Voters are hearing a lot about Plans – or more correctly about the absence or inadequacy of the presidential candidates’ plans — during this election campaign season –
That begs the question, do voters understand what a Plan is?
More importantly, why a capital P Plan to Restore America is so important –
A Plan is a process. Its a set of actions that, if taken together, will achieve a certain outcomes.
- For example, the Bowles-Simpson Deficit Reduction Plan –
- Has an objective – reduce the Federal Budget Deficit by $4B in 10 years
- Consists of several specific actions –
- Tax Reform
- Entitlement Reform
- Government Spending Reform
- Is supported by a budget
- How much will it cost.
- And has measurable outcomes
- Increased tax revenue
- Extending Social Security and Medicare Trust Funds
- Reducing government borrowing
Several plans can exist in parallel –
- An Energy Plan
- An Education Plan
- An Immigration Plan
But they cannot be optimized unless there is an overall Plan to Restore America –
- The separate plans need to be integrated
- Obviously to reduce cost and duplication
- More importantly, however, because its a known fact that every action in a plan triggers a likely reaction in another plan –
- For example, a successful Education Plan is driven by the job demands of a successful Energy Plan
- And the Energy Plan depends on a trained and educated work force –
- Most importantly, the tighter the integration of Plans – action triggering reaction – the faster the economy will grow
- And the more good paying, middle class jobs will be created.
Creating jobs is an outcome of every effective Plan – but it’s not a plan in itself.
Moreover, an integrated Plan to Restore America would enable Congress to design a comprehensive Infrastructure Plan –
- Electrical Grid
- Broadband and Telecommunications
- Where and what kind of roads should US build
- Where should mass transit dollars be expended
A Plan to Restore America would be a clear statement of common national objectives.
- The exact opposite of micro-targeting
And would lead us full circle to the original Plan for America — The US Constitution –
- “to form a more perfect Union” –
- “promote the general Welfare”
- “and secure the Blessings of Liberty”
- “promote the general Welfare”
for us all –
