The 4th American Revolution

Posted on July 4th, 2007 by Will Marre.
Categories: Leadership, Community, ADP Diary.

I frequently make people mad. Either by what I say or what I don’t. If I say anything with political overtones that is at odds with certain hardened positions of either the Right or Left, people who hold those positions ask me to not be political. Others, who seem to be very angry with our current political scene chastise me for reminding each of us that no matter what is going on at the national level, we can make a difference by living our own lives in a thoughtful, proactive way. It makes it hard to select topics and words to write about. First off, I probably agree with most of you on most things. But if we agreed on everything, these blogs would not add any value. Second, I don’t support a Left or Right political ideology. We live in a time of leadership failure across all institutions. Third, there is one thing the majority of us do agree on and that is the country is headed in the wrong direction and things need to change.

As a nation, we’ve been here before. Four times in our nation’s history we had to stare reality straight in the eye and say, “This is not working; we can do better.” We had to take strong stands to claim our independence, end slavery, and triumph over economic depression. Each time we had to push beyond life as usual to get to a new life as it should be. We’ve done this successfully. Three times. This is the fourth.

It is time for change that is radically better for everyone—even the rich and privileged as well as the poor and the hopeless. Change that is better for business, education, and government. Change that demands thoughtful, value drenched innovation at levels far beyond our current limitations.

The American Dream Project was founded because, as a society and as individuals, we have reached this time of change. The American Dream Project is YOURS. It does not promote a single ideology, political viewpoint or economic scheme. It is not Right wing or Left wing. It opposes greed, self-interest, deception, and incompetence, whether they are found in Democrats or Republicans, liberals or conservatives, labor or management, men or women. It promotes wisdom, common sense, responsibility, compassion, human dignity, fairness and justice. It seeks new solutions to dramatically advance the real American Dream. The Dream that you harbor in your heart, right now.

It is about the freedom to make real choices in the most meaningful dimensions of our lives. Our personal choices do matter. All of them. We must work for worthy employers, start businesses with moral vision, found non-profit organizations that accomplish tangible results, and demand competence and character from our public leaders. So if you are concerned about government corruption, waste and incompetence, do more than just complain to your friends or listen to talk radio. Raise your own voice in emails to your congressman, letters to the editor, or protest in public. Support your candidate, advocate solutions; be a fully engaged citizen. We are not helpless if we are not silent. Above all, if we lead, our leaders will follow. We must set a new standard, and only then will the real American Dream thrive again. The world needs your dreams. Saving it is a big job; it needs all of us.

Happy Independence Day.

3 comments.

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Tom Kersten
Comment on July 4th, 2007.

I hear your frustration with attempting any sort of rational political debate in America today. Both the of the left and the right are so trapped and blinded by their narrow minded ideologies that they are unable to recognize or even consider alternative view points. The special interest dominated two-party system has exacerbated these divisions by further polarizing the population with extreme forms of hateful and distorted rhetoric which demonizes the opposition. They this type of fear-mongering plays into the dark side of human nature and is used to ‘professionally’ manipulate public opinion in order to maintain the status quo and protect the plutocracy that has developed in this country over the last century.

This political discord may also be the result of internal economic dissonance resulting from the sudden rise of two of the most challenging crises our industrial based economy has ever confronted - global warming and peak oil. This may very well be the beginning of the end of the industrial order for the simple reason that we cannot solve both of these crises at the same time. In attempting to reduce global warming we must further constrict oil production and consumption, but in order to avert a future energy crisis we must find and consume more carbon fuels. Something has to give and the only logical solution remaining is to reduce consumption to such a degree that we will practically have to shut down the current consumption-based economic order and/or drastically reduce the world population. With that will come a tremendous economic and political upheaval and dislocations, but I do not see how this can be avoided during the next decade.

Tom Kersten

Kevin O'Connell
Comment on July 5th, 2007.

“The probability that we may fail in the strggle ought not to deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just; it shall not deter me.”
Abraham Lincoln

The American Dream Project is a great platform for the future ideology. The platform that embraces the passions of the left and the right. Moving forward with ideas that will improve life, liberty and the pursuit happiness.

Jay R. Winans
Comment on July 7th, 2007.

I believe it is time that ‘We the People’ take out power back in a non-violent way.

Currently our Senators and Congressmen/women are not doing their job to the fullest. They only spend about twenty hours a week serving us (which is what we voted them in to do). The rest of the time they are out looking for money for their next election. I resent that. If I went to my boss and said I am only working twenty hours this week, I would be out of work before I took the next breath. My guess is that is true for you also.

So how do we solve this problem? One way and not necessarily the only way is to VOTE OUT ALL INCUMBANTS FOR THE NEXT TWENTY YEARS.

Yes, I am sure someone during that time will figure away around it but the logic is if we keep voting out the incumbants each time, no matter what they do, like only work twenty or more hours, they will know that they only have one shot at making a difference.

Hopefully they will learn over time that going out and raising re-election money just will not work because they are going to be voted out anyway.

Why twenty years? It takes a long time for some people to get the message, besides that only a several elections.

Some I have talked to have said we should limit the terms they can serve. Good idea, but they are the ones who are going to vote that into law. I don’t think so.

What do you think?

Jay R. Winans

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