Time for an Allied Independent Party

Imagine if our public debate was actually a debate...if participants actually spoke to each other, instead of at each other, and addressed each other's points...maybe even thought about each other's points before dismissing and attacking them. Who knows what might result?

Liberals and conservatives; Republicans, Democrats and the unaffiliated all have something to offer the public debate and have a contribution to make to the formation of public policy. But in the current environment it is impossible for any real dialogue to take place that might lead to balanced policy. Instead we have two competing monologue's that don't interact with each other at all. Partisan extremism is the fashion, and partisans of both camps strive to outdo each other in the distortions and lies they level at each other and the falsehoods they promote about themselves. Spin they call it. They revel in this toxic soup of non-truth. No good can ever come from it.

This will continue until we the people put an end to it. Things will change when we finally refuse to vote for people who accept graft (PAC money), distort their own and their opponents intentions and records, and make public appeals to base emotion. There is a growing dissatisfaction with our political process but nothing will happen until that dissatisfaction shifts into action.

Perhaps it's time for an Allied Independent Party that transcends left-right polarization and rejects partisans and ideologues of all stripes. A useful resource is the libertarian Cato Institute, and an excellent starting point for a platform is the Natural Law Party platform.

Summer Reading

A new title by Bryan Caplan, entitled "The Myth of the Rational Voter: Why Democracies Choose Bad Policies" promises excellent summer reading and fodder for future discussion. I'm ordering my copy today.

From the introduction, it appears that Caplan's chief complaint is that voters are irrational; a common complaint from economists. It is inconvenient for them that humans are both rational and irrational. Their formulas can't accommodate the irrational part. He proposes that the preferred alternative to democracy is not dictatorship, but unfettered markets. Seems to me like we're already there.

This book should create a stir. I'm looking forward to it.

Condolences to Andrew Bacevich

Since 9/11 Andrew Bacevich, an officer and a gentleman, has been an outspoken opponent of the neo-con agenda of global domination by military force, the policy of "pre-emptive war" and in particular the war in Iraq. He has taken on this role out of genuine concern for the wellbeing of America and for the U.S. military. It is the ultimate irony that he should lose his son to this war. You can read his lamentation in today's Washington Post.

For those with an interest in learning the evolution of U.S. foreign policy and in particular the use of war as an instrument of that foreign policy, Professor Bacevich's "The New American Militarism: How Americans are Secuced by War" is an essential read.

First Post

Seems like a blog might be the right thing to do...post thoughts on a regular basis related to issues I comment on in the quarterly newsletter. Perhaps more of an emphasis on underlying principles of good governance, economic policy and business practice.