If Not Effective Government, Please At Least Be Open

Our esteemed United States government, if it finds it fitting to be totally ineffective, ought to at least be open and let the people know what it is going to do.  Bills should be posted on public forums, well before a vote is held, so that constituents can comment and suggest changes to bills.

Congressmen ought to have clear action plans and goals and let their constituents know what those are and how they will benefit the country.  Including how those goals will be met and how people can help would also be welcome additions.

More On Economic Climate

The economy can be a 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.

Increase Creative Capital

To grow our national economy, we need to boost of creative capital, our capacity to innovate and create new items for the market.

Innovation can drive to market forward.  We have seen this time and time again in Silicon Valley.  Many countries have seen the benefit in this and tried to create their own havens for technological innovation.  The United States, if they are intelligent, would do well to preempt the action of other nations and develop even more thoroughly innovative centers of its own, not just in Silicon Valley.

Oh Really? Part 2

In the previous post we detailed how many GOP candidates are idealistic in their promises and pursuit of the presidency.

Reasons for the failure to complete promises include inadequate will, resources, or support for the project.  The Democrats, regardless if they are in the majority or minority come January of 2013, will come out in force against the president if he is a Republican.  Therefore, the Republican nominee would do well not to be too idealistic, lest they fall down much the same road as Obama has so far.

Oh Really? Part 1

In the GOP nomination race for the presidency, it is apparent that many of the GOP candidates are running into a mode of idealism, if you will.  Their pledges and promises about putting America back at the top and getting people jobs is all well and good, but this type of campaigning seems awfully familiar to 2008 when a certain Barack Obama campaigned (successfully) for the presidency as is now being criticized for failing to fulfill similar promises.

Economic Climate

Instead of the government picking winners and losers in the entrepreneurship field, they should foster a climate that promotes entrepreneurship.  Small businesses drive this nation forward, and the government should do what it can to foster a climate that promotes small businesses. The government should not be at odds with the private sector.  It should be an effective partnership to promote sustainable growth.  

Politics That Change

Our political system is set up so that the people do not have much of a choice.  When buying products at a store, there is often much more than just 2 choices.  It should be the same for politics, where we should not have such limited choices in who we elect.  Nationally, Republican and Democratic platforms stay relatively constant, dictated by powerful national leaders.  We need politics that is not rigid but politics that can be tinkered and changed to suit the times.

Unity in the Christmas Season

In this holiday season., it would be nice if our country achieved some political unity and reconciliation.  The divisiveness in congress and elsewhere in the nation is hurting everyone.  With policies that reflect everyone's values, or at the very least, the majority of the American people, America can become a better place.

The Situation in Syria Grows Dire

The Syrian Government, led by the Assad regime, seems intent on murdering its own people.  Armed intervention could be very dangerous, due to the Iranian influence on Syria, but at the very least, the world, especially the Arab world, must keep the pressure up on Syria to stop.  The United States can do its part by encouraging its Arab allies to put pressure on Syria.

Shakeup

We badly need a shakeup in American society and politics.  The system is rigid and benefits the power players rather than the people.  It doesn't matter the size of government right now, it has been ineffective all the same.  We need to increase the efficiency of government and eliminate bureaucracy.  We need to facilitate innovation and change in government much as we see innovation and change in the private sector in places like Silicon Valley.

Flexibility

We need politicians who have to capability to choose from multiple menus of policy ideas.  Right now, the people only have 2 chooses, Democrats, or Republicans.  There is no middle ground.  We need a system of politics that is unafraid of compromise and unafraid of choosing options tailored to work for the whole country.

Top Down Authoritarianism Does Not Work

With recent protests in Russia and the Middle East, a theme is clear.  The top down authoritarian style leadership is not working as well, or at all, anymore.  People now doubt their government more than ever, and not just in this country.  This theme is being harnessed, as it should be, to solicit change around the world.  People do not like being talked down to, and justly will not take it anymore.  Now is the time to act against this kind of government, so protesters can ride the wave of discontent.

US Must Stop Using Fighting as a Solution in Foreign Policy

A recent trend towards rough and tough militant foreign policy in this nation is worrying.  Instead of fighting to solve its problems, which takes a huge chunk out of our budget, not to mention  many human lives, we should instead pursue active diplomacy with other nations and groups.  Fighting a number of foreign wars only makes us overextended and weaker.  In forging a new time of foreign policy, which is collaborative rather than destructive, other nations might be more receptive to the influence that the United States wields.  By fighting many wars and having an aggressive presence in places like the Middle East, people will often reject the influence as counterproductive and combative.  To turn over a new leaf, the United States must change its outlook and policy on the world.

More Diplomatic Pressure Needed on Autocrats Pt 3

We need to be welcome and open to new governments created, and help them through hard times, giving them advice when necessary. We must, however, be careful not to intrude into a situation where nobody wants us to act. Yes, we feel that our opinion is worth more that 2 cents, but at the same time, countries have to be able to go it alone. We can help, but in order to create permanent solutions, they must be able to work out some problems for themselves.

More Diplomatic Pressure Needed on Autocrats Pt 2

The US government needs to up the diplomatic pressure on nations abusing its people and/or denying then rights. No, we should NOT go to war, and that shouldn't be an option in this case. That would be severely counterproductive, thus we must use diplomacy to achieve more democracy in the world. We can't just choose dictators that suit us, as the US has done in places like Chile. We need to work with other countries to create lasting stability in the world.

More Diplomatic Pressure Needed on Autocrats Pt 1

Now that popular protests have swept through the Middle East, Greece, Western Europe, Russia, and even this country, it is time the United States Government toggled with its foreign policy in order to solicit positive, permanent change throughout the world. In order to keep up the wave of change, the United States can help other countries with their own reform movements while setting the example of reform on the home front.

New Posting Page on Google+

Hi everyone.

We've created a new page for posts on Google+ here: https://plus.google.com/104300730682763315531.
This is an extension of our new Google+ account.  We'll be posting ideas and on that page as well as on this blog.

Let us know what you think.  Post a comment.  Form your own opinions.  Being active in society and challenging commonly held assumptions is a good way to make sure society is going in the right direction.

Leaders Need To Lead

Partisanship is gripping our nation and tearing it apart.  While the American people are sidelined, debate rages over in Washington with the elites and little is getting done.

We need strong leadership in this nation and collaboration instead of divisiveness in our leaders. Are they not supposed to lead?  Many politicians are merely concerned with protecting their own backs and getting reelected.  We need lawmakers willing to take a hit, take a risk to stand up and do something right for the American people.