No Party Preference?

While most “Leadership Matters” readers are progressives and center-left moderates, there is quite possibly a small group of courageous conservatives who consider perspectives that are not completely aligned with their own -especially as related to my thoughts around fair economics, wealth accumulation, and tax policy.

An important element of the civ.works project, is a concept that we, as thoughtful, rational people who embrace facts and evidence, share more in common than that which divides us.

For example, while we may have different ideas about the proliferation of guns and the interpretation of the Second Amendment, we share a fundamental understanding that we all want to feel safe in our own homes, our neighborhoods, and when we travel. We share the same thinking when it comes to our children, our families, and our loved ones. There are other common values with which we agree. We want clean air to breathe. We want lead-free, safe drinking water when we turn on the tap. We agree that regardless of political ideology there is a corrupting influence of money in politics. Regardless of taxation policy -we want the taxes collected from us to be used effectively and efficiently -not for vanity projects, or waste.

One vital area that has not provoked much conversation these days relates to the integrity and intellectual capacity (or lack thereof) of elected officials in local, State, and Federal government. While Heritage has promoted its plans for government Project2025.org -fundamentally stating that government should be staffed exclusively by people who hate government and believe private enterprise is the most efficient path to provide for the interests of society (what could go wrong with employees who despise their employer?), we are all missing a key point. That is, what should we require of a candidate for public office in the United States?

If I were to advertise a need for Civic Works to hire software engineers, behaviorists, legislative analysts, and/or journalists, we’d want to make sure we were hiring people who have the vision, experience, capability, communication skills, and the necessary academic background (or alternative experience) to meet the expectations of the role, and to hopefully exceed them (George Santos need not apply). We would evaluate the resumes, we would schedule interviews with the best candidates, and would then make a hiring decision. We would not hire someone because they had the best yard sign of all of the software engineers. We would not hire someone because they sent us a glossy one-pager about how all the other candidates were ignorant losers. The process would be rigorous, and we would want to validate the job candidate’s experience and check their references.

Regardless of our political ideologies, shouldn’t we agree on a lowest common denominator set of standards for people who are applying to lead offices critical for the functioning of democracy -our very system of government? A set of basic standards that extend, for example, the Presidency that goes beyond simply being 35 years of age, a “natural-born citizen” and who has not led or participated in an insurrection, coup attempt, and/or treason?

How about someone who doesn’t have a criminal background (sorry Rick Scott and Bob Menendez.) Someone who could pass an ethics exam (sorry ‘Justice’ Thomas). Someone who agrees that a breach of ethics is an immediate firing offense (sorry again ‘Justice’ Thomas and ‘Justice’ Alito). Someone who breaches their oath to defend the U.S. Constitution, again, an immediate firing offense. Someone who incites and encourages violence against the United States, bye and barred from holding office.

It is necessary to pass a challenging set of examinations to become a practicing lawyer. Why not have an examination for candidates for public office as a fundamental requirement for eligibility? Basic mathematics, science (sorry Marjorie Taylor Greene and your Jewish Space Lasers -and Louis Gohmert -you got out in time!), actual U.S. History (sorry Nikki Haley, the Civil War was about slavery -and no Ron DeSantis -slavery is not job apprenticeship), some questions about the U.S. Constitution, voting rights, economics (what is an externality?), and political systems.

Finally, some common sense policy around not only Campaign Finance Reform eliminating dark money and large campaign donations, also -Appropriations ethics (like eliminating the awarding of single-source projects to friends of Greg Abbott and Ron DeSantis), with serious consequences (expulsion, criminal indictments) for those who breach societal trust.

An area where we should all agree is instead of complaining about a government that is as corrupt as the Cabinet of the former Administration we, as in ‘We, the people’, should agree on the fundamental integrity, ethics, and necessary capacity and experience for public office, and hold elected officials to be accountable to all -regardless of political party. Although I am an admitted liberal, a big “D” Democrat, I would rather have a government filled with Dwight D. Eisenhower’s, Liz Cheney’s, and John McCain’s than a government filled with Matt Gaetz, Jim Jordan, Lauren Boebert, George Santos, Joe Manchin, Krysten Sinema, and Bob Menendez of today. At a time in which we need ethical, capable leadership, we must agree, no more religious zealots (sorry Mike Johnson), incompetents, and the criminally corrupt.

We must start with integrity -leadership who, regardless of party politics, will hold justice, equity, and democracy over fealty to massive shadowy political donors and PACS.

On a connected note, I’m working to bring “Kitchen Table Democracy” back to America and anywhere people aspire toward a meaningful democracy, justice, and equity…

In the United States, in 2024, democracy is on the ballot. Recent research states that 75% of people consume their news on social platforms. With so much at stake, do you trust Musk and Zuckerberg -or is it time for an ad-free, subscriber-supported civic social network that doesn't sell or share data with marketers, shadowy political operatives, or billionaires?

Help us finish something great together: https://wefunder.com/civic.works.corporation.