Looking Forward

No more blaming. No more faulting. Just focusing on issues that matter.

How to handle those issues? Here’s a quick primer:

First, list the issues that concern you.

Second, revisit the issues list and define each item clearly.

Third, think about each item and determine in your own mind which issue is part of another issue on the list. Is one issue a building block of another issue? Then that issue is in primary order to the other issue. Are there any other issues on the list that can be viewed in this same way? If so, reorder the list.

Fourth, which of the issues on the reformed list are more important than another? Can you place them all in priority order? Which one should be tackled first? Which one second, and so forth.

Fifth, go back to the prioritized list and select the first issue. Consider what talents will be needed to work the issue and begin the process of solving it. Who should be on the team? What skill sets or talents are needed? Find the right people to work on the issue team.

Sixth, charge the issue team with researching the issue as thoroughly as possible: how do we define the issue in all of its parts?  Which elements are of critical importance and which are not, in fact, maybe superfluous and should be discarded? Keep working the issue assessment and determine what research is needed to best understand the issue as we have defined it.

Seventh, do the research. Parcel it out among team members with the most knowledge for each element under study. Report back to the whole team frequently on what has been learned. Together encourage the team to decide what research is relevant and should be saved for use; jettison the rest and keep our project file as lean as possible.

Eighth, continue to manage the issue project until the team is satisfied it has learned all that is relevant on the issue. Make sure they note to return to this ‘agreement of satisfaction’ from time to time to test whether their understanding has shifted enough to re-open the agreement and revise it. This phase should be producing some conclusions of note that will help the team define its path forward.

Ninth, work with the conclusions and explicitly define options that could be pursued to ease the problem, solve the problem, or in some other way relieve society of this issue.

Tenth, select the solution options that appear to be most realistic. Select three if available; save the rest for future consideration if necessary.

Eleventh, ask the team to self assign which options to work on and split into sub teams to do this work on all three solution options at the same time. Report back to the team frequently to determine if some solutions share common research and can benefit from each other’s work. Continue to press forward with realistic implementation options for each of the three solutions.

Twelfth, as a team determine which of the three solution options is the best; if of equal value, select the one solution to work on going forward; save the others for future consideration if needed.

Thirteenth, the entire team now works to determine how to implement the solution. How much will it cost? What resources will be needed other than funding? How realistic is this solution in the real world of restricted resources? Do values clash or are they comfortable with existing norms? Will there be a fight to win acceptance of the solution and gain resources to implement the solution?

Fourteenth, polish the final package supporting the solution. Determine where to pitch it for acceptance and implementation.

Report your results to the press and bring the issue, and its solution, to the public for discussion and possible adoption.

The discussion will use all of the files of the team of collaborators. The options pursued, the ideas left on the wayside, and the retained ideas that were thought of lesser value. Help the public understand the breadth and depth of the issue and the suggested solution.

Lobby the appropriate government entity to adopt the solution and make it a priority for action.

With the above in consideration for adoption, go back to your lists and identify the second issue you think should be handled in similar fashion to the first issue. Begin work all over again on that issue and work forward toward a solution. The rest of the issues on the list will also be handled in similar fashion. It's hard work and long. But this is our way forward.

This outline is a discipline of an educated and thoughtful society. It is the way we used to do things in America. It is the way we need to reacquire. We have important work to do for the common good of all America. Let’s get down to these tasks and make the future happen the way most of us think it should. Be open to suggestions but keep eyes on the desired outcomes. In time it will happen. In time our investments will yield results.

Meanwhile, work hard and respect others. And be kind to one another, too! It makes all of our efforts so much nicer.

July 28, 2017