Archive for the 'politics' Category

Election 2008– The General Public

CMM June 26th, 2008

Due to the confidential nature of some projects I’m working on, I’m looking for alternative topics. I decided to go with old-faithful… politics.

When I first started blogging back in 2003, I was very active and well-read on politics. At the time I was living in south Florida, an area of attention for both local and national elections. Having volunteered and surrounded by it, I spent quite a bit of time writing about it. I love the American system of government and think writers have made been a major contribution to its strength. At one point, I even considered doing a joint Masters in Public Policy and Business Administration. As fate would have it, my life took a different turn as I watched people burn out and get passed over for consideration at the close of the ‘04 campaign season. I took my hiatus from politics and refocused my attention on business strategy and entrepreneurship, ending up in East TN with a MBA and career in community development venture capital.

Now its 2008, and I find myself being pulled into the wonderful pandemonium that is a presidential election year. I’ve been slightly adrift over the past few weeks, wondering what role I should play. After getting very involved with a primary candidate (and being left a little heart broken), I’ve kept my distance. This ends with this series of posts, categorized as Election 2008.

The topics I’d like to post are:

  • The candidate I won’t vote for
  • The candidate I will vote for
  • What are my important issues for this election cycle
  • Thoughts on the current state of affairs
  • Review of the Bush administration

To be honest, I’m not sure how this series of blog post will be taken. I’ve found it difficult to have conversations about the upcoming election. I feel like the general public is broken into three categories: 1. Obama fan boys/girls, 2.  wandering hero-worshippers, and 3. a silent majority. Let me define:

  • Obama fan boys/girls: Typically come from the young professional crowd that grew up on eco-friendly public service announcements, a healthy dose of racial guilt, and the sitcom image of a president. This audience is naive enough to believe in diplomatic talks, troop withdrawals, etc. They are also skeptical enough to think that America and/or its leaders are some how involved in most of the world’s problems and therefore responsible for fixing them (i.e. global warming, world hunger, etc). There is also the ever present intellectual liberal that in their wisdom can ”see some of the evil of capitalism and good of socialism.”
  • Wandering Hero-Worshippers: These people cling to some former icon, whether it be Regan, Kennedy or even F. D. Roosevelt. In today’s political climate, these folks are looking for someone that seems to embody the vision of these gone servants. I guess I fall in this category… I’d vote for ghost of Reagan, ghost of Goldwater, or ghost of Buckley ticket. Secretly, I think most politicos are hero-worshippers.
  • A Silent Majority: That’s right… I’m borrowing a term from Richard Nixon. The truth is, I do believe that the majority of Americans are hard working, down-to-earth folks that just want to live their lives. They don’t run around looking for things to be offended by, object to, or become zealots about. And they are confused. They are confused by the mud slinging and pandering of our politicians, by the complexity and spending of our government. They want something different, but don’t know the what or how. They need a hero (insert cliche ’80’s song “Holding Out for a Hero”)…

Now for a little humor…

 

Politically Correct, Political Joke

CMM February 13th, 2008

While walking down the street one day a senator is tragically hit by a truck and dies. His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance. “Welcome to heaven,” says St. Peter. “Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we’re not sure what to do with you.” No problem, just let me in,” says the man.

“Well, I’d like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we’ll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity.”

“Really, I’ve made up my mind. I want to be in heaven,” says the senator.

“I’m sorry, but we have our rules.”

And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him. Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people. They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and champagne. Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that before he realizes it, it is time to go. Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises… The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him. “Now it’s time to visit heaven.”

So, 24 hours pass with the senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns. “Well, then, you’ve spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity.”

The senator reflects for a minute, then he answers: “Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell.”

So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell. Now the doors of the elevator open and he’s in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage. He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above. The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder. “I don’t understand,” stammers the senator. “Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there’s just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?”

The devil looks at him, smiles and says, “Yesterday we were campaigning…… Today you voted.”

NYT on Knoxville Politics

CMM February 4th, 2008

From Dan Barry at the New York Times– “Backroom Politics Is Brought to the People, and the People Step In”

Thanks to Jack Lail for sharing the story. Check out his comments here.

As anyone who spends anytime with me knows, I’m a political junkie. On the eve of Super Tuesday, it is nice to see an article that gives a little break from the machine of national politics. After over a year of embarrassing political and civic blunders on the county level, Knox County citizens have an opportunity to make a difference tomorrow. Culminating in the now deemed unconstitutional actions of January 31, 2007 (Black Wednesday), the county commissioners are forced to answer to their bosses– the people. We’ll see tomorrow what they decide, but the outcome is not nearly as important as the process.

For anyone wanting to lead a reform movement, here are some steps taken by the citizen leaders:

  • Organize a public trust of respected community leaders outside of county parties and official office
  • Utilize grass root efforts for educating the public on the process and events (Knox County One Question)
  • Partner with a research institute to share resources (Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy)
  • Embrace local media, including bloggers
  • Stay focused on the cause and don’t let high profile involvement or political bullies distract from the goal