Effective leadership should be based upon, even a begrudging sense that, no matter which party you belong to, the foremost task is one that should benefit the people of Michigan.

Years ago, the people who were in office for a longer period of time, traded in markers and, compromised with each other for what was in the best interest of the state. Currently, these jokers in Lansing do not even attempt to disguise their contempt for others not in their own party. I have never seen a more ineffective group of leaders in my life. Only when we address this issue and, allow these people to do what we pay them to do, will they be able to do their jobs effectively. The animosity towards people who govern is also so acrimonious that it is no wonder that we do not attract the cream of the crop when it comes to election time. We, as Americans, have made a habit of roasting anyone that we put in office as leaders and then wonder why they become so ineffective at leading.

The best politicians were ones who had core values and spent their political capital and will on trying to lead by their values and beliefs. Ted Kennedy was such a leader. Even if you hated his liberal agenda at least you knew where you stood with him because his core beliefs were what sustained his entire mission and agenda in Washington. I have seen very few of our Michigan leaders in this light. Many of them are more interested in themselves rather than leading by their core principles and values. Gary McDowell is a model of someone who leads by his values. I have seen him go to the mat on issues that he believed in, where he got no support from his party or the opposition. He still stayed true to his good character. Jason Allen has been a model of the career politician who is interested in what will help himself instead of the people he represents. Pat Gagliardi, George Mcmanus were also prime examples of people that led by their core values. Both were from different parties but worked in the best interests of Michigan.

I agree with needing to clean house but term limits have assured us that we will be cleaning the House and Senate very soon anyway.

Here is the recipe for Michigan Politics: 1. Get Elected; 2. Barely learn the job; 3. Polarize along party lines; 4. Focus on red herring issues; 5. Cut services, cut services, cut services; 6. Ensure that they lose no benefits themselves; 7. Terms limits ensure the time is up; 8. Repeat the cycle again. Sound dismal; it is. Only when we become ready to fix this mess will we. If not, prepare for more of the same.

We seem to be moving into a new world, one that I believe is governed by the concepts of ecological economics…where the economy meets the environment. http://www.uvm.edu/giee/publications/Costanza%20Development%202009.pdf Recent Nobel Laureate, Elinor Ostrom, is an ecological economist and she recieved this recent recognition based her work on “Governing the Commons.”

I am hoping Michigan can look to other areas such as Vancover, BC that have long been headed down the path toward more sustainabile practices using these ecological economics principles. Here is one program from Vancouver called the Dynamic Cities Project that considers the dual threats of world oil depletion and climate change to help craft plans and policies that will address both of these issues and move Vancouver toward an even more sustainable future. http://dynamiccities.squarespace.com/

The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) has considered a similar approach in their future planning. http://www.scag.ca.gov/sotr/climatechange.htm

I am afraid that until we begin to seriously consider and address some of these realities, Michigan will continue on its current trajectory. We have the talent, we just need the conviction.

What has infuriated most every voter are the priorities of our politicians. It’s 1)self, 2)party loyalty 3)lobbyists, and a far distant 4th, issues of state.

Although it is the responsibility of voters to research the canidates, that is often difficult. What they say and what they do once in office are often totally different. Attention to issues that are important to voters is too often diverted by red herring issues raised by politicians. What is more critical, gay marriage or rising unemployment? Abortion or crumbling infrastructure? State vs local control of schools or home forclosures?

If the voting process has failed us maybe the only recourse we have is to vote every single incumbant, across the board, republican or democrat, out of office when they come up for reelection. Effective as a message, that, by itself, would result in chaos as unqualified candidates rush to fill the vacancies. To avoid the farce of the past Detroit City Council (Monica Conyers, Barbara Rose Collins, Martha Reeves), all canadates for each and every office must take classes and instruction on the functioning of government in general, the specific office they are a canadate for, and the political process they need to master to function effectively. They will be graded and the grades will be posted for the voting public. If they have a failing grade, they will be forbidden to run for office. Maybe then it won’t take 6 or 8 years to learn the job.

We have a large agricultural and tourist industry. We have the beginnings of a world class stem cell research center, and we have a lot of people that see the glass as half full, not half empty.

And we have a context of technological and cultural change that is changing at an accelerating rate.

We have paid enough attention to the words of the naysayers and doomsday crowd. Now it is time to kick our natural optimism, imagination and creativity into gear.

Ford Motor has done it. Grand Rapids has done it. Pittsburgh did it. Many, many many individuals have done it and are doing it. Phil has done it and keeps on doing it!

Did Edison stop “doing it” because he had failed 14,999 times. No. Was Henry Ford content to stay down on the farm? No. Did Dave Bing say no? Go ahead, reflect on history, doing it is all that is required.

It’s time for all of us to “do it” in ways that draw on our individual talents, interests and energy.

Do what? Whatever you are really good at; and share it.

Last summer, I was in Ann Arbor at a charity event with an architect friend of mine. We were talking about Michigan’s current situation, and my friend abruptly interrupted the conversation and said, “Jeff, I’m just looking for one reason to tell my kids to stay in Michigan for college and thereafter. And I can’t find one.”

I couldn’t either.

Without expounding on the memes of automaker myopia, SUV cash-cowing, a general shunning of innovation or bad union management, there is nothing compelling to draw the future human or intellectual capital to Michigan. A hostile tax structure, constant recession-like business conditions, questionable state-level leadership and a pock-marked embarrassment in Detroit have created a gaping hole in this state’s reputation at even a late night talk show level.

Something needs to be done, as as you point out, 2010 is a great year to use as a springboard.

We just need others — many others — to start thinking this way.

I like to think Michigan is facing a change crisis perhaps no different than an individual does when faced with a major life crossroad decision: perhaps we need to see the bottom before we decide to swim up.

We see the bottom, crystal clear. Let’s get moving in the right direction.