Mr Wright - Be Ready, Be Right and Respond: April 2016

Saturday, April 9, 2016

Our Jell-O like Government: Three strikes and we are out.

Overheard: Political experience is the number attribute of a candidate for President.

Mr. Wright responds: The number one attribute of the winner of the upcoming Presidential election must be a candidate that will disrupt the established system and truly represent the interests of overlooked Americans of the working and middle class.

Be ready, be right and respond! – Mr. Wright’s Talking Points:

The bonds that have held Americans united are increasingly being frayed. Today our ruling elites both in and outside of government are separated from the rest of us by educational level, income, profession, marriage, where and how they spend their time and money and most importantly where they live. Who is this ruling elite? They are members of selected professions, leading academics, business leaders, media figures, celebrities from many walks of life and a variety of politicians. What they do have in common are the connections, access to power and money to sustain success and remain above the daily concerns of the majority of their fellow Americans. They are dedicated through an increasingly closed system to maintaining their exclusive status above all else.

The economy is stuck at a 2.0% growth rate which is insufficient for many Americans to create new wealth and opportunities such as those enjoyed in the past to join the ranks of the more privileged. The American Dream of security, independence and prosperity is increasingly unattainable by the majority of Americans. Our political establishment continues to remain unresponsive to the concerns of our citizens. The number one attribute of the winner of the upcoming Presidential election must be a candidate that will disrupt the established system and truly represent the interests of overlooked Americans of the working and middle class.

An unresponsive Government establishment

Poke your fingers gently into Jell-O and see what happens. The answer is nothing much – it consistently returns to its original form pretty much impervious to change unless a sheer destructive force is applied. There is great discontent across the land with our current state of political and economic affairs that is gaining a strong momentum. If this wide spread discontent with the political and economic direction of our country continues in 2016 to be overlooked by the establishment – we will all be witness to the downfall of our great American experiment in freedom.

Previous major scale reincarnations of these sentiments for change were exhibited by the large number of citizens starting in 2009 that participated in the Tea Party Movement and once again by those voting in a majority of Republican and conservative candidates in the 2014 midterm elections.

The major catalysis for these movements for change was that more and more Americans were alarmed each day as the Obama Administration implemented policies based on a liberal progressive agenda that continues to fail us miserably in the place where it counts the most – the need for an improved economy that benefits all Americans.

What happened in political circles and to the political establishment as a result of these two major movements? Nothing much. The answer is that our Jell-O like Government is pretty much impervious to a change in direction unless an overpowering force is applied.

Failure of the Tea Party Movement

Strike one regarding a major change in political direction was the failure of the Tea Party movement that started in 2009 to more profoundly transform the Republican Party. The Republican Party establishment fought vigorously to rein in the progress of this movement.

Post 2014 Congressional election paralysis

Strike two was the stunning degree of inaction by Congress in opposing President Obama’s destructive progressive agenda following the elections of 2014. Key opportunity number three for the implementation of major change in our political direction is upcoming awaiting the results of the 2016 elections. Donald Trump, Ted Cruz and Bernie Sanders are outsiders each running for President and they are striking a responsive chord with potential voters. Not selecting an outsider this time around is strike three and our nation’s future is at stake.

The great American experiment is based on the following great idea that “all men are created equal”. The American Revolution was truly an inflection point in man’s history. The American Revolution enabled a large number of men and women to live in prosperity and liberty more than any other country has ever done.

Our Founding Fathers and the Original Intent

The Founding Fathers at the Constitutional Convention formulated a system of government based on the principals of checks and balances. They were very wary of the potential for a growth of the concentration and permanence of power in the hands of an elite. They fully understood the destructive nature of a tyranny and how it could develop or be avoided. Established was a Republican form of government that was based on the idea that elected representatives would have a primary duty to represent the political interests of their constituents. They also included many provisions to ensure that with the exception of the Judicial Branch, there would be a continual turnover of representatives so as not to permit the emergence of a permanent political class.

The death of the American Dream for many our fellow citizens

The economy is stuck at a 2.0% growth rate which is insufficient for many Americans to create new wealth and opportunities such as those enjoyed in the past by many to join the ranks of the more privileged. The American Dream of security, independence and prosperity is increasingly unattainable by the majority of Americans. The major factor in play today in the current environment of discontent, is the perception by many Americans that several distinct groups have through special privilege granted themselves special and exclusive access to the American Dream. Our political establishment continues to remain unresponsive to the concerns of our citizens. The American voter will once more be at bat on November 8 and have the power in numbers to disrupt the dynamics of the current system, we must hope for a hard swing and a hit to right field!

“Fox News Lies”

A neighbor states confidently as we watch T.V. while he is working out adjacent to me at my gym early one morning. Can you believe what they reported about illegal immigration? It is more right wing jargon and it can’t be true. I watch the news all the time and I consider myself very well informed. My neighbor is visibly upset and it is his conviction that Fox News once again perpetrated a lie. Sound familiar to you?

There are many good reasons why I appreciate living in a big city. However, it often is a daily challenge to be a member of a distinct silent minority of urban closet conservatives living among the vast majority of politically progressive leaning individuals. We most often remain in relative silence as our sensibilities are assaulted on a regular basis. We are already resigned to the fact that our vote will not count as it will be overwhelmed by voting on the other side in the next election. We inhabit an environment dominated with liberal leaning people with the backdrop of a liberal leaning popular culture and mass media.

All urban closet conservatives need a forum to express our opinions and connect with like-minded people because most often on a daily basis, we can’t. If and when it is an opportune time to be heard and express your opinion, a source of concise and well-reasoned ideas to counteract the emotionally charged rhetoric of the other side is required. Mr. Wright is here to assist!

The Prosperity Agenda: Reaganomics 2016

Overheard: It looks like capitalism is failing and it is inevitable that we have to implement a version of the Democratic Party envisioned experiment in American socialism to make our society fairer so we have a leveling of incomes and wealth.

Mr. Wright responds: There are many issues that we will look back to regret if a Democrat wins in 2016, however, paramount among them is how the implementation of any move to adopt additional Socialist policies could adversely impact the future prospects for our country in so many calamitous ways.

Be ready, be right and respond! – Mr. Wright’s talking points: Obama’s progressive economic policies and those advocated by Democratic Presidential candidates are the direct opposite of what needs to be implemented in order to turn around the American economy that has produced the lowest growth rate of any post 1960 recovery. Continuing down the path of creating a society leaning more towards socialist economic solutions as advocated by the current Democratic Party candidates is a recipe for further economic deterioration and will have a disastrous effect on America's future. The failings of the economies of the current European Socialist countries offer a warning sign that cannot be overlooked by the voters.

For the average American understanding the right fix for the economy is an ongoing challenge, however, a look back at the documented economic successes of Reaganomics provide an outstanding model of the proper path that Americans once again need to follow. In the 1980s, Reaganomics changed the economic landscape in effect at that time. President Reagan changed the prevailing economic model from one of Big Government back to conservative based limited government, with an implementation of lower tax rates and free market solutions. The long term positive economic effects of these changes were felt for 25 years in America.

Republican candidates in this election cycle must be dramatically better at connecting with the American people by conveying the message that the road to prosperity is directly dependent with the return to a truly free enterprise system and an opportunity based open society that will be capable of creating more wealth and jobs to benefit everyone. The American people in November 2016 will have the final say regarding which vision of America will prevail. Will America’s future allow a Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos (Amazon), Sergey Brin and Larry Page (Google), and Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook) to succeed and create new enterprises that employ hundreds of thousands of people and have a profound positive impact on society or is the era of the great American Dream Machine over forever?

Two Contrasting Visions of the Economy Compete for Voters in 2016:

Two contrasting visions of how to manage the economy will be competing for our votes in November of 2016. America’s number one priority is to devise and implement effective solutions to create an economy that is capable of growing at 3.0% or greater.

In ancient times through the 17^th Century, Alchemists claimed the ability to magically turn common metals into Gold or Silver. In the second decade of the 21^st century, today’s left leaning Democratic Party promotes Liberal/Progressive economic policies that they present as being magically capable of leading America back on the road to prosperity.

Obamanomics is a dismal failure

Given the results over the last seven years regarding the continued failure of Obamanomics to grow the economy beyond an inadequate 2.0% annual growth rate, trust in any significant positive outcomes deriving from the tired playbook of outdated and ineffective Keynesian and redistributive inspired Democratic economic theory seems as equally absurd as believing in the powers of Alchemy.

Today’s Democratic Party is ideologically incapable of offering alternative solutions to our economic challenges outside the realm of their traditional liberal formulas. The emerging totalitarians of the Left through their various organizations wish to anoint themselves the new controlling elite to take hold of power in order to replace our great American freedom based experiment in government with a new Social Democracy. Blaming Wall Street and income inequality as the primary causes of our current economic malaise is a calculated diversion.

The Great American Dream Machine

The Great American Dream Machine has been made possible by the existence of our free enterprise system. Throughout our history, entrepreneurs help create through their talents, hard work, imagination and innovative ways a society with the greatest standard of living in history. Millions of small business owners are working every day under increasingly adverse conditions to invent our future.

We currently have a 5.0% unemployment rate which does not accurately reflect the true nature of the anemic condition of our economic health. We have record numbers of work eligible people not participating in the labor force. Some people point to the country’s demographics as the cause of this, Americans need to rightly blame Obamanomics. The total number of Americans in poverty was the highest in 51 years as reported in a 2015 US Census study.

Reaganomics 2016

The proper path to economic recovery is clear today - with modest updating the Republican platform based on the principles of Reaganomics should be the basis of a winning economic vision for America in 2016 and beyond. An updated Reaganomics that assists in creating an opportunity based society that leads to more of our citizens with the potential to live in prosperity must be the primary policy tenet of the Republican Platform.

When President Reagan started his term in 1981, he was faced with an economy that was even in worse shape than President Obama faced in 2009. Reaganomics implementation rested on four key pillars. These pillars were:

- Significant tax cuts for individuals and corporations

- Spending reductions in the domestic sector

- An anti-inflation monetary policy

- Deregulation

Reaganomics 2016 is updated to rest on the four original pillars plus adding two more critical pillars necessary to promote an American economic recovery today. Deflation rather than inflation is a major challenge faced today so a revised monetary policy pillar that promotes economic expansion is key in our time. A complete overhaul of our educational system and an immigration policy aligned with the objectives of attracting and keeping in this country people with the proper skills who can positively contribute to a growth economy are two vital additional pillars of an updated and comprehensive 2016 edition of Reaganomics.

The Democrats will warn the country that to vote Republican in 2016 will mean a return to the failed policies of the George W. Bush Administration that led us into the financial crisis. It is not in the best interests of the eventual Republican nominee to contest the factual accuracy of this claim - just contend that Big Government under any Administration does not work. Republicans must reenlist the positive legacy of the economic boom started in 1981 that lasted for 25 years. It was created by the adoption of the original formulation of Reaganomics promoting limited government.

A Winning Republican Platform

Republican candidates in this election cycle must be dramatically better at connecting with the American people while conveying the message that the road to prosperity is directly dependent with our return to a truly free enterprise system and an opportunity based open society that will be capable of creating more wealth and jobs to benefit everyone. The American people in November 2016 will have the final say regarding which vision of America will prevail. Will America’s future allow a Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos (Amazon), Sergey Brin and Larry Page (Google), and Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook) to succeed and create new enterprises that employ hundreds of thousands of people and have a profound positive impact on society or will the era of the great American Dream Machine be over forever?

Living in a politically progressive city

Overheard: Promoting social justice should be the number priority of a city government.

Mr. Wright responds: Political promises made by progressives have a very favorable emotional appeal until the facts are examined. Close-up on a local level or afar on a Federal level, progressive policies simply don’t work and even more discouraging is that they most often make problems they are attempting to address worse. The critical question becomes are we doomed to a continual cycle of repeating the same mistakes or are more voters open to learning from failures of the progressive policies of the Obama and de Blasio Administrations and take corrective action at the ballot box?

Be ready, be right and respond! – Mr. Wright’s Talking Points:

We who live in any big city dominated by Democrats in power experience every day in our daily lives the negative consequences of progressive political policies and management in action. The rapid descent into chaos on the streets of New York City starting in January of 2014 following Bill de Blasio inauguration as Mayor were startling. Clearly and swiftly visible were dirtier streets, groups of homeless people congregating even in the best neighborhoods of the city, reports of increased crime and hordes of panhandlers on the subways.

After the city’s firm and successful stewardship in the hands of Republican Mayors Giuliani and Bloomberg starting in 1994, the rapid descent back to the bad old days of a New York City that was consistently on the brink of absolute chaos is troubling. Promoting and promising a progressive agenda of an activist government that will mitigate the unfairness of our society, Bill de Blasio saw his position as Mayor of New York City as a platform to become a leading national spokesperson for the “The Progressive Agenda”.

Municipal Governments especially union dominated Democratic strong holds are particularly responsible for creating and exacerbating the very problems that they are supposedly trying to resolve. We have experienced that the use of excessive rhetoric from the Left does not resolve many issues and we all should acknowledge that results count. Most often, progressives have not been made to be accountable for their poor performance in power. Feeling is not doing and unfortunately many voters especially in politically left leaning cities fail to make this distinction.

A City suddenly in decline

We who live in any big city dominated by Democrats in power experience every day in our daily lives the negative consequences of progressive political policies and management in action. The rapid descent into chaos on the streets of New York City starting in January of 2014 following Bill de Blasio inauguration as Mayor were startling. Clearly and swiftly visible were dirtier streets, groups of homeless people congregating even in the best parts of the city, reports of increased crime and hordes of panhandlers on the subways.

After the city’s firm and successful stewardship in the hands of Republican Mayors Giuliani and Bloomberg starting in 1994, the rapid descent back to the bad old days of a New York City that was consistently on the brink of absolute disorder is troubling. We have seen this state of affairs previously before the assumption of the Mayor’s office by these two. The voters in five previous mayoral elections votes choose assumed competence in office and a return to a civil and highly livable city marked by a remarkable decrease in crime rates as the preferred choice.

Bill de Blasio’s main campaign theme was based on the degrading of the overwhelming success of the creation of an exceptionally prosperous city. Instead of building on the examples of the success of his two predecessors, the new mayor ran on a progressive platform decrying the unfairness of system that in reality promotes success and achievement and benefits a wide range of people and resulted in a highly livable city that attracted a large numbers of newcomers from around the country and the world. For many of the very most ambitious people from all walks of life, living and creating a business or career in New York City is the ultimate challenge.

A Progressive Agenda

Promoting and promising a progressive agenda of an activist government that will mitigate the unfairness of our society, Bill de Blasio saw his position as Mayor of New York City as a platform to become a leading national spokesperson for the “The Progressive Agenda”. Until recently, he has demonstrated little interest in the daily responsibilities of the job as Mayor. Most importantly, Mayors Giuliani and Bloomberg’s daily focus was to work in behalf of the people of New York City in a pragmatic fashion. Mayor de Blasio paramount consideration is focused on symbolic gestures and pronouncements geared to appeal to our left leaning media, and paying off municipal unions with generous contracts and powerful left leaning special interests with programs of expanded spending by government. He has extensively traveled from Italy to California spending much time away from New York being labeled by many as a global traveler negligent in performing his duties as Mayor.

The War on Police

A troubling new national trend under the Obama Administration and contributed to so significantly by Mayor de Blasio’s actions in office is the escalating war on police. The mayor’s actions in this regard has been so far the most troubling aspect of his failed administration. Mayor de Blasio’s actions and rhetoric helped to counteract the most important achievements of the last two administrations which was to significantly decrease the levels of crime and make New York the safest large city in the nation. Most distressing for all New Yorkers and especially those who live in the poorest neighborhoods, de Blasio’s actions lead to reversing this trend of a rapid decrease of crime. New York and many other urban centers such as Baltimore are witnessing a job action by police as a reaction to events. All of this will undermine the essential foundations of a civil society. “Social justice” starts with a foundation of safe and secure streets for all New Yorkers and people who live in urban areas.

More government is the problem not the solution

His main cause is using the power of government action to promote more wealth equality. He views current conditions in New York City as unfair to many segments of society and wants government to play a key role in leveling the playing field. Of course, the troublesome lesson that many of us has learned living in cities over the years is that more government is the problem rather than the solution. Municipal Governments especially union dominated Democratic strong holds are particularly responsible for creating and exacerbating the very problems that they are supposedly trying to resolve. We have experienced that the use of excessive rhetoric from the Left does not resolve many issues and we all should acknowledge that results count. Most often, progressives have not been made to be accountable for their poor performance in power. Feeling is not doing and unfortunately many voters especially on the political left fail to make this distinction.

Unions in control

The unions and left-wing interest groups that are the real powers behind many Left leaning municipal governments ignore reason and evidence because fundamentally their number one priority is not to provide viable solutions and services for the people. At the heart of the matter for them is an ongoing fight to maintain and gain more power and channel more tax dollars to their allies and at many times symbolic gestures and causes.

They aim to forcefully distribute wealth from the most productive members of society who have earned success through hard work and concerted effort. They are in a crusade to effectively attempt to level (lower) the playing field and standards of achievement and excellence for all except their fellow members of a small powerful ruling elite.

Instead of unifying people according to our mutual interests, liberals in power deliberately follow policies of promoting division along the lines of identity politics according to group, race and class. Their policies tend to promote dependency among groups of people in order to purchase their long term voting allegiance. At the same time, they neglect the interests of the majority of a city’s citizens who tend to be working and middle class taxpayers. The concerns of taxpaying public are guaranteed to be last on a liberal’s priority list because there is a limited opportunity to buy future votes by making them permanently dependent upon special treatment by government.

Promoting greater income equity by lowering all of our standards of living

A progressive municipal government looks to be highly involved in the economic decision-making of its citizens. Rather these matters should reside in the hands of the private sector not the government. The private sector traditionally played the primary role in the allocation of our economic resources resulting throughout our history in a rising standard of living for all Americans and the creation of a prominent middle class. Small business and entrepreneurs are the main drivers of job growth in this country. The growth, health and creation of small businesses in many cities are too often burdened by increasing amount of regulation demanded by progressive governments.

The private sector’s major strength is that it promotes an environment of competition. Increasing levels of wealth are created over time by a free market system bolstered by competition and enhanced by freedom so that individuals can take maximum advantage of opportunities that may arise. A free market system is characterized by flexibility and efficient allocation of vital economic resources driven by the profit motive. The resulting economic productivity is reason behind the economic success of the country and of a city.

New York City like many other left leaning municipal governments promote an economic model ruled by the concept of social justice and dominated by Big Government resulting in an economy that limits flexibility, innovation and individual initiative, therefore, growth and opportunity for all. Progressive policies actually drive income inequality and have an adverse effect on the structure of the family and drive people permanently from the work force. How did the streets of New York City under these two mayors become so much cleaner and safer, how did educational achievement finally come about?

Mayors Giuliani and Bloomberg had the common sense to mix private and publically run institutions to provide services to the people of New York City. The differences between Central Park and Bryant Park run now by private entities versus the City Parks Department, city zoos run by the Wildlife Conservation Society, sanitation and security services provided by Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) and charter and private schools compared to the Board of Education is astounding and evidence of the inefficiencies of union run city services. Where do you think city teachers send their children to school?

The collapse of civility and the war against success, standards and excellence

Political promises made by progressives have a very favorable emotional appeal until the facts are examined. Close-up on a local level or afar on a Federal level, progressive policies simply don’t work and even more discouraging is that they most often make problems they are attempting to address worse. The critical question becomes are we doomed to a continual cycle of repeating the same mistakes or are more voters open to learning from failures of the progressive policies of the Obama and de Blasio Administrations and take corrective action at the ballot box?