Why Do We Have The Filibuster?

So Obama and the Fast Track Trade Bill avoids a Senate Filibuster.

Here's what we are talking about if you don't know - CLICK HERE.

Now this isnt a discussion of that issue.  There are very deeply held beliefs on both sides of this issue.  What is important is how it passed the Senate and avoided a Filibuster.

Whenever these things pop up we always hear "Why do we have the Filibuster?"

Simply put, the Constitution provides for all manners of dissent to be heard.  The Filibuster is part of that.

And believe it or not despite recent issues you've heard in the news, it isn't very common.

It also always seems that the party in power wants to get rid of it, and the party that isn't loves it.  Which is also why its important not to abuse the Filibuster.

In the end, the Filibuster is an important tool to make sure the minority is heard, and that legislation isnt forced through without the consent of the people.

When I went to work on the Hill, the person who ran our orientation asked a very interesting question -

"What is the purpose of Congress?" she asked.

The half sheepish half snotty answer given typically was - "To pass laws?"

"No, the purpose of congress is to stop bad laws from getting passed."

That's why we have the Filibuster.

Deflategate and What It Means For Your Company

So yesterday Tom Brady was officially suspended for "Deflategate."

In case you don't know what it is, click here.

Without risking an impending fistfight with a Southie for having the gal to suggest Tom Brady may have done something wrong, here are some lessons to take away from this one -

1. Dragging Things Out Hurts More Than Helps - Just like ripping off a bandaid, if there is a problem you are aware of, you should just address it and fix it rather than dance around it.  Sure you're innocent until proven guilty, but that doesn't mean you're not guilty if you actually are.
2. Good Looks And A Winning Record Only Go So Far - Ok, deflated balls aren't quite stolen crab legs or physical assaults on your spouse, but its bad.  And just because you are insanely popular in your network.  Breaking the rules is a bad thing.  Don't expect people to be behind you just because.
3. Influential Friends Can't Fix Everything - Yes, powerful friends can help get you out of a jam.  But don't rely on them when you're wrong.
4. Nuance Looks Guilty - Splitting hairs on issues makes you look like you're looking to get off on a technicality.
5. A Heartfelt Apology Is Gold - Don't let your ego get in the way of your reputation.  We all F up from time to time.  We are human.  People want to see us fall.  We are human.  People also want to feel good about forgiving you.  We are human.  So be human and make those things possible.

In the end Tom Brady will sit out a few games.  Star in some commercial or an movie teaser that makes us all like him again, and by October we will have forgotten about all of this.

The difference is we would have forgotten a month ago had this just been open from the start.  Or at least from the day after the Super Bowl.

Another trip to the Capitols

This month, I will get the opportunity to hit up my state capitol, and Washington DC.

One of the great things about working in advocacy is the ability to see what congress actually works like.  And the sad side of that is seeing how far off the general public's view of the members of congress is.

The general view people have is that the congress is broken because nothing ever gets done.  For the better part of 2 years congress' overall approval ratings has been in the teens.

At the same time the re election rate in congress is actually higher than the soviet politburo was.

So essentially the public says "congress is the problem, except for my congressman."

Well the truth is the problem isn't congress or any individual congressperson, but the fact that we don't hold our members of congress more accountable for action.

The reason we don't hold them accountable is because we generally don't pay attention to what they are doing.

Our members of congress are in general good people who want to do good things. Regardless of political persuasion, background, or supporters this is generally true.  The difference between them is less about party, or if they are corrupt, but instead how they see getting good things accomplished, and the priority with which they place those issues.

So if you want to truly know your member of congress, or how to get them engaged on things. Here is a fool proof plan to success:

STEP ONE - don't be a one issue / one position / one approach person

Know all the issues. Know all the stances. Know which are priorities. Know how to promote things that may not be your first priority.

STEP TWO - don't try to eat the elephant in one bite

Legislation takes time, and change needs to be an evolution. If you look at the history of any policy you love or hate it started small and took time to grow.

STEP THREE - stay on top of things

Information about what is going on in DC or your state Capitol, or even your city hall is very easy to follow. No it's not as easy to digest as a reality tv show or as entertaining as a sit com, but there are resources that can make the issues much more accessible. Check out thehill.com politico.com and fivethirtyeight 

STEP FOUR - don't just follow one point of view

It's easy to just watch fox, or just watch msnbc, or just watch cnn.  However when you do that, you never challenge your own thoughts, and you never see how anyone else could view an issue. In other words, it's like talking into a mirror. You learn from other perspectives

STEP FIVE - don't become that guy/gal

Here's the thing. Neither Bush nor Obama are like Hitler.  And that kind of talk makes you look like a lunatic. So stay away from that, it does nothing for anyone, anywhere, anyhow.

Five steps and you'll quickly become an involved engaged person.  You might also find that your congressman is the problem and that the congress isn't!

Why Do I Get Involved In The First Place?

One of the most challenging things you can do is to try to take an issue that is important to you and translate it in a way to make others care about the issue themselves.

Harder still is convincing elected officials to understand and care about your issue in a way that they don't view you as self-interested.

Even harder is enduring the attacks people will make on you for trying to make a difference.

It leads many to ask, "why do you bother getting involved in the first place?"

To which I would say, you tell me what makes more sense:

Trying to make a difference on something that matters to you, or

Doing absolutely nothing and assuming it will all work out how you want it to in the end?

Consider it a healthy distrust of government. Consider it a realization that I know more about the issues that matter to me than the average elected official. Consider it a belief that we are part of a Republic, and I believe it's our duty to get involved.  

Whatever you want to consider it, consider first what you are leaving on the table if you don't take steps to protect the things that matter to you.

And then realize. You got involved when something mattered to you, the question really is - 

"Do you have the commitment to see the things that matter to you through?"

The Not-So-"Rad" Reality of Urban Planning

Gilbert is a suburb of Phoenix, that as recently as about ten years ago was considered "Hinterlands."

Now however it has blossomed into a sizable town in an area that keeps growing.

There is a plan to put in a permanent BMX Facility that can host major events.  According to the president of BMX USA up to twice a year. 

A 4,000 seat facility, covered (because as it turns out, Arizona is hot), national headquarters AND an Olympic Training facility that could make Gilbert FINALLY a destination... Instead of all the spill over from Chandler, its neighbor who has properly capitalized on every opportunity imaginable.

For all you kids of the '80's that means that "Hell Track" is close to reality. 

So how did the neighbors react to this?  By protesting it because of "noise and traffic."

2 times a year. 

Here's the thing people, I get that you want to preserve your way of life, but when you get an opportunity like this, you take it. You don't complain about "noise and traffic" 2 times a year.  Why? Because the applicant can just as easily go somewhere else. Then you lose all the opportunity that project would have brought.  

Look at Fullerton, Ca who lost out on the tax revenues of the Brea Mall and the cultural benefits of the Norton Simon Museum - both of which were supposed to be in Fullerton before the cries of "traffic and noise."

Those are lost opportunities.

Here we are, coming up on a year later,  and there has been no movement since the city rejected this plan in April of last year.

However the question becomes, who is to blame? The neighbors (for complaining), the city council (for lacking the foresight or political will), the planning department (for not properly showing the benefits of the projects), the applicant (for not framing their vision correctly), or the Public Affairs Firm (if there was one) for not framing it correctly?

Accepting growth means accepting vision.  If you can't sell your vision, you can't sell your project.  Just as people didn't see a need for the iPad (which incidentally I was one, and am currently writing this post from) people saw the vision.  Your project / plan / idea needs to paint that same vision for everyone to accept the change.

What are you doing that could use a little vision engineering?  And are you doing it?