The Forecast Calls for..

Not the weather that’s far too easy. The economy? Nah, too useful. Instead Jeff Linroth forecasts..

Jeff Linroth forecasts the future…of the republic.

Much is made of our current “polarization”, as if it is new. Actually there have been many ebbs and flows of discord among Americans, and for many reasons. We have always managed to turn the tide, usually with help from external threats.

We argue vehemently, demonize each other, and even gang up on each other because we perceive it is safe to do so. When one or more worrisome enough external threats materialize, we put aside our differences and unite to the extent necessary to maintain our republic. Let’s make the re-uniting process easier and quicker. We should anticipate that we will eventually need to do it under duress.

What To Do While We Wait for the Threat

For all of the issues we argue about, we need better tactics so we can produce better outcomes during peacetime. Disagreements are effortful, so we should aim to get tangible results from our conflicts. The more productively we disagree with one another, the more learning will take place, and most importantly, the more consensus we will develop. We all have a need to feel as though we are “winning” at something. We must channel that desire to win into productive activity such as innovation and performing excellent work instead of in politics and legislation. The most beneficial legislation almost always leaves everyone with the feeling that they didn’t get everything they wanted from it.

We Unite When the Threat Arrives!

The more trust we build, the more compromise we negotiate among our differences, the more prepared we are for the inevitable external force that comes along to threaten our very existence as a nation!

Remember That We are a Republic…not a Democracy

We can help our elected representatives congratulating them on their electoral wins…and then let them govern! We do best we we focus on what outcomes we want…not on the specifics of how to achieve them. And those “unelected bureaucrats”? They are the ones who specialize in implementing the useful things elected officials decide on. They deserve our appreciation as well.
-Jeff Linroth