CHANGE

I recently read an article form the April 13, 2009 issue of Time magazine which discussed the methodologies behind Barack Obama's "Change." I found this article fascinating and I thought I would share some of the highlights. What I find most intriguing about this article however is that it was published six months ago. So, looking back on the past six months it is interesting to see how the concepts reviewed in the article are now being or attempting to be implemented.

The title is "How Obama is Using the Science of Change," by Michael Grunwald, and that is exactly what it is about. The focus of the article is how the implementation of Barack Obama's policies, including cap and trade and health reform, are intended to influence us to change our behaviors for the benefit of American society. He is relying upon a group behavioral economists who have researched human behaviors and how you can get the majority of people to participate in specific behaviors. More specifically, the economist have discovered that the primary motivation for people in general to change their behaviors is the notion that "everyone is doing it" or that it is the socially acceptable behavior. For example, "The most powerful motivator for hotel guest to reuse towels, national park visitors to stay on marked trails and citizens to vote is the suggestion that everyone is doing it."

According to the article, his concept of adjusting social norms has been extensively written about by many of his top advisers. Some of the suggestions by these advisers included in the article for adjusting our behaviors include having preventative care doctor's appointments scheduled for us or seniors being enrolled automatically in drug plan options. Other suggestions include automatic enrollment for retirement savings and having everyone automatically be an organ donor unless you say no. In other words, quoting the author of the article,"Behavioral economics leaves room for government action to help us do what we would really want to do if we were rational agents" (emphasis added)

This is certainly something to think about. The author summarizes what he believes Obama's intentions to be by stating "Obama is no therapist changing individuals one at a time. He's an organizer trying to build community and inspire collective action through ...rhetoric about shared values. In other words he's trying to create social norms."

So the "Change" that we have been expecting, and know is already here, is focused not on the government changing, but rather the citizens conforming their behavior to new social norms. I found this article to be very eye opening and subtle. I guess only time will tell if it is in fact true.

If you have a chance to read this fascinating article, please do, and than let me know what you think.
Here is a link to the article:
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1889153,00.html

Meeting with Office of Congresswoman Titus

Feeling compelled to completed my civic duty, I asked for a meeting with Dina Titus, my local congresswoman, in order to petition her to not vote for the new healthcare legislation as well as to express my opinions to her on the topic. It took me about one month to get the appointment, and it was not with her, but rather as staffperson Susan.

I have to say that despite generally being on the other side of the isle from her politically, I give her a lot of credit for offering a staffperson to meet with me. The staffperson was genuinely interested in hearing my side of things and completely open to answering my question. She was very interested in my hospice nursing experience. Also, Titus did not vote for the HR 3200 bill in her committee because she felt that it would not include enough small businesses.

That being said Congresswoman Dina Titus is for "healthcare reform" as her staffperson stated and is supporting some form of a public option. It sounds to me like she will vote for some form of this bill. However, the staffperson would not say which way she would vote, only that she is waiting to receive the final version before making a decision.

This meeting was no was not a watershed moment ans will not be changing any votes, but I was so grateful not only to express my views to my congressperson but also to participate in the democratic process. I thank Congresswoman Titus for the opportunity

Healthcare debate video

If you have four minutes watch this clip. It is impressive. My father-in-law Kevin sent it to me:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G44NCvNDLfc&feature=player_embedded

My sentiments exactly

When I saw this sign in my neighborhood today I thought, "My sentiments exactly" I am happy to know that my fellow neighbors feel the same way. It takes a lot of courage to express your views in this manner one full year before the election.

The matter at hand is, who is "anyone." Depsite Harry's approval rating in the low thirties, the Clark County Republican party has yet to come up with anyone noteworthy or even generally well know to challenge Harry. Here is a list from the Dump Harry PAC of the top 5:

Sue Lowden (2-1): Clearly the new front-runner. But can she put together a winning campaign team and navigate the minefield of at least a dozen other serious and credible candidates? Remember, it's not the best candidate who necessarily wins, but the best campaign.

Sharron Angle* (4-1): Slow and steady. Angle has been quiet over all the recent developments, but that’s because she’s single-minded of purpose. If Lowden doesn’t post or falters before the first turn, Angle will be right there to take advantage.

Danny Tarkanian (7-1): Stumbled badly out of the gate last week by announcing his announcement from out-of-state, then announcing from behind the gates of his upper-class gated community a couple days later, and then announcing yesterday a town hall meeting on health care without announcing where or when the event would be held. On the other hand, he does have a very active Internet communications network established and could use that to advantage once he gets his sea biscuit) legs back under him.

Mark Amodei (15-1): Perhaps the only remaining potentially serious candidate not to make a decision on running yet. However, Amodei was trolling the DC waters for potential support just a few weeks ago and has been quietly interviewing for possible campaign staffers should he jump into the fray. With Heller’s decision not to run, expect Amodei to make his decision soon. He can’t afford to lose any more time in the fundraising department.

John Chachas (50-1): Rumored to have a half-dozen fundraising events scheduled for the rest of this month. However, all of them are out of state - as is the candidate’s official residence. With Lowden and Baby Tark now in the running, the Wall Street banker’s theme song ought to be: “Won’t you come home, John Chachas, won’t you come home?”

Have you heard of any of these people? This is the main obastacle. There is no frontrunner from the Republican side. They are floundering around united only by the desire to kick Harry out. Get it together! The election is only 1 year away!