A Six Point Plan for Political Transformation

The recent California Democratic debate was on the surface not very spectacular. However, if one were to look at it thru other eyes, it is possible to imagine the contours of a 16 to 20 year period of transformational change with a gigantic capital C. Part II – A Six Point Plan for Political Transformation.

Every once in a while, a moment or period comes along in a society’s evolution that embodies the potential for meaningful transformation. Such a moment generally arises out of a conflux of fortuitous circumstances: the broad realization of the moment’s importance, a mix of challenges with historical and lasting significance, people’s willingness and readiness to rise to the occasion and finally leaders who are prepared to ignite the fire, carry the torch and bear the burden of responsibility and risk.

Over the past hundred years,

America has had perhaps three of these truly transformational moments, each of which changed the course of America's evolution. The first came in the period 1933 – 1938 with President Roosevelt’s New Deal, a set of ideological and legislative initiatives that began the most radical realignment of the position of consumers and workers versus business that free market capitalism had seen since the Industrial Revolution.

The second moment began on June 22, 1944, when President Roosevelt signed into law The Servicemen’s Readjustment Act, better known as the GI Bill. When WWII finally came to an end and America’s triumphant warriors streamed home, the GI Bill led to the greatest wave of higher education and home ownership expansion in the history of mankind. It was this one idea, more than any other, that allowed what Tom Brokaw rightfully called The Greatest Generation to build the foundations of the modern America we know today.

The third period of great transformation was the Civil Rights Movement from 1955 – 1968, perhaps politically best represented by the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Those years represented perhaps the beginning of the greatest class transformation in America’s history, a transformation that is still on-going more than forty years later.

All of these transformations required great collective and individual energy from all Americans as well as a bold vision and political blood sweat and tears from inspiring leaders. Whether led by the greatness of President Roosevelt or a combination of complimentary leaders like President Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Jr., Attorney General Robert Kennedy and President Johnson.

America clearly stands on the threshold of its next potential ‘moment in time’. The issues facing the country and the world are momentous and of lasting significance. If these problems will be addressed with historical boldness of thought and action, we could see the beginning of America’s next major transformational period.

Unfortunately neither Hillary Clinton nor Barack Obama can accomplish this task on her or his own. As progressive and as inspiring as Hillary may be for many, she remains primarily the über politician. She may be a potential magician at operating within the mechanisms of the body politic but she can't inspire and energize so many different kinds of people like Obama can. And as forceful a personality as Obama may have, he is first and foremost an infectiously inspiring leader who due to his young age or because it just isn't his thing, could be overwhelmed by the resistance from the political machine he so hopes to transform.

Six Point Plan for Political Transformation

Both of these candidates, a woman and the son of a white American woman and black Kenyan father, are in their very being and by definition transformational politicians. Both want to lead true Change in America. As Gandhi taught us and as written about and put into practice today by organization 'guru' Robert Quinn, one must first and foremost be the change that one seeks in others.

How could this apply to Clinton and Obama and how could they apply this principle in the current election campaign? I believe quite profoundly that if these two would adopt this Six Point Plan for Political Transformation the Democrats will win the general election before it has even started and they will create the possibility of a 16 – 20 year period of deep change in American politics and society.

Hopefully the results of Super Tuesday will not be decisive in either candidate’s favor. This will create the opportunity for this Six Point Plan for Political Transformation:

1. Hillary and Barack publicly sign a campaign covenant repudiated the divisiveness of personal attacks and committing themselves and their supporters to a purely issues based campaign.
   
   
2. Both candidates agree to a specified spending limit for the remainder of the primaries.
   
   
3. Both candidates agree to not accept any more money from political action committees or special interest groups.
   
   
4. Both candidates declare as they did in the last debate that their differences are minuscule compared to their differences with the Republicans. Given the other’s potential to be a great President, changing the way campaigns and politics are conducted is as important at the moment as the eventual primary results themselves.
   
   
5. Both candidates agree that regardless of which one becomes President he or she will invite John Edwards to accept a cabinet level position as Secretary for the alleviation of poverty. Perhaps they should even ask Governor Schwarzenegger to become Secretary for a clean and green America. They both further commit themselves to include Republicans and Independents in forming the cabinet and White House staff.
   
   
6. Both candidates call upon Oprah Winfrey to recruit other celebrities from film, the arts, TV and music to lead a major candidate- independent campaign driving voter registration, political participation and community service among young people, blacks and Hispanics.

And then the two candidates go out and do what they do best. Hillary pushing her message of experience on day 1 and Barack inspiring and energizing. And without the back-biting bickering style we are so tired of, each tells his or her own story to the voters in their individual styles, each building as much strength as possible in an uplifting style.

Clinton and Obama together have the power now, even before one or the other becomes President, to create an earthquake in the American political system. People wouldn’t know what hit them. It would have the impact equivalent to announcing we have discovered intelligent life on another planet. In fact, it would herald the introduction of intelligent life into American politics.

Such a move would make the Republican candidates nearly irrelevant for huge numbers of voters on all sides of the political spectrum. They would be creating a total transformation in the rules of the game, putting everyone at great disadvantage that continued to play by the rules that no longer apply.

Yes, this could be America’s next moment in time. And as is always the case at such historic moments, only the boldest of visions and the most daring of actions can create the promise of potential transformation.

If Hillary and Barack would dare launch such a plan for political transformation they will have an impact on America that most candidates don't enjoy even if they become President. And if the one who becomes President, with perhaps the other at his or her side as Vice President, remains true to his or her authentic values then America could enter its next generational period of transformational change. Wouldn't that be cool!

Comments

[Graeme]

Very good ideas and historical background. What I would love is for a candidate to talk about public financing of all elections. it is time to get money out of the process.

Edward's war against poverty is noble, and I believe sincere, but I don't know if reforms are enough to fix the system.

also, very nice "open secrets" link. I had forgot all about that site. thanks!

[lennybruce]

Hi Graeme,

Nice to see you. Hope all is well in your neck of the woods. Good luck tomorrow at the polls. You are absolutely right about money in the elections. It is ridiculous how much is spent to be begin with and that financial means is so determinant in being able to have a voice in a campaign. If I had one wish for the democratic process it would be the financing.

Be well.