Field of Schemes

America has recently raised a new hybrid variety of genetically modified politicians across a number of the nation’s political fields. This domestic crop of representatives has yet to be valued in the public marketplace as to whether they are to be a productive and useful commodity, or just another field of weeds that will have to be up rooted in order to plant another variety in the next political season that might bear some nutritious fruit. We only have to hope that if they are indeed weeds that it doesn’t turn out that they destroy the land and leave it unsuitable for productive use or worse, lethal to the public.

New Jersey has given us one particular example in Governor Chris Christie. He has made some headway in becoming one of the new conservative poster boys and hard-nosed players on the national political scene. Certainly there is a lot of huffing and puffing, and then there is the occasional decision and its corresponding justification. Or, in more cases than not, these rationalization just sounds like a reason though they are in fact really not. You’ve all heard the proclamations that almost ring true, but upon examination of what the decision was you are left wondering if you might deserve a teaching moment or more pointedly a visit to the shed. You know the quotes: “I was sent here to make the hard decisions.”, or “This is what the American people expect.” After hearing these, it often occurs to me that I didn’t find the decision hard, but rather just stupid or wrong; or that it wasn’t what I expected of a leader but rather that of a politician as we have come to know them.

In this season of the crusading conservatives who have come to save the profligate states from their foolish ways, Christie has stood up and challenged many opponents. Some he has vanquished, others he has pronounced “Mission Accomplished” proclamations against even if he has somehow not actually managed to confront or defeat them, and there are always the battles that he fights and loses which then aren’t talked about because it would tarnish his prodigious armor. But sadly today, this is the way of politicians. It’s more how you say it looks than what it actually looks like. Given the fiscal disaster that he had to grapple with in New Jersey, he has taken actions which he has had no choice but to take. Given a knife to cut the budget, he cut the budget. Of course, was he a skilled and knowledgeable surgeon cutting away the tumor, or the quack recklessly maiming the patient? Fortunately for him, more often than not the quality of his decisions will not be determinable or attributable to him even long after his is gone.

But there are moments when the world presents an opportunity for the public to demand that such politicians stand and deliver. When the decisions that they are going to make for the ‘public good’ can be tested against the man’s/woman’s character, judgment, intellect and wisdom. Such a moment exists now for the citizens of New Jersey with regard to Governor Christie. This same moment also exists for many other Governors in other states, both Democrat and Republican.

What an opportunity! These political leaders can stand up and be counted. They can directly show the public and the nation their personal integrity, their own confidence in their judgment, and their willingness to be responsible and accountable for their decisions in office. How fortunate to be a politician in such a time. How lucky to be able to stand before the public and show them right here and now, that they ‘put it all on the line’ in their service to the people. Surely history will remember them for being the type of statesman/woman who epitomizes the American values and ideals. How could they shrink from an opportunity like this, unless they were not really conducting themselves as public servants?

What is the opportunity? Well, one case is the natural gas fracking issue. Governor Christie has indicated that New Jersey needs to proceed with gas explorations and the use of the fracking process for the good of New Jersey. He may not be a scientist, engineer or particularly knowledgeable about the subject, but he believes that providing affordable and domestic-sourced energy is vital to New Jersey and the nation; and if the process of fracking will provide that then he believes that the state should support and encourage the business. Many New Jerseyians agree and support this view, and many do not; that is why it’s a political issue. And here is where Christie can move to the forefront, here is where he can be the leader that New Jersey and the nation needs.

All that is required is that Governor Christie pledge to accept the consequences of his decision. He only needs to take a simple and easily accomplished promise; and then he must do what so many politician always fail to do, he must abide by his promise and fulfill his oath. Now if the Governor or no one else has figured out what the pledge is, I would only ask that you take a moment to think what would be an obvious, direct and immediate action that he or any other governor or politician could take. And now that you’ve thought about it, I am sure that you see it as clearly as I do.

If you don’t recognize it, well perhaps you might seek assistance from your friends and neighbors, from your colleagues and party members, or from those whose opinions and judgments you respect. And if this fails, I am sure we can find a way to provide the answer. The ‘ah ha’ moment will be well worth it.

LaHood, Asleep On The Job

Ray LaHood is providing a case study in governmental appointee, Department of Transportation Secretary, who can’t see his way in the dark. The public safety and airline industry are in dire need of leadership that can step up to issues, take in the advice and recommendations of experts, and reach an informed and rational decision. This of course rarely happens because like their political superiors, a positional reference term that has nothing to do with higher levels of ability, governmental department heads rely upon policies and polls that guide their decision process. Administration leadership has nothing to do with delivering value to the American people, but in bending to the risk that it may appear to be unpopular and cause a popularity problem.

LaHood and his FAA administrator (Randy Babbitt) refuse to acknowledge that finding a way to accommodate solutions for handling on the job fatigue. Having stated strongly and uncompromisingly that “we don’t pay people to sleep at work” LaHood and Babbitt have closed off the possibility that the correct thing to do may require knowledge, reason, understanding and creativity in dealing with the problem that they are specifically responsible for, are charged with addressing and took an oath to perform. If LaHood and Babbitt cannot see how to accept the results and recommendations of their own research, the research of other experts from other industries, the work done by the US military over a half century ago and since, and some little know guys who work for NASA (not that they’re rocket scientists or anything) then are they awake on the job? They may not be asleep at the switch I suppose, they may just be lost in the dark with their bureaucratic heads stuck to far up their backside to be able to see, hear or read any such information. If they did, it would tell them conclusively that nightshifts and fatigue are significant workplace issues that must be dealt with properly or you are actively responsible for and personally accepting the predictable consequences from doing effectively nothing. Attentiveness and cognitive diligence are severely degraded when fatigues, the very competencies required by air-traffic controllers to fulfill their jobs.

There are always ways to use knowledge and information about a problem to then solve it. If someone would just go wake up LaHood and tell him it’s time to go to work. We aren’t paying for people to sleep around here! Oh, his boss should probably fire his ass! Not because he is unconscious at work but because he doesn’t know how to run his department. If he doesn’t like the concept of “paying to sleep or nap” then maybe he should ask someone how to avoid the perception that that is what he is doing. Until he does something useful, or is fired, Mr. LaHood should be mandated to fly only late at night and to take at least one trip a week. Oh, and no special precautions or warning by the FAA that he is on a flight.

Wisconsin Gov. Claiming a Bush-ish Mission Accomplished?

Has Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker declared victory when in fact he has only done what most politicians do, think they have solved the problem because they passed a bill? What actually has he done? He has eliminated the scope of collective bargaining over which the state government will negotiate with Wisconsin’s public/civil service employees. And thus all is well in the state of Wisconsin.
Now I don’t want to trickle-down on the man’s triumphant parade; but didn’t he recognize the big gaping hole that he left open? Yes, he can dictate conditions to the public employees that they can no longer impede, delay or usurp with union restrictions negotiated between the union(s) and the state government. But his bill doesn’t prevent the union from putting making him pay for his success, perhaps at a greater cost than he thinks he saved the state.

Of course, I don’t know if the unions or the middle class have recognized the doughnut hole yet. Maybe he’ll be lucky and they won’t see the fragility of his success. Someone will figure it out eventually though, and by then the great victory will have faded and the Governor be off doing some other wondrous thing for the whole nation. Something with equal claim and unfortunately equal substance.

After all, when you claim victory the game has to be over and the score has to be final and in your favor. The game isn’t over. It never is in the real world, only in politics. The score isn’t final, and the resulting sweet taste of success could turn into a sour and bitter dose of medicine yet.

Fortunately, I can securely and confidently rely upon reality to provide the Governor, the state, and the public with exactly what they have ‘elected’ to receive (and deserve). If they are rational, intelligent and prudent then they will prosper; and if they are the foolish bumbling addle pates typical of the political process then I wouldn’t recommend Wisconsin as your destination for a secure future.