Calls for Democratic Donations

I get three to five emails daily asking me to donate money to various aspects of the Democratic Party and individuals running for office.

Part of this is my fault: I donated money before the last election. So, my email address is widely known.

But here’s the thing…

I will not donate any money to a democratic party or individual interests until—

  • I see a coherent and courageous leader emerge from the democratic party

  • I see a cohesive and consistently communicated agenda.

  • I see a coherent and unified strategy emerging that aligns with our country’s base and my principles.

I guess what I’m saying is—

Where is the LEADERSHIP in the party right now?

#weshouldbebetterhumansthanthis

Agile Moose

Reflections on the “Big Beautiful Bill”

Sometimes, I find something online that is so compelling and aligned with my feelings that it stays with me for a while. Here’s something posted by Bob Gower that perfectly represents how I feel on this 4th of July. 

Like many Americans, I’m deeply disappointed in yesterday’s Senate vote. While this bill is big, it’s not beautiful. It’s cruel, shortsighted, and reckless — and will almost certainly lead to increased suffering, for citizens and non-citizens alike.

I don’t say this lightly or from a place of pure ideology. I’ve long identified as a progressive-leaning liberal, but I also recognize that reasonable people with shared intentions can still come to different conclusions. I also know that fear and a need to belong can lead otherwise good people to support harmful things.

Still, clarity matters. And clarity starts with values.

For me, the purpose of a political system is to create and sustain a society grounded in:

·      Justice — fair accountability and rule of law

·      Equity — dignity and opportunity for all

·      Sustainability — ecological and institutional longevity

By these measures, the “Big Beautiful Bill” fails profoundly.

It dramatically expands ICE and detention infrastructure to pursue mass deportations. It imposes work requirements on vulnerable people who already work, while slashing Medicaid and food assistance. It ends critical incentives for renewable energy and adds billions to the deficit — all to make temporary tax cuts permanent. The wealthiest Americans gain, while millions stand to lose health coverage, basic support, or even their lives.

I don’t think cruelty, austerity, and wishful fiscal assumptions add up to a responsible vision for the future.

So what do we do?

In my view, political engagement has two tracks:

1.     Prevent immediate harm — through aid, mutual support, protest, and public witness.

2.     Shape systemic evolution — through voting, policy advocacy, storytelling, and organizational design.

Personally, I’m drawn to the long game. My work focuses on helping to build institutions where mission, incentives, and culture are aligned — and where dignity and care aren’t optional extras, but structural priorities.

But I also show up in the streets when I need to (my amazing wife Alexandra (Alex) Jamieson makes sure of it — you should follow her on IG at deliciousalex). And I vote. And I speak up. Because even slow, long-game work happens inside systems being reshaped in real time.

To those resisting collapse: I see you.
To those building what’s next: I’m with you.
And to those who don’t know what to do yet: Start with your values. The rest will follow.

It was courageous and bold of Bob to share this position so publicly. I applaud Bob’s words and honorably share them.

I, too, see you and am with you.

#weshouldbebetterhumansthanthis

Agile Moose

The Frenzy Strategy

One of the best ways to control a large population is to get them all riled up about emotionally charged issues that rest on fear. For example— 

  • Whip people into a frenzy over abortion;

  • Whip people into a frenzy over woke-ness or Critical Race Theory in schools;

  • Whip people into a frenzy over LGBTQ+ equity;

  • Whip people into a frenzy over the border and immigration.

  • Whip people into a frenzy over losing white control of state governments;

  • Whip people into a frenzy over their losing the right to bear wartime-quality arms.

 A fundamental part of the strategy is connecting much of this to fundamental, traditional Christian values and core constitutional rights, or, better put, trying to apply those values to everyone in the population.

 The problem is that when we’re in the frenzy, we’re not…

  • Applying critical or nuanced thinking;

  • Discerning the truth from the lies;

  • Considering the harm we’re doing to marginalized or affected groups;

  • Separating the emotion from our decisions;

  • Focusing on the other real problems we face—

    • financial inequity,

    • systemic racism,

    • frozen government, political system of Red vs. Blue;

    • unbalanced and politically charged Supreme Court;

    • climate change, climate impact, world impact.

  • Controlling our fear

The Republican Party has been applying this strategy for decades. However, it’s not only them. It’s a broader case of yelling—

Squirrel!!!

 To a dog and stepping back. It’s a diversion to avoid facing our challenges and doing the clear-eyed and collaborative heavy-lifting to begin making progress.

The question is…how do we stop it? And begin the second generation of evolutionary American values?

The American President

https://www.americanrhetoric.com/MovieSpeeches/moviespeechtheamericanpresident.html

Here’s a snippet from the final speech that President Andrew Shepherd (Michael Douglas) gives in the movie The American President. I think it exemplifies the situation and this is from 1995.

“We have serious problems to solve, and we need serious people to solve them. And whatever your particular problem is, I promise you Bob Rumson is not the least bit interested in solving it. He is interested in two things, and two things only: making you afraid of it, and telling you who's to blame for it. That, ladies and gentlemen, is how you win elections.”

Perhaps we need an entirely new field of Andrew Shepherds stepping in to lead our country?

Or perhaps we’re simply destined to be chasing squirrels for eternity?

This is a related post - https://www.agile-moose.com/blog/2022/5/28/when-confronted-with-an-inconvenient-or-uncomfortable-truth

But what I do know is that we can be better!

#weshouldbebetterhumansthanthis

Agile Moose