More Efficient Governance

The bureaucratic United States Government must undergo an evolution.  This is no longer the time to be a big, slow, thundering giant in the world.  In order to better serve its citizens, the United States government must be fast and efficient, delivering the needs of its people more rapidly.  Globalization has changed our world to where it is no longer the largest, most powerful countries that win.  Now, efficiency, speed, and quality are rewarded in the world markets.  The government can harness to power of the internet to speed up services that have taken nearly forever previously.  Why stand in line so long at the DMV or other local government agency when you can do it at home on your computer?  Why must government projects take so long to attain approval and begin work?  By utilizing current and future technologies, we can create a more efficient government in our country.

For reference, here is a breakdown of how the Federal Government spends its money:

Harnessing Creativity

In this new age following the Cold War, it is imperative that the United States and other countries harness all the creative capital they have in their nations to enhance economic productivity.  In the US, we have the knowledge and the innovative spirit to solve numerous problems, if we only knew about it.  The US government and companies that operate here need to realize this and tap into the power of their own people.

A Fast Company poll

Yes on Prop 29

California Proposition 29 proposes a $1.00 increase in taxes per pack of cigarettes.  The money from this new tax would go to funding cancer research, tobacco reduction programs, and law enforcement against the improper use of tobacco.

If it is passed at all.

The money of big tobacco is ardently against Prop 29, which will appear on California's June 5 ballot.  Phillip Morris and RJ Reynolds tobacco companies have committed over $30 million to stop this measure.  They know that this proposition has the potential to significantly reduce their profits.  If enacted, Prop 29 will help reduce incidences of smoking and improve cancer research.  We need funds for this now more than ever because of the fiscal crisis in California, making it impossible to use other state funds for Prop 29 target areas.  Therefore, we must pay for it in other ways.  In having the smokers themselves pay for it, we make cigarettes more expensive and fund health programs relating to tobacco use.

With the passage of Proposition 29, we can look forward to a healthier population.

We Need Fair Elections

With the Citizen's United v. Federal Election Commission, Corporations can give unlimited money to Super PACs.  In this election year, we are now seeing that this means a future of auctioning of elected positions.  Money wins elections, and with the unlimited spending of special interests groups, the people have much less of a say now in elections.  Those who run the most commercials and get the most press coverage are those with the most money, and they are more likely to win.  We need spending caps on elections to ensure that all candidates have a chance to compete for a spot in government.  We need the people's representatives in government, not the special interests' representatives.

Economic Climate

Instead of the government picking winners and losers in the entrepreneurship field, they should foster a climate that promotes entrepreneurship.  The relationship with the government and businesses should not be one of conflict.  The economy can be private and public sector collaboration with both doing their part to ensure strong and sustainable growth.  The private sector will do the bulk of the growth, while a role for the public sector would be to maintain sustainability in that growth.  This cooperative relationship should facilitate growth and promote growth, not impede it.  In forming a sustainable plan, it is important to note that sustainability does not mean “restrict growth” but instead planning and coordinating growth in a way that that increase can be sustained.

Below, for reference, is the White House plan for sustainable growth:

General Economic Principles

Throughout history, economic growth has gone hand in hand with a strong and industrious middle class.  Efforts must be made to strengthen and enlarge the middle class, by bringing people up rather than bringing people down.

In recent decades, the size of the middle class has fallen, which must change, for the economic vitality of this country is strongly dependent on the vitality of the middle class.

Bobbing and Weaving

It is unfortunate that politicians have to contort themselves in order to gain reelection.  The rigidity in our party system leads politicians to have to lean left or lean right just in order to win their primaries.  Then, come the general election, they must swing back to the center.  We would be much better off if our leaders could just run honestly, they way they actually would govern, from start to finish, instead of bobbing and weaving all over the map.

Small Lending Community Needed

In order to get small businesses back on track, local communities and states ought to partner with local businesses to create small scale lending programs to revitalize small businesses.

How it works:
Local officials organize local companies, banks, and investors to direct their money to troubled businesses struggling to get a leg up.  Many small businesses that are struggling simply need a little bit of cahs to get by for the next business cycle.  By directing this money, a locally targeted effort without the help of the national government can create change in the community.

GOP Warhawks Do Reason No Favors

In the recent GOP debates, many of the candidates, with the notable exception of Ron Paul, have produced plans to use military action against Iran in retaliation to their efforts at Uranium enrichment.  In the process, they are stumbling down the same road as the failure of Iraq and Afghanistan.

We do not need another war, and if we were to go to war, we need more of an endgame strategy than we have right now.  We cannot assume we will merely bomb the Iranians into submission and all will be good as gold.  Hardly.   We need a thorough plan to deal with Iran, one that does not involve bombing.  If we did resort to violence, then we must have a strategy to fight and end the war, and what to do to rebuild Iran and our own nation.

The Art Of Communication

Obama was immensely successful in 2008 will a clear message of Hope and Change.  One of his greatest shortcomings thus far is a lack of communication in his administration.

Messages should be concise and catchy, and should be a few words or less.  Abstract movements with no clear goals have trouble catching on and sustaining momentum.  With clear communication, a good movement can turn into a great one.

If Obama wants to improve with his standing with the American people, he would do well to turn over a new leaf right now.  He needs to come up with clear messages, and he needs to repeat them over and over.  Not once or twice, but several times in several places across the nation.  Only then can people connect.