The new SOP: Solutions Over Partisanship

Posted by Buck68 on January 27th, 2009 filed in Politics

©2009 by Buck68, all rights reserved.

This is part one of an indefinite series about how to solve problems together, as our President has called us to do.

President Obama uses the phrase “solutions over partisanship” to describe and value his basic approach to government actions that meet national needs. It appears to me that President Obama has chosen a basic rational and empirical model to define and measure the political process he wants Americans to follow: the problem solving process. In his Inaugural Address, President Obama made citizens accepting responsibility a basic if not the central theme. So, in the inclusive spirit of citizenship, and by the universal letter of the problem solving process, I begin doing what I should do by offering these thoughts.

Experts in science, reason, and spirituality offer numerous definitions of the problem solving process. Americans have voted for ‘change we can believe in’ in President Obama. So, President Obama should set the American standard definition. Just as identifying the problem is a dynamic, continuing sub-process, so is this process definition. Can leaders or followers precisely communicate, or compare and contrast inputs, or measure – lacking a common means to do so? Reasonably, no. Thus, it is an essential leadership responsibility to initiate, implement, and refine this definition. When President Obama establishes his baseline problem solving process definition, it will inclusively enable citizens to accept their responsibility to positively debate and contribute.

Indeed, Americans need an immediate stimulus. Why? Because our common record is special interest advocacy, more entitlements, and spending more than we earn. In dollar and freedom facts, we are burdening our and our children’s future. Now, in the throes of our latest fears and adversities, we are again fighting to get my solution first. Government continues to print more paper money.

While I await our President’s definitional leadership, it would be irresponsible to point to him as my excuse to do nothing. So, I offer a raw outline of the problem solving process so I can proceed with what I should do. I know this means I will have to do my homework over to adapt to our President’s definitions. So what? Isn’t this necessary, in order to participate constructively, as any citizen should? Some may feel this is some kind of ‘sacrifice’. But, that’s a measurement using feeling, not responsibility.

Define the problem.

Criteria and assumptions.

Gather data.

Form and test hypotheses.

Select best hypothesis/solution.

Implement and achieve solution.

For decades, many have called themselves progressive, leaders, insightful, the new wave of something better, and doing what they feel is right. Yet, here we all are, today. What are we going to do now? Talk? Keep trying to get more of ‘my way’ for ‘my group’? We elected President Obama to bring ‘change we can believe in’. President Obama called on Americans to take responsibility, sacrifice, and measure our government by what works. Talk doesn’t work by itself. The common good, requires common debate and inclusive, equitable action.