Describe the problem or needs of society you want to address when you enter public service. (If possible use statistical data to define the magnitude of the problem)
Newt Gingrich surprisingly has a lot respect from this Bill Clinton idealizer and loyal Democrat. Newt and I don’t see eye to eye on the substance of many issues, but I respect his willingness to take the unpopular stance to do what he sees as right. He has a point in some cases. There is a problem with our education system if the US ranks 18th in education effectiveness while spending more than any other country per student. & Now, I disagree with abolishing the Department of Education, but one must respect his reasoned position. There is a reason his outside the box outlook proved successful in 1994.
Innovation is good for governing. Politicians too often cling to the safe, stale ideas, logrolling to keep their jobs. I suppose a 98% incumbent re-election rate proves their methods work, but the system we have shouldn’t be. Politicians fear being the next Walter Mondale. Not many would suggest running for President proposing higher taxes, but at least he said what he believed the best solution was.
Society needs Gingrich’s and Mondale’s bringing non-mainstream and not necessarily immediately popular views center stage. The public needs to be informed of alternatives, so voters can actually see differences available to them. Political leaders themselves aren’t helpful when in a presidential debate the biggest disagreement between them regarding foreign policy, during a war in Iraq, appears to be whether to approach North Korea multilaterally or bilaterally.
The innovative ideas aren’t always the right ones, but without them there is no debate or progress towards better solutions. Citizens grow apathetic when they don’t see an opportunity for real change. There are reasons why voter turnout has fallen over 10% in the past fifty years.
Choices and opportunities for change need to be made available for progress to happen.
Leave a Reply