Sometimes it’s helpful to put things in perspective because a lot has happened quickly in the last couple years. I write back to them…
"We can talk about policy because we are adults and Americans in a democracy. That’s what we are supposed to do…
This was what’s called a “focusing event” in policy land:
In general, citizens are always waving stacks of paper (bills) at policymakers.
When a focusing event occurs, policymakers open the window they are working at, at some McDonalds drivethrough, reach their hands out and say, “Gimmie THAT!”
Policy peeps drive by at a high rate of speed and throw it at them because at this point, everybody is metaphorically shooting at everyone else. Many people are taking cover.
People were already starting to take take cover before this focusing event occurred.
People’s jobs were under threat for speaking with the congressional members who represent them & for speaking with regulators.
I was posting videos like this (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9EZGHcu3E8) and had to stop immeditaly because it might be read in a very literal way. I was in a rage. The guys from the lab at my last job told me there is still a picture of a cartoon monopoly man that I drew on the whiteboard before I left to go play.
Democracy had organized itself for a zero sum game.
We had gigantic packages of legislation and policy initiatives that had worked their way up (in a grassroots way) from most states to the federal government - into the hands of the executive branch & congress. That took 10-20 years, depending on when you start the clock.
What type of civic bargain do we need to strike in order to not engage in a ‘zero-sum’ game? That’s a really important question for my community.
What does that civic bargain look like to you?
You can read what the kid wrote here:
You can read what people who work on these problems a lot (from both parties) have written back to citizens and policy entreprenuers:
AAI: Regulations.gov
Klobo in Congress (ex-chair of the fed antitrust committee): Audible | Listen to Audiobooks, Podcasts & Originals
Meador at FTC: https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/antitrust-policy-for-the-conservative-meador.pdf
(Inconsequential) Me: Regulations.gov
Pharmacists: Open Commission Meeting - July 20, 2023 | Federal Trade Commission
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