The Picket Project - Fully Analyzing Political Issues and Social Problems

Partial solutions aren’t enough to solve a crisis. The United States is suffering from a maelstrom of problems – a recession, rising debt, and a declining education system, just to name a few. We need real solutions that provide a path of prosperity for ourselves and the coming generations. Forming these solutions will require understanding the full complexity of the problems we face.

Without this understanding, an oversimplified version of an issue can cause important factors to be dismissed in order to reach a course of action prematurely.  This can create faulty solutions which do not address the underlying cause, creating unintended consequences far worse than the original problem.

Unfortunately, our government is well experienced in this principle.

Take, for example, an attempt to minimize corruption and the influence of lobbyists in the 1970s.  In the wake of the Watergate scandal and amidst rising concerns that back room deals played too large of a roll in our government, new laws took form that required government meetings to be public information.

The basic premise of the sunshine legislation is that, in the words of federalist No. 49, 'the people are the only legitimate foundation of power, and it is from them that the constitutional charter ... is derived.' Government is and should be the servant of the people, and it should be fully accountable to them for the actions which it supposedly takes on their behalf.

The belief was that, by showing the public exactly which bills our representatives are lobbying for and against, it would shine more light onto governmental affairs and naturally disinfect the public disease of corruption and corporate interest.  However, when looking at the political scene today, it seems that corporate influence is at an all-time high and a belief that our politicians are doing what is best for its people is at an all-time low.

With the benefit of hindsight, Fareed Zakaria paints a picture of the inadvertent consequences of these actions.

Most Americans have neither the time, the interest, nor the inclination to monitor Congress on a day-to-day basis.  But lobbyists and activists do, and they can use the information and access to ensure that the groups they represent are well taken care of in the federal budget and the legal code.

Before this bill, well-meaning politicians would allow themselves to take corporate contributions for political campaigns with the same underhanded promises they make today.  The promise that they will try and pass favorable legislation for companies who donate to their campaigns.

Of course, in a typical political manner, what they said and what they did were not always the same. A simple “I tried to sway them, but there was nothing I could do,” would often be enough to keep the money coming in for reelection while still being able to vote based on their personal beliefs.

With the new law in effect, this has become virtually impossible.  Since lobbyists can now review every vote taken, they can cut off funds for politicians who do not vote the way they were asked.  It seems that the factors that contribute to an empowered voter are more than simply availability of information.

Without accounting for economic interests taking advantage of this information, the problem of corruption and accountability was underestimated and oversimplified. This partial solution brought with it consequences – forcing their fellow politicians to focus less on our needs than ever before.

This example is far from unique.  Our history is littered with failed policies and half measures which cause more harm than good, with no sign of an end to the madness.

How can we create truly beneficial solutions in a complex world?

While no one can predict the future, we can avoid some of the worst mistakes by taking the time needed to properly analyze the factors surrounding the issues.  These factors, when fully understood, can help us understand the most likely result of any course of action, and minimize the negative consequences associated with an inaccurate understanding of reality.

The real question is:

Do you believe our politicians today are fully analyzing the problems they are addressing, or are they inviting negative consequences by oversimplifying these issues?

Our goal at the Picket Project is to understand the difference between positive solutions and those which will cause more harm than good; to fully analyze proposed solutions in an effort to understand the costs associated with poorly understood legislation.  Sometimes the challenges we face can only be solved through government action.  On the other hand, there are situations in which the government can make the problem worse.  We are not only working towards determining when a problem does or does not need government action, but also towards understanding what that action should be.  Solutions that everyone can agree to – fully explored and understood.

As always, we look forward to hearing your opinions and we will be regularly updating our content.  Start the conversations here through the comment system on the blog, our Facebook page, and Twitter using the #PicketProject hashtag!

Links:

• A way out of our dysfunctional politics
• The Future of Freedom: Illiberal Democracy at Home and Abroad
• Government in the Sunshine Act

The Picket Project - False Truths: I'm Right, You're Wrong, Compromise is Impossible

American diversity provides us with hundreds of viable answers for solving the challenges we face. While both sides of the aisle could agree with many of these solutions, our political leaders are not hearing or discussing any of them. Instead, these politicians fall prey to believing that their solutions are the best, and everyone else is misguided. If we want to have true solutions discussed in Washington, we first need to understand why even well-meaning politicians can be unwilling to recognize the faults in their own agendas.

Tim Harford discusses a human complex, termed the God Complex, which states that no matter how complicated the problem, we will often have an overwhelming belief that our solution is infallibly right. Harford argues the downfalls of the God Complex and his belief that we need to abandon it in light of a problem solving technique that actually works.

I see the God complex around me all the time in my fellow economists. I see it in our business leaders. I see it in the politicians we vote for — people who, in the face of an incredibly complicated world, are nevertheless absolutely convinced that they understand the way that the world works.

The God Complex offers an explanation for why politicians, like all people, can become adamantly adverse to a compromise in their position. They believe that whatever solution they have come to is the only correct course of action. It also explains why bad solutions can seem good, and seemingly good solutions can often have very bad consequences.



This complex has roots in the mental models we create for ourselves based on the experiences we have had and the limited knowledge we have learned over the course of our lives. These models aid in answering complex questions quickly, which often serves us well. However, the creation of these mental models can sometimes constrain us and lead us to believe in false truths. Like a magician doing a trick on the street, our experiences can sometimes keep us from seeing what is right in front of our eyes.

When a particular solution seems to fit perfectly into the models we have created for ourselves – its justification sometimes seems insurmountable. However, since we each live a very different life, it is no surprise that sometimes we turn up with very different mental models of how the world works. Each of our different experiences can lead us to different insights on a problem, not all of which are compatible.

These insights form the basis of the democratic philosophy, where the combined experiences of a population are used to vote on the representative that best fits the narrative they hold about how the government should work. When conflicting narratives create contradictory solutions – recognition on why this has happened is critical to creating beneficial compromises. But our implementation of this cornerstone of a Republic has shown itself to be less than perfect.

Too many of our politicians have fallen prey to the God Complex and a deeply polarized government has arisen. Conservative and liberal mindsets compete for popular opinion. While this competition could create middle ground solutions, the God Complex has gotten so out of hand, compromise has become impossible. An environment has developed where each side of the isle believes that their solutions are the only real solutions, and anyone who opposes them is doing so with selfish intentions.

The time has come to bridge the divide in our country. The only way to do this is to break through the delusions of omniscience which have gripped our politicians and many of our fellow citizens. We at the Picket Project will work towards challenging oversimplified interpretations in order to show the full complexity of the world we live in. It is in this complexity that we will see where ideological models conflict, and where they can be modified to better fit reality.

As always, we look forward to hearing your opinions; we will be regularly updating our content based on the conversations started here through the comment system on the blog, our Facebook page, and Twitter using the #PicketProject hashtag.

Links:

• Tim Harford on TED
• Revisiting why incompetents think they're awesome

Tearing Down Fences With The Picket Project

Having been a blogger for many years I've had a lot of requests come my way.  Most often from someone who wants to write a post.  Usually about a totally inappropriate subject which tells me they've never really read my blog.

Others have been fun.  Interviews with mainstream media, requests to review a book now and then or when we had Bacchus to test dog related products.

I have never been asked to share someone elses content.  Until now.  I was contacted by a fellow blogger at  The Jefferson Tree , to which I am a contributor,  about a project for which additional exposure is being sought.  The Picket Project  is devoted to identifying and exploring solutions for political and social issues.

As you know this is an area of great interest to me.  I like the content and am interested in seeing how it develops.  It strikes me as being an online think tank for the concerned citizen.  You know, those of us who live in the real world and just might have some ideas worth exploring and supporting.

So I'm going to jump off the fence and take the plunge.  I am going to devote Saturdays for a time to a series of posts from The Picket Project.

Let me know if you find them of interest and if you do let them know too!  It never hurts to broaden ones horizons and the Picket Project provides that opportunity to a much greater extent than bloggers such as myself who mostly point out issues and state an opinion with little more.

Tomorrow will be an effort to not be fenced in by my own limitations by sharing with you some great insight.  My own pithy commentary will return Sunday or Monday.

Does Anyone Have A Clue ?

It seems to me there is something drastically wrong with the system when Vice Presidential candidates cause more excitement than do the Presidential candidates.  Lately this has been a Republican problem - a huge Republican problem.

One time it might have been a fluke.  We will probably never know what made John McCain choose Sarah Palin over far more qualified candidates.

Now we wait with baited breath.  Well, at least we wait, to see who another uninspiring Republican candidate is going to choose.

It is so frustrating to have no faith in the party of my choice.  I have readers who will vote for Obama for that very reason.  I can't.  I can't vote for a man who is diametrically opposed to what I think of as my America.  Yet I have no reason to vote for Mitt Romney either. He's just another face on a politician with no vision, at least he hasn't articulated one, who has surrounded himself with old cronies who haven't a fresh idea among them.  

Some of the VP potentials could add some pizazz to the ticket without the flakiness of a Palin.  Chris Christie, Bobby Jindal, Paul Ryan - even John Thune at least have some personality.  Actually many of them would be the better candidate for President and I may never find it within myself to forgive them for not running when we need them most.  They've abdicated to a man who wants to be President yet brings nothing to the table other than that desire.  

As for his ticket,  some suggest dull and boring might be a saving grace after the rock star mania we've had with Palin and Obama.  Only if dull and boring resonate.  What are the chances of that?

Drill down a layer to Congress and we have the same problem. Ideology rules.  Threats rule.
Members of both houses seem to be absent convictions for anything other than retaining their seats.

It has gotten to a point where something other than merely voting is needed.  But what?  There have been attempts at third parties.  This will take time.  Wooing viable people away from the established parties won't be easy.

Every candidate who comes along promises to change the culture of Washington yet none succeed if indeed they even try.  So what do we do?  I'd really like to know if any of you have any thoughts on the subject.  Enough of us write, complain and opine to fill volumes yet there is never any change.  How do we harness all that energy into something meaningful? Can it be done or are we doomed to stew in our own juices?

Sheep And Sheep Herders

I've thought for some time we've become a nation of sheep blissfully following the siren call of our herders.

 Democrats follow Democrats because they are Democrats.  Republicans do exactly the same. For no other reason.  We've lost our willingness to consider another point of view and are content with sound bite dictums.  It's sad.

I'm seeing that it goes far beyond politics.  Consider the recent Tony Robbins event in San Jose attended by thousands.  Robbins is a motivational speaker - of sorts.  This particular gathering was to learn how to "Unleash the Power Within" so he had a firewalking party.

Firewalking?  On coals in 10 x 2.5 foot paths heated between 1200 to 2000 degrees F.  Why would anyone in his right mind do it?  To prove mind over matter?

Remember when you were a youngster and argued with your parents with a lame, "...but everyone's doing it!"  And they'd answer, "If everyone was jumping off a cliff would you do it?"  Today perhaps you would!

Politicians have learned how to manipulate people with their power.  So have motivational speakers yet they do no more than we could do for ourselves if we'd open ourselves to thinking!  


Maybe even worse than those who herd us along are those who stand by and watch.  There were emergency personnel standing by at the event and they had an open fire permit, whatever that is.  There was even a fire inspector in attendance to make sure a fire didn't get away from them.

The only thing that took leave was their sense.  Apparently they did everything required by law except use that sense.  Including the fire department who disclaimed recommending it by saying, "We discourage people from walking over hot coals," and stood by and watched while participants inflicted themselves with second and third degree burns.

In politics we know who the sheep are and the herders.  Who represents the onlookers?  The independents?  The media?  The answer, I suppose, depends on how you vote and why.