James Gore
The future is defined by those who show up.
Whether Democrat, Republican, or Independent we can all agree that politics in the United States have never been more toxic.
This toxicity is how we define the now, but it is not how we will define the politics of our future, not if we the people show up and run our country.
The now is about Republican, Democrat, Independent, and Green; and the now speaks of bipartisanship, compromise, and concilliation as if we will never agree, so we just have negotiate down to where we're all still pissed off.
The future is about citizens AND citizen leaders. It's about government that is pro-people AND pro-business. It's about transcending the same old lines of political dialogue and coming together towards common goals. Put simply, the present is about fighting over the parts, and the future is about working together towards the whole.
This is not a message framed in idealism. We are beyond that. This is reality that needs to be met.
The question persists: who will lead us beyond our complicated bickering, and back to the basics of public service?
You and I will.
Through our votes, through our activism, through our ideas and more than anything, through our actions.
There are structural barriers we face, and there are also ego barriers.
Some of the Structural problems include gerrymandering, closed primaries, and specific campaign rules…they diminish the strength of our votes, and pit the democracy created by "we the people" against the greater good of “we the people.”
The Ego barriers keep us locked in a variety of games, such as, “the blame the guy before me, game,” and the “I’ll only vote for it if my party created it, game.”
These old ways limit our ability to change things for the better; however, we Americans have never believed in our inability to fix problems. We are believers in manifest destiny, in the land of opportunity, and in making our own rules.
If somebody criticizes Obama, his supporters say it was the fault of George W. Bush. If someone criticizes George W. Bush, his supporters say it was Clinton’s fault, who’s supporters say it was Bush I’s or Reagan’s fault, who says it was FDR’s fault, who says it was Herbert Hoover’s fault, and on and on and on.
This routine exhausts ‘we the people,’ and turns us from believers into cynics. It takes our belief in our ability to create our own destiny and makes us believers in fatalism.
I recently received a Presidential Appointment. Democrats tell me “that will be a great 6 year experience.” Republicans tell me “that will be a frustrating 2 year stint.”
I tell them both that I will control what I can, and that’s my ability to create positive change over the areas I have responsibility of. That I will show up and be proud of a good day’s work.
Speaking of showing up; while driving down the street the other day, I saw a bumper sticker that said, “The world is run by those who show up.”
I agree. Rather than getting mired in frusteration at our current system, let’s all make it what we want to see by showing up. It’s time to show up to vote, show up at the city council meeting, at the school board, at your kids sporting event, at your church’s volunteer day…show up!
The future is about becoming more than the definitions, more than mere compromise, and it’s about far more than idealism. It’s about transcending our pettiness and calling out political pandering and spin for what it is, destructive.
The future is ours: baby boomers, Gen Xers, millenials, now is our time…so let’s show up.
Idealism, I thought it was big in college, but it’s even bigger out here. If DC has taught me one thing, it is that good ideas are a dime a dozen. Those who show up and actualize, who realize, who materialize those ideas into reality, they are the ones who will lead. I am not just dreaming of being one of those leaders, I am working to be one of them…will you join me?
This is an initial draft of the messaging, I would have the slides go through images of people, places and things that show the toxicity of the now (including gerrymandered districts and abromoff - like - lobbyists, among others), and then show slides of current and future hope (California voting to open its primaries, the now at its most diverse supreme court, with a representative mixture of sexes and races).
About James Gore:
James Gore – James is a Presidential Appointee at the Department of Agriculture. A 6th generation Californian, James was raised in Sonoma County amongst the vineyards his family owns and operates. Prior to joining USDA, James was the Vice President of JBC International where – among other things - he represented the U.S. wine and winegrape industry on international trade affairs. From this position, he had the opportunity to be a delegate on international trade missions, investigate emerging markets in Russia, India, Vietnam, and Guatemala, and testify multiple times before the International Trade Commission. James is also a leader in the global volunteerism community through his work with the U.S. Peace Corps. After completing his 2 year service as an Agribusiness Volunteer in Bolivia, South America, James was elected to three terms as the President of the Board for the Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Washington, DC. He subsequently campaigned successfully to become Mid-Atlantic Representative of the Board for the National Peace Corps Association, a position he continues to hold. Through these positions, James organized and led two hundred former Peace Corps Volunteers to march in the Inaugural Parade of President Barack Obama. James has lived in multiple countries, travelled the world over, and is fluent in English, Spanish and Italian. He is a graduate of Cal Poly St. University, San Luis Obispo, and is a vineyard owner in Sonoma County, CA. He is a man driven by a passion not just to dream about positive change, but to work for it.
