuals and individual sovereignty.

Now is a time to celebrate with Egypt. As Americans we will watch events unfold along with the world over the coming months. No matter how things turn out in Egypt, it is clear that the young democracy minded youth want their liberty, sovereignty and freedom. It is likely they will get it.

Americans will be better served should they remain well thought-out on the matter. It is an error to observe and watch the Egyptian story like we have our recent wars…passively as though they were movies or TV events, removed from the true impact, meaning and lessons to be gained.

Instead I hope that we can be inspired and remain mindful that although our democratic experiment is more mature, we have our own strife and internal challenges. A sober mind, not drunk with a false sense of American exceptionalism, would naturally ask is there is an equivalent threat to our sovereignty from our burgeoning debts and increasingly arrogant and tone deaf centers of power. As free and sovereign citizens we need now strengthen our resolve and turn our attention to our own issues. In that sense Egypt...thou art me.

What matters most

If sovereignty and freedom are what matter most to the individual, and if individual sovereignty and freedom are dependent on individual’s taking responsibility for their choices, and if individual’s taking responsibility for their choices is dependent on articulated information and education that seeds reason, then I say read that constitution again and again.

Call it ceremonial… I say Bravo Congress…stick to what matters most. A good day…