So, now that we know, what can we do?
As fabulous as America is – and it really is an extraordinary country – it’s no wonder we are not operating at maximum capacity. Instead of recognizing the wisdom of The Butterfly Effect and approaching our policies comprehensively, our politicians act like they exist in total isolation from one another.
Their actions (and inactions) suggest they think our long-term economic health is separate and apart from our unstable entitlement programs, ridiculously convoluted tax code, schizophrenic immigration policy, non-evolving energy practices, the cost and quality of our health care, how effectively we run our government, suffocating debt, and severe inequality of both income and opportunity.
Evidently, they think our ability to preserve supremacy within the international power structure is separate and apart from the level of respect we have from the rest of the world, the status of our global alliances, the way we educate our children, our ability to harness exceptional talent, the way we treat the planet, our level of investment in research and development, and the condition of our infrastructure.
Worse, politicians from both major parties seem to think we don’t even notice this is going on. They constantly underestimate the American people. They act as if we aren’t smart, capable adults – like we can’t comprehend the magnitude of our problems or handle the hard choices we must make to solve them. This is not only false…it’s downright insulting.
Regardless of our political affiliation – if we still have any at all – We the People know it is impossible to safeguard our long-term economic health without a sensible plan to stabilize our entitlement programs; an uncomplicated tax code; a smart immigration policy; an evolving, self-reliant energy policy; affordable, high-quality health care; a government that runs like a well-oiled machine; manageable debt; and fair and equitable opportunities for every American.
We the People know it is impossible to retain our status as a superpower without conducting ourselves in a manner that deserves respect; unassailable relationships with our allies; properly educated children; next-level talent; a healthy planet; a strong commitment to innovative research and development; and modern, cutting-edge infrastructure.
We the People fully recognize that it’s impossible to sustain freedom and liberty without sacrifice and that, thanks to decades of political incompetence and irresponsibility, the time has finally come to buckle down and get serious about protecting our future.
For politicians to view our challenges compartmentally – as opposed to comprehensively – is a lazy, irresponsible approach and does nothing more than waste precious time, as we are now so painfully aware. Because there are so many problems to solve, the only plausible answer is to be boldly strategic in our attack. We can no longer expect half-measures and incremental ideas to work in systems that have all but collapsed. Instead, we need to embrace a full and fundamental restructuring.
As we begin to make revolutionary changes, it’s essential that we always make today’s decisions with tomorrow seared in our minds. Our best bet is to always keep our eyes firmly on the horizon and visualize the future we want for our shining city upon the hill, not only in the 21st century, but far beyond.
A time will eventually come when Americans will demand better governance, and true transformation will begin. We say that time is now. Even though at times it feels like things have completely unraveled in our country, to us it’s a huge relief we are finally in this exact place – because now we can finally start turning this thing around.
For decades, our state of play has reminded us of the little old lady who was watching her soap opera one afternoon. Just at the juiciest part, the drama was interrupted by a breaking news story: A car was going the wrong way down the interstate and driving into oncoming traffic! Knowing her husband frequently used that highway she called him to warn him of the danger. “Honey, be careful! There’s a car going the wrong way down the interstate!” He replied, “Sweetheart, there’s not just one car going the wrong way. There’s a hundred!”
We have got to turn this thing around before we irreparably crash and burn.
Challenging authority is our right, our responsibility, our legacy. If our country is not going in the direction we want, all we have to do is step in and fix the madness ourselves. It’s really that simple. Our superpower as Americans is that we have the freedom and power to create a better future for ourselves without waiting for some piece of elusive legislation to pass. That we take that right for granted is a colossal understatement.
It feels like we anticipate someone more qualified or smarter or less busy than ourselves to do something about all of this. Many people are certainly eager to express their disapproval and complain about the problems, but often the person criticizing chooses to blame someone else or suggest someone else take action. Imagine the difference if we all reject finger pointing and the blame game and instead look inward, feel a compulsion to act, and introduce potential solutions into the political conversation.
We don’t really have a choice because, we hate to break it to you, there is no one else to do it. No one is sequestered in a secret room somewhere trying to figure this mess out. At times we seem to have this fantasy that somebody – anybody – is working on groundbreaking solutions for us, but they are not. It’s just all of us, my fellow Americans. That’s it.
The exciting news is that once we take matters into our own hands, our future will be brighter than ever! The American spirit is unmatched, and we can achieve anything we put our minds to.
It’s time to honestly question our commitment to the future of this nation. Deep down, do we really want to make the necessary changes or are we satisfied with accepting our political circus as some kind of perverse entertainment? Will our legacy be something we are proud of, or will we forever be known as the former superpower that recklessly relinquished our prominence because we lacked the will to protect it?
It is time to accept – once and for all – that the archaic two-party paradigm in this country has run its course. It’s way (way) past time to shatter this debilitating dynamic forever.
The reason true change eludes us is that we always attempt it within the constraints of an irreparably broken system. The focus is always on tweaking different elements within the system instead of getting rid of the entire two-party system itself. This was never going to work because we are far beyond a small tweak here and there. We cannot vote our way out of this mess with our current two choices or within the toxic environment that has evolved around them.
Really think about it: If we just stick with the two major parties, overthrowing Congress at the voting booth is not only a fantasy it wouldn’t work anyway. Let’s say we replaced every single member of Congress. At this point, their replacements would be other Republicans and Democrats. Clearly, there aren’t 535 Abraham Lincolns running around in either party. But, even if both major parties had super deep benches filled with Lincolns, they would still be forced to operate within the failed two-party setup – and we’re all well aware that the destructive consequences of this dynamic get uglier and uglier by the day.
We're pretty sure most of us believe this to be true, but we always get stumped by the million-dollar question:
How in the world do we do it?
In truth, there is only one logical answer to this question: To truly disrupt the game of politics, we must fundamentally change the way it is played. And, realistically, there is only one way to change the way it is played: Add more players to the game.
The fact is that the Democratic and Republican Parties have had almost 200 years to get this right, yet things have progressively gotten worse.
We cannot afford to waste any more time traveling the path of least resistance – and voting for the lesser of evils – simply because the two major parties, however wounded, believe they have the perpetual right to keep the playing field all to themselves.
They don’t.
It’s painfully obvious our fractured political system is not going to miraculously heal itself and, thanks in large part to our poisonous political environment, most of our leaders – who may otherwise be solid, decent people – are not going to suddenly mutate into brilliant problem-solvers. It just isn’t going to happen. And every minute we buy into that fairytale we lose valuable time.
This may sound depressing, but it’s actually liberating! To lose the delusion and accept the truth sets us free!
If you think we sound naïve, let us ask you: Why not? Why can’t smart and empowered people unite to demand a larger voice in defining our future? We have nothing to lose and everything to gain because the alternative is just not working.
It’s understandable that we “ordinary” Americans feel as powerless as David as we face the Goliath of special interest groups and national party affiliation, but there is strength in even relatively small numbers. Just consider the extraordinary power of special interest groups. They have enormous influence in Washington and exert unparalleled control over our leaders.
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) is one of the most influential lobbying groups in Washington – and has had tremendous sway over our foreign policy, to say the least – but says it has just 6 million members nationwide. The National Education Association (NEA), one of the top influencers in the Democratic Party, has only 3 million members, but its efforts consistently obstruct a ton of educational proposals. The National Rifle Association (NRA) – still the undisputed master of the Republican Party – has less than 5 million members but blocks just about everything regarding gun control.
Hey, “ordinary” Americans, don’t forget that there are 267 million adults in the United States. AIPAC’s members are only 2.2 percent of the entire adult population. NEA members are only 1.1 percent and the NRA’s members are only 1.9 percent.
We're not completely delusional. We fully recognize the uphill battle we face. Without question, our current political system is designed to be an impenetrable fortress, purposefully constructed to protect the two-party system in every way. The Electoral College, ballot access and debate rules, and endless other hurdles combine to make the playing field extraordinarily inequitable for new players.
There is also little doubt that the Democratic and Republican parties will do everything possible to try to stop us because blowing up the two-party system threatens their very existence. It is in their best interests to keep us alienated from one another because when we finally join forces, their Machiavellian gig will be up. Our success is their worst nightmare because, when we prove that we are a force to be reckoned with, we will literally change the way this country is run.
BUT IT CAN BE DONE. This we know with ZERO doubt. There will always be people who fight to protect the status quo, but that’s really not even an option anymore. Clearly things can’t stay as they are, and we won’t change things if we are not daring, bold and brave.
We can absolutely change our direction, and we will. Regardless of our individual beliefs, it’s time we come together for positive progress. We have been underestimated long enough. Together we will overcome the tremendous challenges we face and, channeling our very best angels, unleash the greatest version of both our country and ourselves.
The American people are the most dynamic and innovative people in the entire world. We are courageous, convicted and confident, and we possess a unique sense of assertiveness and adaptability. We have all the ingredients we need – audacity, unlimited talent and intelligence, unparalleled freedom of opportunity, and vast economic resources – to cultivate the strength and goodness of America that we all know exists but that, thanks to partisan politics, has been compromised.