Session 3 of the Japan Update held at ANU on October 12th, 2015.
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Tag: Policy
Too Much Of Politics Over Policy: 5 Considerations
Is the American system of governing, and political system, wounded, destroyed, weakened, or, merely, undergoing a period, of extreme distress? Those, who have followed politics, and the national news, for decades, realize and recognize, there is widespread apathy, within our electorate, which probably, largely explains, our relatively, low, voter turnout! In addition, many, who vote, do so, based on the empty promises, and rhetoric of political candidates, as well as their perceptions, personal biases, and prejudice, and, rather than hopes and aspirations, focus on self – interest! Unfortunately, we often, witness, far too much emphasis on partisan politics, over, quality policy, and the needs of the American people. With that in mind, this article will attempt to briefly review, examine, and consider, using the mnemonic approach, many of these concerns, and considerations.
1. Political / personal agenda: Who should, versus, who do, elected officials, actually serve, and represent? There is, far too much focus and emphasis, on partisan politics, personal / political agenda, and their self – interest, rather than the common good, and best interests of the public. Service should not be, merely, about representing one's core supporters, but all of the citizens of this great country. Unfortunately, today, in the era of President Donald Trump, we have been witnessing, the governing, based on empty promises, rhetoric, partisan politics, and self – interest, which, to – date, has primarily benefited the wealthiest Americans, rather than the common good!
2. Self – interest: There should be no place, for governing, based on self – interest, rather than the best interests of all! This focus on politics, over policy, and people, is not, in the best interests of the nation, or its citizens!
3. Follow – the – money: Many believe, our system, is flawed, because of the dependence on political donations, which flaw, and destroy, the nation's best interests! The repeated reports of ethical conflicts, especially compared to Trump's campaign promises, and rhetoric, which emphasizing, Draining the Swamp, seems to mean, we are witnessing the least degree of ethical commitment, in recent memory!
4. Rhetoric: It's our own fault, because voters continue to vote, based on rhetoric and promises, rather than qualifications, experience, expertise, and the ability to recognize and consider ramifications, and introduce viable, well – considered, relevant, realistic, sustainable solutions!
5. Core followers / supporters: Why do we, rarely witness, politicians, become transformed, to statesmen, when they are elected? President Trump appears to focus, nearly entirely on political considerations, and providing perceived benefits, to his core followers and supporters, rather than the common good!
There is far too much focus on politics, over policy and people! Hopefully, Americans will wake-up, and elect, relevant, sustainable leaders.
This article is brought to you by Kokula Krishna Hari Kunasekaran! Visit Website or Follow back at @kkkhari
5 Reasons Politics Over Policy Is Bad Leadership
Although, historically, politics, has been somewhat, partisan, in nature, we have never, in recent memory, observed, such a degree of unwillingness, to even consider, bipartisan cooperation, even when it is the need of the American public. This behavior, which might be referred to, as, politics, over policy/ people, is bad leadership, because it, unfairly favors, one’s political supporters, over the rest of the public. Wouldn’t we better served, if, once elected, politicians transformed into statesmen, and focused on the common good, rather than personal political agenda, and/ or self – interest? With that in mind, this article will attempt to briefly consider, review, and discuss, 5 reasons, this is, both, bad policy and a lack of genuine leadership.
1. Not relevant: Empty rhetoric and promises, might garner votes, and be popular, but it’s not genuine leadership, nor in the best interests of the public! America, especially with the many challenges, the world and nation, faces, today, needs relevant solutions, rather than polarization, or pitting one segment against another! Whether this is because of the unique persona, and nature, of President Donald Trump, or an undesirable trend, it does not achieve, what is best, for most Americans!
2. Unsustainable: President Trump, in an attempt to be popular, and honor his campaign promise, to change the tax system, and lower taxes, endorsed the legislation, passed towards the end of 2017, which was portrayed, as focused on the middle – class, while actually, favoring the wealthiest individuals and corporations. Claiming this would create economic growth, is based, on the often – unproven, claim, of Trickle – Down Economics. In the, less than half – year, since enacted, we have observed a huge expansion of the federal deficit, with forecasts, for ever – expanding deficits, into the future, and corporations, which Trump and his supporters, claimed, would use the additional revenues, to hire more people, and pay more, have actually, used most of this windfall, to grow their corporate gains!
3. Change should be, for the better, not just, for change – sake: When political rhetoric becomes empty promises, the change is, rarely, beneficial, to the overall good, of most Americans. Measure the results, not, by the level of rhetoric and promises, but, rather, whether it creates added benefits, for most Americans!
4. Common good, not personal agenda: Be certain, the plans and policies, are not based on personal or political agendas, or someone’s self – interests! Unless/ until, the focus, consistently, focuses on service to the public, for the common good, rather to a politician’s supporters, and/ or donors, elected officials are not representing us!
5. Make America Greater!: When Donald Trump was a candidate, his campaign slogan was, Make America Great Again. While, this meant different things to different individuals, I resented the word, again, because it implied, we weren’t already, a quality nation, and urged us, to look back, to the past, rather than, to the future. As Paul Simon wrote, in his song, Kodachrome, “Everything looks worse, in black, and white.” We should, rather seek, to improve how government serves its people, rather than elected officials, and/ or special interest!
Public policy should be the top priority, for our elected officials. Unfortunately, as we are presently witnessing and observing, politics and self – interest, seem to be prioritized!
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Trump’s China Gambit – Foreign Policy Tactic Forerunner
There’s a tremendous irony in Trump’s infamous phone call to Taiwan’s president Tsai Ing-wen as a diplomatic taboo. Unlike stateside, Trump reached “across party lines” to chat with a democratically elected president vs. the communist People’s Republic of China (PRC). In other words he would rather talk to Taiwan rather than the Democratic Party whom he’s barely on speaking terms.
Politically as president-elect, that fog-like gray political zone, this was a brilliant gambit to gauge China’s reaction. During the Obama administration many complained about the standoffish US overseas policy. Well, be careful what you wish for because Trump is providing what Americans demanded.
As succinctly stated by three-time ambassador including ambassador to China (1991-1995) J. Stapleton Roy as a guest panelist on December 1, 2016 at the U.S.-China Forum at NYU Law School, “China has a highly experienced international corps that is totally unprepared to deal with a highly inexperienced new US government.”
Nations will throw a hissy-fit about his lack of charm and uncouth behavior yet Trump speaks to them how everyone thinks in high-level diplomatic circles and probably in private talks yet they never publicly admit it which follows the protocol, “What happens in the palace stays in the palace”. Instead Trump rips off the mask, the façade.
More frightening to our allies and enemies alike is that if Americans can’t figure out Donald Trump, can you imagine how they feel? With a new administration of political outsiders, everyone everywhere must be wondering, as infamously repeated in the classic movie Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), “Who are those guys?”
It’s like being in a political cloud. When there’s no reference point it’s difficult to move anywhere. And that’s why Putin likes him so much because in many ways they’re kindred socio-political spirits, cut from the same cloth.
Commonalities:
- They are blunt speakers, crassness and coarse language
- They are more popular with working class in rural areas than among highly educated urbanites.
- They both have ultra-rich supporters. Trump has billionaires. Putin has oligarchs.
They speak the same language means it will be easier to come to, if not an agreement, certainly an understanding. Such a relationship may buy time to resolve crises because they personally have much more in common personally and politically than would a Hillary Clinton presidency. This potentially new relationship frightens China because it offsets Russia’s move for closer political and economic ties with China during the Obama administration.
However in the long-run there is no such thing as a genuine brotherhood among rightwing leaders at this level because there’s not enough room for all these egos. These are nothing more than short-term, self-serving agreements. Each strongman admires the other as to how they came to power and how they lead but their indelible mindset is that you’re either for them or against them. They reward loyalty, punish enemies and marginalize non-supporters. They depend more on someone’s word than formal agreements which are open to interpretation anyway.
Yet real politik is considerably different. These are strong men with strong wills and they are loath to be second fiddle which is why compromise without losing face will be more challenging for them during a deep crisis, especially a potentially long-term one. Because they are more prone to push buttons than to push talking points, this could be a tumultuous historical period.
This article is brought to you by Kokula Krishna Hari Kunasekaran! Visit Website or Follow back at @kkkhari
Too Much Of Politics Over Policy: 5 Considerations
Is the American system of governing, and political system, wounded, destroyed, weakened, or, merely, undergoing a period, of extreme distress? Those, who have followed politics, and the national news, for decades, realize and recognize, there is widespread apathy, within our electorate, which probably, largely explains, our relatively, low, voter turnout! In addition, many, who vote, do so, based on the empty promises, and rhetoric of political candidates, as well as their perceptions, personal biases, and prejudice, and, rather than hopes and aspirations, focus on self – interest! Unfortunately, we often, witness, far too much emphasis on partisan politics, over, quality policy, and the needs of the American people. With that in mind, this article will attempt to briefly review, examine, and consider, using the mnemonic approach, many of these concerns, and considerations.
1. Political/ personal agenda: Who should, versus, who do, elected officials, actually serve, and represent? There is, far too much focus and emphasis, on partisan politics, personal/ political agenda, and their self – interest, rather than the common good, and best interests of the public. Service should not be, merely, about representing one’s core supporters, but all of the citizens of this great country. Unfortunately, today, in the era of President Donald Trump, we have been witnessing, the governing, based on empty promises, rhetoric, partisan politics, and self – interest, which, to – date, has primarily benefited the wealthiest Americans, rather than the common good!
2. Self – interest: There should be no place, for governing, based on self – interest, rather than the best interests of all! This focus on politics, over policy, and people, is not, in the best interests of the nation, or its citizens!
3. Follow – the – money: Many believe, our system, is flawed, because of the dependence on political donations, which flaw, and destroy, the nation’s best interests! The repeated reports of ethical conflicts, especially compared to Trump’s campaign promises, and rhetoric, which emphasizing, Draining the Swamp, seems to mean, we are witnessing the least degree of ethical commitment, in recent memory!
4. Rhetoric: It’s our own fault, because voters continue to vote, based on rhetoric and promises, rather than qualifications, experience, expertise, and the ability to recognize and consider ramifications, and introduce viable, well – considered, relevant, realistic, sustainable solutions!
5. Core followers/ supporters: Why do we, rarely witness, politicians, become transformed, to statesmen, when they are elected? President Trump appears to focus, nearly entirely on political considerations, and providing perceived benefits, to his core followers and supporters, rather than the common good!
There is far too much focus on politics, over policy and people! Hopefully, Americans will wake – up, and elect, relevant, sustainable leaders.
This article is brought to you by Kokula Krishna Hari Kunasekaran! Visit Website or Follow back at @kkkhari