John W. Carlin Blog - John W. Carlin and Civic Leadership

Greta Thunberg and the Power of Your Ballot

11/9/2019

Seldom if not almost never does a sixteen year old student grab the attention of a significant part of the world. But in her recent call to action on climate change, Greta Thunberg from Sweden certainly did. Her video went viral and set off a great deal of positive response. Just as the Parkland students did on gun violence, we adults are reminded that this younger generation just might be the folks who force the changes necessary in so many areas of real concern.

I want to feel good about these steps, and am very complimentary of these young leaders for stepping up and trying to lead older generations to action. I wish them the very best. But I also know from years of experience that major movement on issues like guns and climate change requires more than gaining publicity and attention. Their actions and leadership must result in younger generations becoming more heavily involved in the political process.

Every opportunity I have with students, I push voter registration and actually voting. I don’t give lessons on how to register or how to vote, but I make the point that it is at the ballot box where these students can have the most power. I try to get them to understand that if young people want to have their agenda get the attention of candidates and elected officials, they need to start deciding the results of elections rather than leaving that up to older generations. I know from experience how quickly politicians will change if their election or reelection is at risk.

At the Staley School of Leadership Studies, we put a great deal of emphasis on civic engagement. We want our students to appreciate that in these times we need citizens who will step up and help their government by truly understanding issues and building support for positive change. Often at the local level, whether it be a school board or a city/county commission issue, if elected officials know there are citizens who understand and will support change, action becomes politically easier.

While many of our problems like climate change require action at the state, national, and international level, quality leadership at the local level is a good start. What is lacking at this point at the national level is the leadership for change by turning growing interest and collective knowledge into real action. We must have elected leaders committed to helping lead successfully on the issue of climate change. In practical terms this means much will ride on our Presidential election. However, it all starts with engagement and good leadership at the local level. We just held local elections here in Kansas, where there was an uptick in attention and turnout to local races. But this momentum must continue to grow for local elections and as we move into 2020.

Greta Thunberg

The Trump-Brownback Approach to Civil Service

10/12/2019

Career public servants have long been the backbone of state, local, and federal government. For eighteen years (eight as Governor and ten as Archivist of the United States), I had the pleasure of working with some of the brightest public servants one could find. They were dedicated to fulfilling the purpose of the agency’s existence and to the government in general.

Civil servants are the doers of the People's business. Governor Brownback then and President Trump now have both led to disregarding, making counterproductive changes, and politicizing the civil service system. Not only has this brought very negative results immediately, but even more serious damage is happening as time goes on. Here are several examples:

Governor Brownback changed Kansas law so that if a civil service position was vacated for whatever reason, the replacement could be a direct political appointment. This law was used to reclassify many state employees away from career civil service positions with employment rights, to essentially politically-appointed positions who could be fired at any time for any reason. Combined with this action is the fact that during the Brownback years, Kansas had the highest exit rate of millennials leaving the state with one exception. Now Governor Kelly is dealing with a workforce where many of the Brownback hires are not the type of public servants needed. Attracting new and bright talent to work in that environment will take time and not be easy. In the meantime, government efficiency and effectiveness has and will continue to suffer.

Under the Brownback Administration, the Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) was moved from Topeka to Manhattan. Something K-State and Manhattan liked, but makes very little sense in terms of good government. KDA works closely with several other agencies on a regular basis in Topeka, making it now more difficult to coordinate and work together to better serve the public’s interests. The likely motivation for relocation was to shift from civil service jobs to political appointees. Moving over time can lead to significant turnover, allowing positions in the agency to be replaced by whomever the administration wants. This does not mean that everyone hired isn’t very qualified, but it opens the gate for strictly political hires to be made.

Recently, President Trump, with 30 days notice, ordered the U.S. Department of Agriculture to move from the Washington D.C. area to Kansas City with many employees declining to relocate. There have been delays to this plan, I suspect because the administration has started to hit roadblocks in the process of making such a massive change so quickly. Now another agency, most of the Bureau of Land Management within the Interior Department, has been forced to move to Colorado. While the results of these moves will be similar to Kansas, I suspect in these federal cases the strategy is more a hasty move to cut government without regard to what is lost. Plus, it is the opportunity to employ some very likely lesser qualified personnel or sycophants who are willing to validate the President’s policy decisions on issues like climate change and others. Our government should employ real scientists, and it should treat them with the respect they deserve and give them the space to follow the science and the facts wherever they lead in order to serve our interests as a state and country.

President Trump has been totally irresponsible in the way he has staffed up his administration. Vacancies and totally unqualified folks dominate the Trump administration. Turnover is the worst in my memory. Without a doubt this is the worst Presidential cabinet in history. They come and go so fast that keeping track of who is on the Cabinet is almost impossible. He has made some very good appointments, but they either get fired or worn out dealing with the chaos. The quality workforce has been hollowed out in many agencies, and this causes problems for the level of service and (in the case of the Department of State, Defense, and others) our national security. It will be a long path back to the return of a highly qualified federal civil service.

To anyone who says what’s the big deal: I guess whether government does it’s job well, serves the people with efficiency, and carries out their agency’s mission with purpose, makes no difference to you. I am confident that those who read my blog do not fit that mold. But I do suspect you need to be pushed a little to openly defend the value of a quality civil service system. Would anyone want private sector business to operate ineffectively? High turnover, incompetence, and much higher overhead, is not the direction for business success. Same is true with government.

Outside EPA Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Kansas Local Elections on November 5th

10/6/2019

On Tuesday, November 5th (or possibly before with early voting and advanced ballots), registered Kansas voters will be electing new city commissioners and local school board members all across the state. I take this moment to salute all the men and women who have filed and are now campaigning to stay or enter the arena of local government. They are stepping up to provide the leadership so vitally needed at the local level. Now it is important for we the citizens to get involved, whether it be actually supporting a candidate or being an informed voter who will help to elect the best leadership for the future. Start with getting folks registered by October 15th in order to participate.

These local elections are typically nonpartisan and, over time, this system has proven to be quite effective. Being outside the partisan arena produces an environment that encourages collaboration, compromise, and results. I’ve always said that, in general, local office holders have the toughest elective office of all. Why? Two reasons: One, constituents probably know where you live, know when you are around, and can show up at your home or business at any time. Two, your constituents are much more likely to have an understanding, or at least think they have, of local issues and are, therefore, more comfortable asking questions as well as raising hell.

Local government servants also serve as a recruiting source for candidates at the state legislative level, as well as for other state and national offices. Both Senator Nancy Kassebaum and Congressman Dan Glickman came from local school board experiences in Wichita. One of the benefits of local experience is that much of what goes on in Topeka and Washington D.C. significantly impacts local government. Experience working to solve problems at the local level helps to bring better results at the state or federal level.

Most importantly, it is leadership at the local level that has the most to do with how the community invests in public education, local infrastructure needs and the quality of life factors that have a huge impact on families decisions to come, stay or move. What local leaders do in their local community really makes the difference. It is effective community leaders who are able to build upon local initiative and tax dollars to obtain more state and federal support.

The famous quote from Teddy Roosevelt, which today would most definitely include women:
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs, who comes up short again and again...But who does actually strive to do good deeds, who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory or defeat.”

A view from outside the Courthouse in Crawford County. Often, county courthouses serve as the hub for election information and advanced voting prior to Election Day.

You Follow the Rules

9/21/2019

9/29/2019 Update:

It’s not often that I would do a re-share of a recent blog, but the story has come a long way since I posted this blog last week, and it warrants an update. The threat to the rule of law in our country has only gotten more serious and urgent. With the investigation well under way into the President’s misuse of power, the facts continue to point towards serious issues with the President’s conduct in withholding aid to Ukraine in order to pressure Ukrainian President Zelensky to dig up dirt on his political opponents. And, as if the notes of the phone call between the two Presidents were not damning enough, the extensive effort to cover up and unnecessarily classify information has brought these offenses simply beyond the pale. The cover-up effort itself raises questions about what other times this highly classified intelligence system has been misused in order to hide potential wrong-doing or restrict access to politically damaging information for the President.

The events come with grave implications for the credibility of our government, the integrity of our elections, and also for US foreign policy. And the defenders of the President have no legitimate defense. Their thin playbook only consists of attempts to discredit the whistleblower, which itself causes harm, deflecting to debunked claims against Joe Biden, or pushing Russian-created conspiracy theories that deny Russia’s efforts to meddle in the 2016 election. All-the-while, Ukraine continues to struggle against Russian aggression into their country. Ukrainian President Zelensky is now caught between a rock and a hard place. He must somehow appease President Trump’s ego in order to obtain needed military aid from the US, while not isolating his country from aid from European allies, all of whom have an interest in checking Russian aggression in the region. President Trump’s corrupt "favor" request to President Zelensky trivializes a very serious national security situation, and it runs counter to our country’s long-time foreign policy position to support Ukraine against Russia’s power-grabs.

To deny a country aid that the US Congress has granted to an ally is a huge misuse of power by the executive, and the fact that it further supports Russia’s foreign policy objectives is particularly troubling given what we already know about Russia's support for President Trump’s election and re-election. The American people deserve to know whether their President supports US interests or solely his own, or Russia's, interests. This gets back to my point in the original blog post: Outside influence on our democracy will continue unless our government—and Congress—successfully fights back.

The important thing now is that the inquiry continues, thoroughly but also with a level of speed and urgency. I believe the House has taken the right steps so far in order to surface the facts for the American people and make those facts known to Republican Senators, who have a lot of soul-searching to do in terms of just how far they’re willing to go to prop up President Trump.

When we are faced with these challenges, action must be taken to preserve, protect, and defend our Constitution. I’m relieved to see this effort begin, and I join the rest of the country as we watch closely to see that those who have violated their oath are held accountable.

Original Post:

Foreign government, adversaries in this case, interference in our elections is becoming an all too common experience as they plan to meddle again in the 2020 elections. Set aside for a moment whether or not you believe that President Trump colluded with the Russians to impact the 2016 presidential race. What we know and the President accepts is that interference did take place and he is certainly open to more help in 2020. What will be different in this coming election is that Russia may not be the only foreign government interfering. Outside influence on our democracy will continue unless our government successfully fights back.

Watergate and the Nixon Administration in the 70’s forced Congress to take action to address future law-breaking in political campaigns and elections. Out of that, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) was established with bipartisan support and for decades successfully dealt with questionable activity in politics and our election system. A six-member commission, equally politically split, hammered out decisions and effectively dealt with inappropriate actions. Now in recent years, starting before the Trump administration, the FEC has been totally partisan and completely incapable of dealing with the challenges.

There is some good news. Our often dysfunctional Congress is working in a bipartisan way to craft and put into use a reform plan to hopefully deal with much of this crisis. H.R.1 has passed the Democratic House with Republican support, and is on the Senate floor waiting for action. The bad news is Moscow Mitch, current Majority Leader, refuses to bring it up for a vote. This is hard to believe. The only logical reason (not a good one) would be the President has asked that the legislation be held, not wanting to meddle in Russia’s plan to help him again in the 2020 election.

If Congress and the President fail to act, what needs to be understood is that over time, if not dealt with forcefully, this disrespect for the law can become routine, spreading across our country. India, one of the older democracies, is certainly an example of how this can happen. I know from experience in India that one must accept that paying bribes is just part of doing business there. And, given the situation in the United States with unlimited money in politics, we may not be far from this reality in our country today.

What can we do? One thing is to make sure our congressional delegation knows that election oversight is important and that the legitimacy of our democracy is at stake. Both Senators Roberts and Moran need to put pressure on McConnell to let the Senate vote on bipartisan H.R.1. The rule of law has to be much more than an often used slogan. Without such action, our democracy is seriously in danger.

Constitution Day: A Wake-Up Call

9/15/2019

How do you celebrate Constitution Day? I suspect that not only do you not celebrate, but you likely are unaware that there is a day dedicated to recognizing the adoption of the U.S. Constitution on September 17th.

For ten years, I was the Archivist of the United States, and certainly one key responsibility I had was making sure the original Charters of Freedom—the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights—were protected, preserved, and as accessible as possible to the public. Early in my tenure, my staff and I concluded that we were not doing enough to adequately educate the public who came through the rotunda on the values of the Charters of Freedom. We made major changes to not only enhance the visit to the Rotunda but added educational space to further promote understanding of the Charters of Freedom, the importance of public records, and their many values to our democracy.

On September 11, 2001, the initial terrorist attacks on the Trade Center quickly led to concerns about attacks on Washington D.C. and the possibility of one target being the National Archives. That potential action could destroy the original documents that undergird our whole system of democracy. Fortunately, that did not happen, but the scenario certainly brought to me a reminder of the special value of the work of the Founders. They put together a system with three equal and powerful branches of government: the executive, legislative, and judicial. For over 200 years, this system has been the bedrock of modern democracy and has become a model for nations around the world.

In late July, as part of this year's Mandela Washington Fellowship six-week Civic Leadership Institute at K-State, I had a very good visit with a young woman from Zimbabwe who ran for public office there and plans to stay involved in public life. She made it clear that folks in her country who want a democracy like ours are now looking at us with real concern and potential doubt. For her and many others, America was the model that many developing nations used to move closer to a real democracy. Her message reminded me that our current crisis may have significant impacts far beyond our borders.

Today our system of governance is being tested daily by an administration that more and more acts if they, the executive branch and particularly the President, can dictate what will be done. Between Executive Orders and other actions that ignore the will of Congress, total disregard for the value of a quality civil service system, using the Presidency for his personal and financial gain, stoking the flames of hatred and racism toward immigrants and other minority groups, and appointing Judges whose ideology is extremely far to the right, the Trump Administration is the beginning of potentially demolishing our democracy. Ignoring legislative budget decisions as if President Trump were more like a King and looking to dictators to form close friendships causes not just me but lots of folks great concern.

It is my hope that this September 17th, Constitution Day, many of you will raise these issues of concern. I hope that this year, it will not be just another day but a wake-up call for all Americans to understand just how much impact the 2020 elections will have on our future as a democracy. It can no longer be assumed that our system of government will survive if the current disregard for democratic norms and systems of checks and balances continues.

The rotunda of the National Archives, home to the "Charters of Freedom"

Redefining "Pro-Life"

9/7/2019

Let me first acknowledge that there are difficult decisions involved and understandably people of good will can and do differ in their beliefs on the matter of abortion. My focus here is to take the debates on abortion from being just a successful wedge issue in politics to a serious dialogue about a broader look at life. We need less governmental intrusion from elected bodies, often dominated by men (74% of the Kansas Legislature), in making key decisions on issues of women’s health.

Compounding the debate further is that some of these elected officials are often reluctant to properly fund the cost effective programs tied to the health, education, and well-being of children. Similarly, many of these pro-life legislators are not willing to take action to reduce unnecessary deaths of children due to gun violence. We know that these investments bring huge returns to society in the long-term. Being pro-life should mean being pro-life after a child is born, too.

I want to bring to the conversation a different perspective based upon the issue of religious freedom, something that goes back to the founding of this country. For many immigrants from countries where there was a state religion, coming to America and having the freedom to worship as they please was a real attraction. As to the issue of abortion, American religious denominations differ in their views. Some religions are strictly pro-life, others are various adaptions of pro-choice, and some do not take a stance. So why is it then appropriate for pro-life leaders to turn to the government to force their religious beliefs on others?

Keep in mind that the status quo, allowing for safe and legal abortions, does not in any way infringe on pro-life individuals and families to practice for themselves what they preach. There has been no effort to give any consideration to forcing any mother to have an abortion against her will. In addition, the pro-life position can be promoted and encouraged to be accepted by others. Where this line is crossed is when the action leads to violence, when human blockades are set up, keeping women who so choose from access to abortion.

Remember our history before Roe v. Wade? Women turned to back alley help, with death often a result. Is that what we want to return to? How can we hold the value of life for our children, our women, and our humanity alongside the need to recognize very real health concerns? With two new Justices recently joining the United States Supreme Court, who it is assumed will vote to overturn or chip away at Roe v Wade, it makes the tenure of certain other Justices quite important. Combine that with coming elections deciding not just who is President, but the makeup of the United States Senate, the position on abortion could be set for another 30 or more years. As I’ve said many times, elections do have consequences.

Unfortunately, "pro-choice"-at least in broad public perception-is being narrowly defined as pro-abortion, which we know is not necessarily the case. Meanwhile, "pro-life" has been reduced to caring only about the fetus. This misperception has dictated government actions regardless of the evidence we have that shows when programs for sex education, contraception, and prenatal care are funded the number of abortions is reduced.

If reducing the number of abortions is truly the goal, now is the time to see this issue in a new and different way. I suggest a "reverence for life" position, one that upholds the sanctity of life-including after birth-and that recognizes sometimes one has to make an impossible decision. Such decisions should never be made lightly, but they should be personal and medical decisions, not dictated by any government. Life is too important.

Labor Day and Celebrating Organized Labor

8/31/2019

I understand that there are many ways to focus one’s attention this weekend. KU and K-State will play their first football games under the leadership of new head coaches. Families all across the state will have gatherings. This weekend is the last break before the real start of another school year. On Labor Day, Hoisington, KS will host their annual Labor Day Parade, serving as a venue for candidates in local elections as well as Congressional candidates for 2020 elections. I walked that parade many times, and it is a good one.

As we wrap up the dog days of August, bringing another summer as well as swimming pools to a close, let’s remember Labor Day was established to recognize workers. It is on that day we should remember and be thankful that it was organized labor that brought the middle class lifestyle to this country and works to sustain it today. Despite recent declines in participation and status, labor unions still set the bar and significantly impact the lives of all workers and their families.

As I’ve shared before, I believe Wichita is an excellent example of the value of organized labor to the overall economy of the area. Their best local economy was when the aircraft industry and the Machinist Union were at their strongest. That is not surprising given there was much more disposable income to circulate in the community.

Until the American people better understand the connection between organized labor and the benefits to all workers and the middle class in general, I fear the path of decline will only continue. So, in the original spirit of this celebration, here is my salute to the men and women who are our educators, laborers skilled and unskilled, firefighters, law enforcement officers, postal workers, civil servants, and workers of all kinds. You certainly have my thanks and appreciation but also my hopes for a better future.

First: Sandra Day O'Connor Book Review

8/24/2019

I grew up on a dairy farm. I never once in grade nor high school took a book home to study or read. Cows always came first. For most of my adult life, that pattern of not enough reading time continued and to more of an extent than I’d like to admit. But now I can share that reading is much more important today. Books go to sleep with me every night. One of the books I have recently read is “First” by Evan Thomas. He wrote about the life of Sandra Day O’Connor, who spent twenty-four years on the United States Supreme Court.

Justice O’Connor got her undergraduate degree in Economics at Stanford University and earned her Law degree there as well. One very interesting experience she had while attending Stanford University was dating William Rehnquist, who later was appointed to the United States Supreme Court by President Nixon. He eventually became Chief Justice William Rehnquist, but he never quite totally accepted losing Sandra to John O’Connor.

Appointed by President Reagan to the Supreme Court in 1981, she served until 2006. O’Connor was the first woman to serve on the Court and the only one for many years. I didn’t always agree with her, but for the most part partisan politics rarely impacted her decisions. This is in striking contrast to today where politics all too often dominates the judicial decision-making process. Also in contrast to recent Supreme Court appointments, O’Connor was confirmed on a vote of 99-0, illustrating the solid support she had from both sides of the aisle.

Pro-choice supporters should always hold O’Connor in high esteem because on frequent occasions over her many years of service, she was not just the key vote that protected Roe v Wade, but her power behind the scenes was what kept other key Justices in line. Without her, Roe v Wade would have been struck down many years ago.

O’Connor, in a speech in the fall of 1990 on “Women in Power” said, “First step to getting power is to become visible to others and then put on an impressive show.” That message wasn’t just something that sounded good in a speech, but was really the creed she followed. From her work in the practice of law, to her service in the Arizona legislature when women were not supposed to bother men, to judicial appointments within Arizona and ultimately to the United States Supreme Court, was a force to be reckoned with. She was tall, athletic in build, and when she spoke up she was heard. Sandra Day O’Connor certainly left her mark on history.

“First” by Evan Thomas is a book I think you will enjoy. In addition, you will learn much about Sandra Day O’Connor, a woman who broke several glass ceilings, leading the way for many other talented women to succeed.

Farmers and the Trade War

8/17/2019

I have read quotes from and run into farmers who supported Trump (no surprise there) and still do even with the tariffs. Despite the pain that the tariffs are causing, the reality is almost all farmers want to be patient. They apparently feel the President’s overall plan, when fully implemented, will more than offset the so-called temporary financial pain.

This flies in the face of traditional trading norms. When countries stop buying US farm products like soybeans and milk, assuming these buyers will be back as soon as the tariffs are lifted is not realistic. This is particularly true if the buyers are pleased with their new source and it appears to be more reliable. As evidence to the market uncertainty created by these tariffs, the President announced this week that he will not put in place the new tariffs he had promised because they would raise prices on shoppers during the holiday season. I thought the President told us that China would be paying for these tariffs?

Why would these countries come back to the United States when the current administration could very likely without notice put the tariffs back on?

Although I have a B.S. degree in Dairy Husbandry, I know this did not totally provide me a solid understanding of all aspects of Ag Economics, including tariffs and trade, so I decided to get an expert opinion. I asked my friend and fellow teacher Dr. Barry Flinchbaugh, national expert in all issues impacting agriculture, to comment. He said, “No country ever wins a trade war, going back to biblical times, because export sales are like sleep—once you lose the sales they are gone and you cannot get them back.''

What farmers need to understand is that they and their farm organizations are now in a position of strength to put political pressure on the Trump Administration. They should make it clear they are not patiently waiting for the markets to come back. Now they have political leverage. They are part of his base. Speaking up now, they can communicate economically they have no choice but to support former Republican Governor Weld of Massachusetts, currently the only Republican challenger to Trump’s 2020 campaign. He understands these economic realities and pledges to lift unwise tariffs and focus on trade deals that are mutually beneficial.

The same is true for our Congressional delegation. Farmers should expect stronger protests from their representatives to this Administration regarding the negative impact on agriculture, and especially when the President's own Secretary of Agriculture calls farmers whiners. President Trump knows Republican members of Congress want it both ways. Telling their farming constituents that they are concerned is not real pressure that will make this Administration change course. Our entire Agriculture sector needs to be communicating to the Administration that if there is not an immediate reversal and new commitment to positive trade policy, they will have a hard time defending this President in Ag country.

Let me make this clear. If farmers don’t cause this administration any political pain, their silence on the tariffs will most likely assure that tariffs stay in effect longer and become more frequent. If that happens, the result will be serious long-term damage to the Agricultural economy. In states like Kansas, that pain extends farther given the significance of our Ag sector to the overall statewide economy. Adding further to this misery is that much of our manufacturing sector is facing similar results from these tariffs. And more damage can come down the road. Remember, once you lose a buyer, it's almost impossible to get them back.

Failure to Heal, Failure to Act

8/10/2019

I’ve said before and will say again, until we take some responsible and bold action, these horrific gun tragedies will continue. There was Dallas, Baton Rouge, Minneapolis and the Campus of North Carolina at Charlotte. Now we add festivals in Brooklyn New York and the Gilroy Garlic Festival in California. And last weekend, we had two mass shootings in Texas and Ohio in a 24-hour period. We as a country have to know we are just sitting on a powder keg, just waiting for the next tragedy to take place. Peaceful protests, shared words of concern, and prayers are not enough. I lived through the sixties. It can get worse and will if changes are not made.

Soon, if not already now, we are getting numb to such tragedies. We can’t let numbness prevail. We can’t let this become the reality where we just accept and go on knowing that the next gun tragedy will be coming soon. That simply can’t be allowed to happen. It has gone from fairly infrequent to all-too-common, from schools, to black churches, mosques, to artsy crowds, entertainment venues, and now Walmart. Isn't that close enough to home to get everyone’s attention? If it’s not clear yet that this could happen anywhere, I don’t know what it will take.

This brings me to the role of the President when tragedy strikes. In the past, Presidents of both parties would visit affected areas to comfort victims and share in mourning the loss of American lives. Often, these trips are not for any political or policy purpose but simply to grieve and let the victims know that their nation is grieving with them, all the way up to the President. But with this particular President, it seems that every time he’s presented the opportunity to help heal the country, he fails by insulting victims or—in the case of Charlottesville—lifting up the perpetrators, even if said perpetrators are neo-Nazis and white supremacists. He’s consistently failed to show any empathy, leaving us to wonder if he even cares. And, when the crimes are racially motivated, he fails to show the leadership of past Presidents who have utilized the “bully pulpit” to provide some leadership and let the country know that hate and racism will never have the backing of an American President. Yes, he’s been capable of reading pre-written words to denounce hate, but until he acknowledges the division he’s created with his own rhetoric and begins to sincerely try to heal these divides, those words will continue to come across hollow.

And this leads to our failure to act on substantive reforms. Rather than just bounce from one tragedy to the next with similar reactions, shared concerns, and appropriate talking points, we need to get serious about the changes we need to make. I’m pleased to see the President mention specific policy measures that could address this crisis, but remember he’s mentioned background checks before, only to back away from that in the face of NRA pressure and a reminder from Senator McConnell about who writes the checks for Republican reelection bids. So whether the President will ever get beyond tweets, background checks, and blaming it all on mental illness I do not know. What I do know is that as long as we have so many gutless members of Congress and led by Moscow Mitch from Kentucky, we will never have the opportunity or enough pressure on the President to get real change. The 2020 election could help. Despite the National Rifle Association being in financial disarray and losing public support, we will soon find out if they still have a hold over most Republican members of Congress. Or will McConnell simply rely on all of us getting numb or forgetting the lessons of these tragedies by the time Congress returns from their summer recess?

This is a time when real leadership is needed, not just self-serving political rhetoric. Even if it's just a few, I hope people will remember the policy specifics the President has mentioned and work to hold he and Congress to those promises. But, as long as we’re finally getting into specifics, background checks are not enough. We need to stop the sale of automatic weapons and try some kind of buyback program to start to deal with the supply the public already has. What will it take for this to happen, for Congress and the President to get real? Will it require, say, three white nationalists all armed with automatic weapons killing an entire neighborhood at a community gathering?

Maybe some of the change we need can come from the private sector. Dick’s Sporting Goods has stopped selling automatic weapons. Maybe Walmart can follow and together start a movement. Military style automatic weapons have no place outside their role in defending this country and they definitely are not needed for hunting. Time will tell whether we as a country have the smarts and courage to do what is so obviously needed.

The Trumps smile, thumbs-up, and pose with an infant who was orphaned by the shooting in El Paso.

Second Democratic Debate: Where Are We Now?

8/3/2019

My overall reaction is mixed. We certainly learned more, and I believe the winnowing process will start in the next few weeks. With the polling and fundraising requirements going higher, there will be a number of candidates that will not qualify. The polling bar goes from 1% to 2%, and there is a much higher fundraising requirement to be on the stage. Based on what we know now, I think it would be fair to say that the field might get cut in half. That would mean most likely there will be just one debate with all the candidates remaining, which is a much better opportunity for really making evaluations.

For me, there were several things I did not like, that I felt hurt some candidates and, overall, did not help the Democratic Party. For me, attacking President Barack Obama makes no sense. Yes, Obamacare needs improvements. That is easy to agree on. But much of what a few candidates said made it seem like the program had little or no value. That is not true. Getting rid of protections for preexisting conditions alone was a huge step, and it's something many Republicans seem very comfortable taking away. We should build from what we have, not start over. It needs to be remembered that Obama had to get everything passed Moscow Mitch, who made it clear the day Obama took office that his number one goal was to see to it that Obama did not get re-elected and whose approach to governing in the Senate has done serious damage to our system of government.

I also thought too many attack lines may come back on the nominee when fall 2020 arrives. The candidates have to be tough, effective debaters, but that can be demonstrated without being personal. I also did not like the way, for example, moderators instantly tried to set off a food fight between Biden and his attackers as if that was what the whole night was about. At this stage, the focus should have been on giving all candidates equal time so we, the public, can make the best decisions as to who should move forward into the September debate. It should not be the moderators pushing for ratings that keeps that from happening.

On the individual candidates, I say this: Biden did what he had to do and debated much better. He was clearly prepared and showed he learned much from the first debate. I thought both Booker and Harris may have hurt themselves the way they went after Biden. I also know Senator Harris, not answering directly the charges from Congresswoman Gabbard, will hear that challenge again. I suspect there will be no big change in support for Sanders and Warren, and I was a little surprised that they did not make more effort to point out any differences they have. Mayor Pete will move forward for sure and I would love to see, somehow, Senator Bennett and Governor Bullock move forward as well. They are the candidates who have actually done executive work successfully, and the Governor in particular, was very successful in a very red state.

I close by saying I very much hope you watched both nights. As we all know, there is so much at stake. All I ask, as I’ve said before, is you keep in mind the final ticket and their impact on results in Kansas. It does make a difference, and there is so much at stake with in particular the legislative seats up for election in 2020.

Defeating Hate Through Humanity

7/20/2019

The border tragedy is a product of government at its worst. This is an example of where privatizing this function for private sector profits has led to unintended and tragic consequences. There are some government functions that can work when they are privatized, like security for government buildings (this is the protocol at the National Archives, for instance). But privatization does not work with any function like prisons or detention facilities. There is too much temptation for profits to override quality services that are needed to ensure people are cared for in a humane manner.

For the purpose of being balanced and fair, immigration issues at the border did not start with President Trump. There were problems in the previous administration, just not at the inhumane level we have now. And not fueled by the same hateful rhetoric and beliefs that are used to appeal to an angry, racist mob—stoking the flames of fear and division and calling into question the fundamental values of our country. What we need is a Congress that will not just investigate and have hearings, but one that will somehow pass comprehensive, bipartisan immigration reform and then properly fund the program. And, more broadly, we need decent people of all backgrounds to recognize hatred, call it out, and work to defeat it with humanity and love.

Enough from me. When someone else delivers the message so right and in a special way, why try to compete? The following is a message from my friend Pastor Max Hale:

Life less on the Border

While the coffee is still hot
     evidence incontrovertible
          unrelenting anguish
Little lives rubbished
     caring capability paralyzed
Blanket hot wet
     covers my head
          breathing restricting
               nausea
I cry because I may get over it
Time to dismiss blue devils
Quicksand wisdom
     move sideways
          toward reliable compassion
Refabricate my life
     to fit God's dream

I must center myself before I open myself to the morning news. Otherwise, I'm sick the whole day. Families ripped apart, children in cages, decent people turning savage: we're losing our grip on humanity. I know it doesn't have to be this way. I also know it is possible to lose my compassion. That frightens me. I have been told that if one is ever in quicksand, the secret is not to panic and to move deliberately slowly sideways to solid ground. I can, I will control my rage, dismiss the blue devils of depression, wipe the tears and look for an opening for compassionate action.
-Max

You can read more from Pastor Hale on his blog or his contributions to the Leader Corner.

Border Detention Facility

An Unwelcome Twist on the 4th of July

7/3/2019

Happy 4th of July to all of you. Our Independence Day is the holiday we have traditionally celebrated, along with fireworks and food, the work of the Founding Fathers in declaring our independence from Great Britain. Combined with our Constitution and the Bill of Rights, we have our three Charters of Freedom that underpin our Democracy and have been a successful model that many countries across the world have followed. The celebration itself has always been about “We the People.”

This fundamental concept is truly being tested today with the current administration and their daily actions. For example, this year President Trump is turning the entire celebration on the National Mall into a partisan event with a political campaign speech at the Lincoln Memorial. When we lived in D.C., we attended and or always watched on TV as we do now, the special 4th of July patriotic non-political entertainment and messages.

Although the President has for sometime wanted a big military parade down Pennsylvania Ave to display military might, he plans to use this moment to take a step in his direction by including fancy flyovers and tanks to accompany his political speech. Just for some context, here is what former President Eisenhower had to say about such activity: “Absolutely not. We, the United States, are seeking peace, we are the preeminent power on earth. For us to try to imitate what the Soviets are doing in Red Square would make us look weak.”

The politicizing of our 4th of July should be a reminder of just how important the next year’s election is for our form of government. Out of respect to all those Americans who have served in the military or public service to protect and implement the fundamentals of our democracy, politics should not be any focus of this national holiday. Four more years of the current administration we have now could put our values in jeopardy.

Be safe. Enjoy. Have hope.

Service members preparing for the 4th of July celebration

Reaction to the First Democratic Presidential Debates

6/30/2019

Knowing the importance of polling to communicate how candidates are doing, and obviously not having the resources to poll nationally, I narrowed my polling pool to members of my immediate family. There is no consensus, but they clearly point to candidates that should definitely stay in the race and could win. They also gave a long list of the candidates they feel will likely not be around after the end of July debates.

My 15-year old granddaughter Nikki likes Mayor Pete because “of his unique and logical platform." She mentioned his plan on college affordability and his caution toward the idea of free tuition for everyone as an example of well thought-out policy. My grandsons, Jack and Joe, are 13 and like only the candidates who will make dealing with climate change a top priority. The adults, my wife, mother-in-law, daughter, son, and two sons-in-law, support ranges from Kamala Harris to Mayor Pete to Michael Bennet to whoever, in their opinion, can beat Trump. At least for now, that list did not include Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, or Elizabeth Warren. However, I know other polls would have those three showing pretty prominently. So, as the field begins to narrow, I plan to add an informal poll or two to my future blog posts about the presidential race. It will be good to hear and share more of your perspectives on this important election.

In general, I was very pleased. Although none of the questions I thought should be asked were asked, one thing for sure is that Democrats have a right to be proud of the quality of the entire field. They are not all ready for prime-time and many have little realistic chance of success. However, this field of candidates are all intelligent, motivated, and have a desire to help lead our country forward. Every single one of them could be a help to any Democrat who wins the Presidency, something that any objective person could not have said about Republicans in 2016.

Here is where we are now after two nights of debate. First, the debates start to sort out those who have a path to the nomination from those who do not. Second, the three front runners in the polls before the debate, Biden, Warren, and Sanders, are likely going to see their poll numbers drop. I suspect the fundraising numbers that will come out soon will give further evidence, particularly about who can really afford to stay in the race. After the July 30 and 31 debates, it will become clearer who are the candidates with realistic hopes to win.

Biden was the big disappointment. It is too early to set him aside, but he is clearly going to take a lot more hits between now and the next debate. Concerns about Biden include age, too much leaning on the past, and a debate performance that will cause a lot of Democrats to worry about his ability to debate one-on-one with President Trump. The likely silver bullet that the opposition now has against Warren and Sanders was their strong defense of eliminating private health insurance in their Medicare-for-all plans. Polls show that many supporters of Medicare-for-all assume they will have the option of keeping the private insurance they currently have. So this should be something to keep an eye on as the debates go on.

Candidates who I think helped themselves were: Kamala Harris with her debate style; Julian Castro successfully taking on of Beto O’Rourke; Amy Klobucher sharing why she can do well in the rust belt states; Pete Buttigieg for his candor on dealing with the police tragedy in South Bend, IN; and John Hickenlooper sharing his leadership success as Governor.

To say the least it will be an interesting five weeks until Detroit and the next debate.

Questions that Presidential Candidates Seldom Get Asked

6/23/2019

Debates for Democratic presidential candidates start this week, on June 26th and 27th. There will be major press coverage and follow-up interviews with many opportunities to ask key questions. What would really be helpful are some practical questions asked on just how each of these candidates intend to do the job of being President.

Today, all too often the questions asked are designed to create differences amongst the candidates on issues, and to stir the pot as best the moderators can. I would have less a problem with that if the pot was also being stirred with some questions that directly share how each candidate would accomplish their agenda. In many cases, candidate’s answers to policy positions are guided by very comprehensive polling.

The questions I have listed next are a sample of topics that get at the information we really need to make the best decision about whom to give our vote. Here is where the candidate’s candor and real experiences could genuinely inform voters on who might be best to get the job done.

What is the most significant crisis you’ve dealt with? What role did you play? What was a key lesson you learned?
In your executive experience, what one mistake have you made that has been most beneficial as a learning lesson?
What is your approach to putting a team together? Beyond talent, what are you most looking for as you assemble that team?
What is the toughest decision you’ve had to make? What helped you most in making that decision? What did you learn?
What leadership experience are you most proud of and why, particularly as it might relate to the challenges ahead for our next President?

Perhaps more than ever, we are seeing the impact of poor leadership and management at the federal level in the current administration. In many ways, it has become a case study for how not to build and conduct a large organization or administration. From ethics concerns to mistrust and tense relationships with career civil servants, the next President will have their work cut out for them in terms of cleaning up, restoring trust, and truly “draining the swamp” in Washington, D.C. And I believe the gravity of that task should factor into how we evaluate and weigh the candidates for our country’s highest office.

I share with you the following article from my good friend Dan Glickman to further enforce these points. “Ideas are great,” he writes, “but...nothing can be accomplished without management expertise, knowledge of how the different federal government branches interact, and the ability to put together a high performance team of professionals that can actually get things done.”

Debate Podiums

Is Our News Coverage Helping or Hurting Democracy?

6/16/2019

There is no question that the role of the press is critical for our system of government to operate in the public interest. Our Founding Fathers made this very clear. A free press is a basic strength of our Constitutional Democracy. Exposing Watergate, for example, was driven by hard working reporters committed to getting the facts to the public and Congress. But things have changed not just nationally but particularly at the local level.

The job of the press in Kansas has become more and more challenging. Many of our newspapers here in Kansas have been bought up by wealthy and often right wing thinkers, with little or no interest in informing the public, and there is now less communication with citizens. These newspapers have smaller budgets and there are fewer and fewer quality investigative reporters doing research and writing on topics the public needs to know about. We’ve gone from a time when individual editors of Kansas newspapers were prominent, influential, and played a significant role in politics and civic life, to a time now where few, if any, have that kind of involvement at all.

I find it concerning how frequently one story totally dominates the national television news. This singular focus is understandable when an event like 9-11 occurs. But when a hurricane takes total—and I mean total—control of the daily television news, what all are we missing that could have made a difference? An informed electorate is basic to the workings of democracy. I know and understand that there will always be a lead story that does call for significant coverage, but we live in a very dangerous world with many major issues that should not be ignored.

The current effort to investigate our President should make the news and significant time should be spent on this, but not totally at the expense of coverage of other key issues. As an example of one concern that gets little or no coverage, I would suggest to increase reporting of our growing national debt, about why it has and continues to grow, as well as how close we are to a real catastrophe. Climate change is another. On those issues, the lack of coverage allows almost all of our elected officials to hide behind the American people’s unawareness that a crisis is looming. Coverage of such issues just might make a difference if the public was educated and then had the opportunity to press our elected officials for responsible action.

Only PBS and NPR cover a broad swath of the news as well as from an educational point of view. It is standard on each of these newscasts that several key issues of the day are brought to the American people in a balanced and very educational format. Naturally, this is the program that right wing Republicans want to try cripple by taking away all federal funding, which will make it more difficult for the public to be truly informed.

In fairness to the press, it is probably as much our responsibility as it is theirs. We, as responsible citizens, need to possess critical thinking, look for and be supportive of the variety of news sources available, and follow a mix that provides us with different points of view. No one media source has all the correct information, and seeing and hearing different perspectives only puts us in a much more informed position to truly be engaged, informed, and voting citizens of this great country.

4th Estate Cartoon

A popular political cartoon representing "The 4th Estate"

June is National Dairy Month

6/9/2019

For as long as I can remember, June has been Dairy Month all across the country. Growing up we were not just milking cows, but my Dad was for several years President of the Kansas Dairy Association. He took his role very seriously, best exemplified by his almost religious belief that one did not have to use the butter paddy on the dinner table, but you had to, "at least mess it up." Later, as Governor for eight years, I had the enjoyable experience of signing the Proclamation declaring June as Dairy Month in Kansas. I then got to enjoy the ice cream brought to my office by the dairy leaders of the state.

A lot has changed in the dairy industry in Kansas since those early days. When I still had the cows, our herd was one of over 30 herds in Saline County alone participating in official testing for milk production of each individual cow. Today, in most counties, I don’t believe any milking herds remain. Yet somehow Kansas is the 5th largest dairy state in the country. Obviously, the huge dairies in western Kansas make that possible. Which is why Trump’s tariff policies have been so damaging to not just those dairies but to the overall economy of Kansas. Mexico and China have been major purchasers of milk products from us, and their shift to other dairy sources may not just be temporary.

For this June to be really special, we need two things to change. First, our country’s trade policies need to more positively represent the interests of all who market internationally, and not just in the dairy industry. Second, development of a sensible immigration policy would really help. Why do I say that? Very simple: If you were milking 10,000 to 25,000 cows probably three times a day and depended on immigrants to do that work, you would see immigration policy in a totally different light. The tariffs and the need for immigrant workers make milking cows in Kansas a real challenge. And the Trump Administration is making it even harder on both fronts.

Obviously, I haven't milked a cow for a very long time. But I still have fond respect for those who do and wish them the very best for not only June but for the future. Just to stay in touch, I do still take the Hoard’s Dairyman- a magazine out of Wisconsin where one of my 4-H kids from the Smolan community, Steve Larson, served as chief executive for many years. I will toast the dairy industry this year by stopping at the nearest Dairy Queen on my way home for a Chocolate Cookie Dough Blizzard.

John Carlin and Dairy Cows in Smolan

Women Running for Office Will Save Our Country

6/2/2019

Hillary Clinton may have lost in her 2016 effort to be President (Electoral College only, she won the popular vote big-time) but for sure her success played a key role, I believe, in inspiring so many talented women to run for Congress in 2018 and win. There are 34 new women in the House of Representatives, 33 of whom are Democrats. What stands out to me when I catch an interview with one of them is their passionate commitment to do what they told voters during the campaign they would do. Clearly, these women listened and learned from voters and they are committed to not making the aisle a barrier to getting anything done.

Now, for the first time, we have many talented Democratic women running for President of the United States. Regardless of whether a woman wins or not in 2020, their presence adds a positive dimension to the dialogue. When women lead the way on many issues of obvious interest to women, more men understand and are supportive. More women running at all levels of government also gives a different perspective as we try to address the many challenges we face as a country.

Looking ahead, this country’s best hope is with women winning more and more elections at every level. I say that because women are much more likely to scrap this viciously partisan gamesmanship that exists at almost all levels of elections, and they will work to get positive things done for the good of the people. Congresswoman Sharice Davids in our Kansas 3rd Congressional District is an excellent example. She is very bright, very passionate about changes that need to be made like in health care and not hesitant to work across the aisle to get things done.

I see similar progress in the Kansas Legislature, particularly compared to when I was in office. In recent years, bipartisan groups of women have been key to getting our state back on the road to recovery after the devastating Brownback years, and Governor Laura Kelly will now take the lead in keeping us on the right path. Now, compare that to when I was first elected to the Legislature in 1970. In my first term the Equal Rights Amendment to the United States Constitution was passed and sent to the states for potential ratification. To show you how times have changed, support for the Amendment was strong generally across the board and it was passed overwhelmingly by a male and Republican-dominated legislature. There were only two women in the House and, interestingly enough, both voted against it based primarily on their concern that we would all be using the same bathroom.

Then, following my re-election in 1976 and becoming Speaker for the '77-78 term, I was in the position of appointing all the committee chairs. By then, we had added several women to the Democratic Caucus and it was my pleasure to appoint the first ever women chairs of committees in the Kansas Legislature. They were Ruth Wilkin from Topeka and Ruth Lazzati from Wichita.

For the record, there are very good men in public office as well. It is just that there are too many men who are there to hold the seat, enjoy whatever perks exist, and follow whatever the special interests who got them elected want them to do. Good women are making a real difference at both the state and national level. It just might be realistic now to hope that with this progress continuing, we will soon reach a tipping point and sanity in politics will once again become common at both the national and state levels.

Congresswoman Sharice Davids

Congresswoman Sharice Davids of Kansas, on the campaign trail in 2018

Memorial Day Weekend Always Special

5/25/2019

The long three-day weekend we commemorate Memorial day, initially set aside to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country, is much much more than a longer break from one work week to the next. Our military service men and women and their families, who sacrifice in many ways, should be remembered and appreciated for all they are and all they have done to serve and protect the United States of America. We should think about how important they were and still are to protecting this country and its founding ideals.

We all have family and friends buried in cemeteries that we try to visit, bring flowers, and at least for a moment, reflect on the past. Memorial Day is an opportunity to remember those who have passed on who made a real difference in our lives. We all have folks who provided us help and guidance, whether they were parents, siblings, teachers, or just good friends. We didn’t get to where we are by ourselves.

I want to recognize one community, which I know very well, that will have an additional celebration over the weekend. The Salemsborg Lutheran Church, located between Smolan and Lindsborg, will celebrate 150 years of continuous service to the community. With over 500 members, this weekend is not just a celebration of the past but an example of a rural church that today still has much to offer. Founded by Swedish families who came to the Smoky Valley (south of Salina to just beyond Lindsborg) in 1869, these immigrants and pioneers built churches in every small community. In addition they founded Lindsborg, Bethany College, and the famous Handel’s Messiah Festival, all in 1869.

I wish you a safe, enjoyable Memorial Day Weekend and encourage you to find a time to pause to reflect.

Salemsborg Lutheran Church on Memorial Day

A view of Salemsborg Lutheran Church, decorated for the annual Memorial Day recognition.

Glimmers of Hope in Unexpected Places

5/19/2019

Just when you’re about to throw in the towel, a glimmer of hope shines through. Here are a couple—one local and one national—that helped remind me that progress is possible.

I have known Art Loub from Manhattan for many years. Those of you who have ties to Kansas State University should remember Art as heading the KSU Foundation for many years, now retired from that position for over fifteen years I believe. We have been friends, not close for sure, but we certainly speak to each other as we frequently cross paths. Many people in this community know a couple things for sure about Art Loub: He loves to express his feelings with letters to the Manhattan Mercury and his political philosophy clearly is far right, particularly on any budget or tax issue or anything that looks Democratic.

Recently, on the editorial page of the Manhattan Mercury, this headline caught my attention: "Local Lawmakers Derelict as National Debt Skyrockets Out of Control." Immediately I assumed that my friend would be pushing for lawmakers to slash the federal budget, cutting back on everything but the defense budget. But that was not the case. Instead, what he was pushing for was to raise taxes on the very rich and big corporations that are making millions and paying little or no taxes. I don’t expect Art to change political parties, but a lot of Democrats would be very comfortable with that direction.

Maybe even more shocking to me were his ideas about Social Security. I assumed his policy direction would be cutting the program so it would stop contributing to the deficit. Again, I was wrong. My now closer friend suggested that the ceiling limit on being taxed for Social Security should be raised to a million dollars. I agree, but in this case I think both political parties in Washington need to hear this message.

Then, an even a bigger shock for me happened in less than 24 hours when the Chief Executive of the National Chamber of Commerce announced a major political shift to move their policy more toward the middle and develop a role larger than working solely with the very wealthy and huge corporations. He even talked about accepting the fact that there are Democrats they could work with to find common ground. “Now,” as another of my friends says, “if we could just get the State Chamber of Commerce off the far, far right way of thinking, we would be on our way to a better future.”

Maybe there is more hope than I often think. I’ve said to many folks recently that I worry about my grandchildren and their future. I’m still worried, but now I have a little more hope.

US Chamber of Commerce Building

Outside the US Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C.