Project Logic Ga

Don’t you hate it when people think they know everything and don’t ask  for anyone’s opinion?  After years of blogging, I am again asking for help in crafting an effective approach to changing how we make  public policy.  I can decide if “Can’t Bear It” or “Properly Channeled Anger” would be better or maybe both.

I am just ticked off and can’t bear being angry about what seems obvious.  Rather than acting like I know everything, I have decided to blog post this rough outline—run it up the flag pole and see who salutes.  The best outcome would be well design initiative that spurs some really improvements.  In the past, we would come up with ideas and dream about sharing them at public gatherings.  Today, the better idea is to create a platform to share thoughts and vent frustrations first.  And to think, it started with a hooded bear.

Can’t Bear It/Properly Channeled Anger

Background: We all get angry and upset with injustice and wrongdoing.   Much of that energy is spent purely venting.  What if that energy was directed toward improvement, change and growth?  From voting to self-analysis, growing and improving is the sweetest response to wrong.

Objective: To use unconventional methods to encourage voting by everyone, to encourage constructive analysis of ourselves and our situations and to get heading in a better direction.

Hooded Bear: I am cute bear in a hoodie—a cub at that.  I’m stuffed and therefore not even a real bear.  Does the hoodie change my cuteness?  Fundamentally, I am the same bear with secondary regard for my choice of gear…Burberry if you notice.

So I am a bear on a computer…literally—which is similar to the proverbial fish with a bicycle.  I can’t use this laptop to facilitate change—particularly changing laws and changing lawmakers that would declare open season on those who simply “look” dangerous.  Did I mention that my hoodie is plaid and expensive?

If I were a real cub, I be might related to that cub that President “Teddy” Roosevelt didn’t shoot back in the day.  So being a cute bear in a hoodie (real or stuffed) is safer than being a young person in a hoodie in certain places.  If that makes you angry, join this cub in the club.  But what shall we do with that anger?

Hey,this club could be called Properly Channeled Anger because reasonable people should figure out a way to fix what is broken in our communities, our government and ourselves.  I know the pun is cheesy but “Can’t Bear It” would have worked as well because reasonable people shouldn’t be able to bear seeing inexplicable actions or inactions.   Finally, this bear won’t bare himself; he won’t remove his hoodie to conform to the requires of small-minded people.  He would however rock a tasteful pinned-striped suit during his corporate 9 to 5.

Can’t Bear:

1. Not Voting: Can you believe the fact that the people most affected by public policy are often the same people who don’t vote. From Candy Crush to Farmville to Madden to reality television, we spend countless hours on questionable activities but can’t take a little time to vote.

2. Invisible People: Make no mistake about it: to many elected officials and policymakers, people who aren’t voting get little consideration—they are essentially invisible or irrelevant.

3. Stand Your Ground: Clearly the nation had a contentious debate about these gun usage laws. It seems that state legislators passed these laws after hearing from one side of the argument and with little thought to how the laws would function.  “If you felt you were in danger…”  Is that declaring open season on people who aren’t like me?

4. Referendum on President Obama: While he isn’t on the ballot in 2012, U.S. Senate races across the country are about the President’s party controlling one of the two houses of Congress and stopping the other major party from attempting to humiliate him for his last two years. So, all of these people put Obama in office twice but ignore the follow-up work.. i.e. giving him a congress and state governments that are about the people’s business.  Remember, the House and Senate impeach and hold impeachment trials.

5. Referendum on Hillary Clinton: Don’t sleep, the elections of 2014 are test for which areas Clinton can target in 2016…what are the new battlegrounds. 2014 candidates are testing messages to see what resonates with voters.

6. Can’t bear the mirror: Surprisingly, Americans need to self-analyze to determine how much of what is right or wrong with our lives is the result of our actions….our choice, decisions and consequences. Hey, elected officials can only do so much; they need to tell the truth about the role of government and convince the people to act accordingly.  To be honest, much of government spending goes to help people out of ditches that they dug.

7. Education: Wow, so many parents think that sending their children to school in nice gear is their part of the learning process. These parents often fail to speak proper grammar at home, allow countless hours of video games rather than reading/homework and don’t establish the discipline/focus foundation that kid’s need to be good students.

8. Communication: It is vitally important that every American listens to the thoughts and concerns of others. Yes, the points of view of the loyal opposition should be respectfully heard if only to be picked apart.

9. Policy War: If public policy is a war, we could prepare ourselves for warfare but also hope that the other side realize how wrong they are and come to the negotiations table. In other words, we should wish for constructive dialog and understanding.