Considering the historical significance and alleged furor surrounding the presidential primary season and run-up to the national elections, I figured I would weigh-in with my 5 cents worth of analysis (which is currently worth about 1.8 cents in the international markets – so take it for what it's worth).
For the record, on the issues I am more in line with Tom Tancredo, Chris Dodd and Mike Huckabee's ideals. Considering the Huckster is hanging by a thread in the GOP primary, I am forced to turn elsewhere, and am even willing to go elsewhere should Huck pull out a miracle.
Mike Huckabee is a good candidate, and (from what I could tell during his brief fundraising visit that was hosted locally) a good man. However, one of the pillars that is supporting his platform is the fair tax. I love the fair tax. However, in today's political climate it will never gain traction because it calls upon American voters to trust that it is indeed "fair"
I have researched it, and in it's conceptual form…it is fair. However, I do not trust anything to politicians right now and believe that, left to their own devices, the fair tax would become anything-but, by the time it was written into law.
Upon further reflection – I think therein lies the overarching problem with this election.
People are always looking for hope and change, for protection of their interests and advocacy for their particular cultural and traditional proclivities. And, perhaps at no time is this more evident than during the fanatical-driven time that is the American open primary season. Therefore, I do not believe that this "mania" on all sides will last once we are into the difficult decision that will be laid at the public's feet come November 4th.
I believe you need go no further than statistics relating to America's lack of trust of any member of government. Perhaps our Legislative and Executive branch are unfairly measured, especially when you examine the dichotomy of congress when measured nationally vs. approval in a member's particular district.
This statistical trend is my empirical evidence lending to the notion that the problem Americans have with trust has little to do with performance – because, for the most part, our elected officials are doing exactly what the majority of the electorate have asked them to do. I would put forth the hypothesis that the problem has to do with strategic approach to governing and America's inability to put our finger on why it isn't working. And, ironically, perhaps the best answer to all of this can be found by turning to…Hollywood.
OK, that is a bit pretextual and certainly lends entirely too much credit to pop-culture and not enough to the progression of this most unlikely of economic experiments.
I believe that we need a return to John Nash's revisions to Adam Smith's original law of governing dynamics. Globally, these brilliant conclusions have helped international markets bring formerly destitute economies back to life…..one need look no further than China for proof of this notion. But, even with this proof playing out in markets around the world our elected officials have reverted back to the old model which stipulates that we should all pursue that which is in our own best interest pertaining to policy and positions without concern for collateral damage or potential synergistic advantages to pursuing what is good for ourselves AND all others in a common pursuit.
I believe that what is called for (in order for Americans to ever trust enough again to go for something as complicatedly simple as a "fair tax") is a return to a fact based, pragmatic approach to executive and legislative decisions and compromise. Sprinkle that with a hint of transparency and we could be looking at America's next Greatest Generation.
We need a return to the pragmatic approach of Truman that lead to a trusting nation and historically significant impact events like the Marshall Plan. We need a return to the civility of Ronald Reagan and his demur qualities which made everyone from members of the GOP to members of the Teamsters Union "feel American".
So which of our candidates provide the best option? I will leave that for all of you to decide. However, I would caution against your own proclivities toward faction-driven politics, as that is precisely what took Rome and Greece down. For clarity and assistance in identifying….faction-based politics is driven by the fear or greed of "all-or-nothing" candidates and positions (see Carl Rove and the forces behind move-on.org). America does not work when it is "all-or-nothing". And, as long as there is a Legislative Branch balancing the power of the Executive and Judiciary….these positions and candidates (and indeed, the time that they oversee) will become insignificant in the scope and context of history. I would like-wise encourage you to objectively seek facts about all of the candidates and not trust media-driven preconceived notions of what they may or may not embark on if elected. Be brave enough to consider that which is real and not that which is ideologically convenient or spun to your persuasion via clever electioneering.
Finally, should it be your persuasion (as it is mine), I would encourage you to pray that this nation return to a sense of national pride. One that does not need conflict to exist, but is not afraid to stand up at any time for it's God-given and inalienable rights. After all, this is what has made us the envy of ALL other nations for the better part of nearly 200 years.
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