strodeunplugged

No, not that kind of abstinence.

Despite it’s title, this post is long and likely to be exceedingly boring for almost everyone (except my Mom who knows that everything I’ve ever written is as if formed by some magical combination of Shakespeare, Dickens and Dr. Seuss).  It will probably offend everyone else.  If you don’t want to read any further here are some pretty pictures instead.

I haven’t voted in the last couple of  Presidential elections.  I’ve abstained (but retained my inalienable right to bitch about things).  Kind of like when Senators and Congressmen vote Present instead of Yes or No.

Now, before you go and unleash your righteous indignation about my lack of patriotism and civic duty, below are the Presidential elections since I have been old enough to vote:

1984:  Reagan v. Mondale

1988: Bush v. Dukakis

1992: Clinton v. Bush

1996: Clinton v. Dole

2000:  Bush v. Gore

2004:  Bush v. Kerry

The obvious point is that there really hasn’t been a lot of diversity in options during my voting tenure.  A lot of Capulets Clinton’s and Montagues Bush’s and various stiffs with the occassional inventor of the internet thrown in for good measure.

Also, since the mid-’90’s, I’ve almost always been busy on Tuesdays.

Perhaps I’m just getting older (why yes, those are bifocals, thanks for asking) but the stakes seem larger this time and worth more consideration.

There are a lot of criteria you can use when deciding how to cast your presidential vote.   I don’t believe there is a  “correct” way to do it, despite what tens of millions of fanatics will loudly and enthusiastically tell you.  The criteria and prioritization of those criteria differ from person to person.   You may decide based on which candidate promises to replace our dependence on foreign oil with cars that run on fairy dust while I choose based on which one assures me that they take advice directly from God (or Allah.  Or Buddha.  Or Brahman.  Or Confucius.  Or Muhammad.  Or Bob Marley.  Or your lunch.  Your pick.)

Alternatively, there’s the old tried and true.  You can stick your head in the sand (or follow the rest of the sheep, whichever analogy you prefer) and vote blindly for a party.  Donkeys and Elephants, oh my.  One is stubborn and one is slow.  That seems about right.

I find the party loyalty approach to be exceedingly odd.  If you’re a Democrat, for every FDR I’ll give you a James Buchanan.  If you’re a Republican, for every Abraham Lincoln I’ll give you a Warren G. Harding.  I guess we just need a few more Federalist candidates.

Shouldn’t we choose based on matching the candidate with the criteria we personally feel is most likely to lead to the overall success of our country, the well-being of the largest  portion of our people and an attempt to be a good global citizen?  Wow.  That’s a novel idea.  I should come up with a name for it.  I know, I’ll call it Thinking.

Anyway, following is my humble attempt at Thinking.  If Thinking is too much work, you can go back here or here.  Or here.  Whatever.

I believe these are the three overwhelmingly important criteria of our time, in no particular order.

1.  Energy

2.  Economy

3.  Education

The fourth criteria is timeless:

4.  Leadership

ENERGY: You could call this one Environment too, although I think Energy policy is more encompassing and is more intertwined with Economy.   I don’t really care what you call it, somebody has to create AND execute a comprehensive plan that will keep me from having to wear a flame retardant suit to my job pumping $20 gas at the corner OPEC gas station.  Drilling and alternative energy solutions are not mutually exclusive.  I think T.  Boone Pickens has articulated it about as well as anyone.  Now, he has a vested interest because reports are that he’s invested about $1B of his own money in wind power and natural gas, but at least he has a plan.  We also shoudn’t immediately tune him out just because he’s a capitalist.

EDUCATION:  The United States, relative to most of the world, has a very good educational system measured by almost any statistic you want to choose.  Here, knock yourself out if you like data.  We’re no Finland, but hey, who is.  We’re consistently able to spit out graduates.

The problem is most of the rest of the developed and developing world is eating our lunch when it comes to the important stuff.

There are only 30 countries in the OECD program.  Listed are the top 20 from the 2006 survey.  For those not good with math (probably about 1/3′rd of you, I’m guessing) that means the US is in the bottom 1/3′rd when it comes to achievement in the 3 most important subjects.

We’re doomed to produce future generations of service workers without a serious overhaul of our national commitment to education as a strategic and economic advantage.  I’m going to hedge my bets for retirement and make sure Jackson learns to speak Hindi and Cooper learns to speak Mandarin.

ECONOMY:  Despite what else you may think about him, Bill Clinton got one thing right.  It’s the economy, stupid. Most, if not all, of the other issues the country are faced with are optional.  Meaning, you can choose to support or not, choose to care or not.  The economy effects everyone, everyday, whether they choose or not.  Bought any $4 milk lately ?

The economy will always have cycles.  However, the long term vibrancy of the US economy, I believe, will be driven largely by our performance in Energy and Education.  Many experts believe that an explosion in energy technology will rival or surpass the economic impact of the information technology boom.  The question that remains is will the US lead, follow or get run over ?

The other aspect that I think is critical here is the continuing globalization of business.  What Mr Friedman (he’s a smart guy – writes books and stuff – you can check him out here) calls flattening and why Education will make or break our ability to compete.  We have a math problem (I’m sure the bottom 1/3′rd have quit reading by now, distracted by the fireworks pictures) versus India and China.   The United States is the third most populous country in the world.  China and India, combined, have 8 times as many people.  37% of the world’s population lives in either India or China. Here’s a picture for the visual learners.

Said another way, the smartest 10% of the combined Chinese and Indian population is about as many people as the entire population of the US.  Doesn’t give me high hopes that we’ll out-innovate them over the next 50 years or so.

LEADERSHIP:  Set a vision.  Define the objectives.  Provide the resources to reach the objectives.  Put the best people against the biggest problems.  Make the occasional decision based on what’s right and/or what the people want as opposed to party platform.   Do it with transparency, honesty and a world-view.  Lead.  It’s really not too much to ask from the most powerful person on earth*.

*  For now

Now, there are a river of other important issues:  Iraq and other larger National Security considerations, Social Programs, including Social Security, Health Care, Civil Rights & Liberties, Immigration Reform, etc, etc, etc.  They’re all vitally important, I just don’t think they’ll matter much over the next 50 years if we don’t get Energy, Education and Economy right and I’d argue those three are all directly related to our long term National Security anyway.

There they are.  My four personal criteria.  Energy.  Education.  Economy.  Leadership.

Now, trying to cut my way through all the Republicrat and Demopublican crap to decide who can best help fulfill my criteria….sadly, that may be a much, much longer post.