ORGANIZATIONS BRING BALANCE TO OUR POLARIZED WORLD

  

Several weeks ago, I picked up an issue of Sports Illustrated magazine (SI) and began reading the cover article on what goes on behind the scenes of an NFL team, the Miami Dolphins.  I was awe-struck by the number of unsung employees with diverse skill sets and backgrounds who help keep a professional sports organization running smoothly. This caused me to pause and consider other organizations that are more intricate than one would imagine. I was left with the question; how is it possible in our deeply polarized world that humans are so proficient in bringing assorted and contradictory individuals together to form complex organizations?

An NFL team typically has 150-175 employees, including players, coaches, front office staff, medical and training personnel, and support staff. The article in SI acknowledges, “The head coach sets a football team’s culture.” However, a large array of dissimilar employees, many with long careers with the team, surround the coach. Hundreds of tiny details and unrecognized “grunt work” determines success.

The sideline guy in the purple hat is taking care of the Microsoft Surface Pro Tablets. Because the coaches work around the clock, the computer specialists must always be available to field requests and provide maintenance. The video staff has developed 350 data filters of every NFL play.

The assistant athletic trainers must learn all 16 ways to tape an ankle and keep track of each player’s preferences. The strength and fitness coaches are monitoring practice and pre-game exercise routines. Security guards have regular meetings to plan for curfew checks, transportation of players, and to consider every possible crisis. Equipment specialists are responsible for endless checklists and contingency plans involving helmets, cleats, and other football accessories. The equipment manager must determine what items are packed on the multiple trucks for away games and what will go with the team on the plane.

The communications staff is busy getting mandated information from the team to the NFL and to the media.  During the pandemic, there was a team of trained medical staff to develop protocols, perform testing, and then record the results.

Before an NFL game is “ready for prime time,” the organizational effort involves hundreds of additional stadium and media personnel. All of the participants, including the thousands of fans, hold diverse political views like the rest of the nation. On game day, they are a community of one pulling for their football team.

One could point to many other complex organizations that overcome political and social polarization to produce over-the top achievements.   Corporations and business entities are examples. The thousands of community theaters, cultural events, and local community sports teams come to mind.

The United States Capitol may be the most polarized piece of real estate in the country. Almost 11,000 staff members come to work there every day. The Architect of the Capitol is the federal agency responsible for the maintenance, operation, development, and preservation of the Capitol Complex and employs 2,000 personnel. The United States Capitol Police has more than 2,300 officers and civilian employees. This vast network of contrasting individuals is able to form an efficient organization. Somehow, the organization defended the building against a violent attack, even when the elected Congressional officials from opposite sides of the aisle were working at cross-purposes and refused to speak to each other.

On the surface, polarization in our society appears to be spreading. According to the Pew Research Center, the share of Americans who express consistently conservative or consistently liberal opinions has doubled over the past two decades from 10 to 21 percent. As a result, the amount of ideological overlap in the American public has greatly diminished. The same report finds that differences between the right and left go beyond politics. For example, nearly four times as many liberals as conservatives say it is important that their communities have racial and ethnic diversity. About three times as many conservatives as liberals say it is important that many in the community share their religious faith.

In this polarized environment, how is it possible that complex organizations that require cooperation to survive not only exist, but also thrive? For one thing, studies have shown that fewer than 10 percent of Americans are responsible for most political discourse in America. The lion’s share of Americans are not political junkies glued to polarizing news feeds and social media.

Elections and politics more broadly are not a significant factor in most lives. The majority of Americans gain meaning and sources of fulfillment from their family, community, and work. They do not view the life-long journey to reach their potential as dictated by their political views. Religious faith and learned positive behaviors promote family and community goals. Working cooperatively with others in diverse organizations, even in the nation’s Capital, provides feedback that is more positive and satisfying than engaging in negative tribal politics.

Organizations are most effective when they employ communication channels that share information in a timely and transparent manner. Successful organizations break down silos and encourage collaboration. They are exactly what America needs to counter the negative effects of narrow, partisan, political polarization.

There is strong evidence that our elected officials and cable news outlets are far more politically polarized than the country at large. Most citizens work together in non-political cooperative organizations to achieve mutually beneficial results. This reality is helpful in preserving democracy and the American dream.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AMERICAN DEMOCRACY AT THE BREAKING POINT

Our deeply divided country can agree on one fact. The American political system is dysfunctional. The basic responsibilities of government are not working to provide legislative solutions to important problems. The chronic dilemmas of deficits, climate change, immigration, gun control and inequality receive little attention. It is unbelievable that in 2023, Congress only passed 27 bills compared to the 10-year average of 391 legislative measures.

To explain how our democratic system has reached this impasse, political scientists have studied the changing composition of the American people, what provisions continue to work in our Constitution and the outdated Constitutional provisions for electing presidents and senators. This commentary will review these findings.

What is pluralism? According to constitutionus.com, “Pluralism is the idea that citizens of different backgrounds can coexist in society even though they have different political opinions. Pluralists believe that a nation benefits from citizens with different beliefs equally participating in the same society.”

Who are the American people? For much of the 18th and 19th centuries, pluralism was not a political concern. The “typical American” was Male, White, Anglo-Saxon, and Protestant. Disenfranchised Native Americans and enslaved Africans were not a challenge to the system.  By the mid-to-late 19th century, Southern European immigration changed the composition of the American people. The Fourteenth Amendment granted four million African Americans their citizenship. In 1920, women gained the right to vote.

Today, America has numerous interest groups seeking a voice in government. Unfortunately, a conservative white minority now elects Congressional Representatives who refuse to consider the positions of others. Democracy and pluralism are being tested by a fractious, partisan divide.

How does our Constitution embody pluralism? James Madison argued in favor of adding pluralism to the Constitution in his ‘Number Ten” Federalist Paper. Madison pointed out that it was important for different political factions to tolerate each other and that no minority should be shut out of government. The political commentator, David French, summarizes Madison’s position as follows: “He said, what you essentially need to do is to dilute the disruptive power of faction by allowing factions to bloom. In other words, you don’t have to defeat or suppress another person to live according to your core values.”

What specific measures does the Constitution contain to protect pluralism in America? The Bill of Rights and the Civil War Amendments to the Constitutions are the baseline rights that all Americans enjoy. These rights cannot be taken away by losing an election or by living in a community hostile to one’s views.

The Constitution also favored the pluralist model of democracy by dividing power between the three branches of government including an independent judiciary. Competing interests have the opportunity to advocate for their own causes and values. However, to resolve disagreements and to respect diversity of beliefs in a pluralist society, compromise is essential.

What went wrong? Ironically, certain provisions in the Constitution have had the unintended effect of thwarting the will of an expanding multicultural majority in favor of a shrinking rural white minority. These outdated provisions have given an unyielding minority the means to paralyze government unless their demands are met.

The Electoral College. At the original Constitutional Convention, the compromise to elect the president was the Electoral College. Under this unique but now outdated system, every state had input into the electoral process rather than permitting the popular vote to elect the president.

The Electoral College system allows a candidate with fewer popular votes to win the presidency. George W. Bush in 2000 and Donald Trump in 2016 were both elected while losing the popular vote.  The more divided the country becomes, the greater likelihood that the Electoral College will defeat the will of the majority and elect a president who is supported by an uncompromising minority.

The U.S. Senate. The U.S. Senate provides an unfair advantage to the conservative white minority. The 40 million people who live in the 22 smallest, more rural states get 44 senators to represent them. The 40 million people living in liberal California get two senators. Moreover, the filibuster in the senate, which requires a supermajority of 60 votes to pass legislation, permits the white minority to block measures supported by the multicultural majority.

The Supreme Court.  The conservative Supreme Court with its judicial review and its majority of lifetime judges has consistently shown little judicial restraint in siding with the white minority. In recent polls, more than half the nation disapproves of how the court does its job.

What can be done? In the new book, Tyranny of the Minority: Why American Democracy Reached the Breaking Point, it is argued that that other democracies, with constitutions modeled on our own, have abolished indirect voting like the Electoral College and other constitutional measures that unnecessarily favor minorities that are unwilling to compromise.

The authors, Harvard professors Daniel Ziblatt and Stephen Levitsky, fear that the Republican Party “has turned into a refuge of whites who fear loss of status and power due to the U.S. advance toward multiracial diversity.” They believe that Republicans are relying on outdated constitutional provisions that permit an unyielding minority to stay in power.

Amending our Constitution is the obvious solution. Norway has modified its founding document 316 times to achieve a modern, workable government. In the United States, the abusive rule of the few demands that the majority consider similar action to restore pluralism and compromise to our political system. 

WASHINGTON COUNTY CAN CONTINUE TO THRIVE

We should all wish Nick Sherman, the new Republican Chairman of the Washington County Board of Commissioners, along with his fellow commissioners, Republican Electra Janis and Democrat Larry Maggi, the best as they embark on their new term in office.

Washington County is now firmly in the ranks of the majority of Pennsylvania counties that are governed by a Republican-led Board of Commissioners. Historically, Republicans have constructively managed their local county governments. The rule has been to focus on community issues and to avoid the ideological political battles and acrimony so prevalent in the State Capitol and in Congress.

In Washington County, rather than expect the worst, Democrats who are disappointed with the election results should hope for the best. Until proven otherwise, the new administration deserves our support.

Washington County can continue to thrive as an overachieving mid-size Pennsylvania county offering plentiful jobs, economic growth, and a standard of living that middle class families can afford. The blueprint is in place to guarantee success without disrupting the existing management plan. Knowledgeable civil servants with little interest in politics can continue to keep the wheels turning and the economy humming.

The new Board is awash in experience and valuable knowledge. Commissioner Maggi has been in office for twenty years and Sherman for four. They both favor low taxes, economic development, and ready access to services. Commissioner Janis is an untested addition, but nothing in her campaign indicated an affinity for more radical positions. While there will be disagreements the three commissioners should be able to find common ground on many important issues.

Commissioner Sherman offered some encouraging plans at the first voting meeting of the Board. The decision to schedule evening board meetings and the proposal to hold town halls across the county will make local government more accessible. In the previous term, a small group of election deniers and Republican Row Office officials hijacked afternoon meetings. They coordinated their efforts to articulate radical positions and to unfairly criticizing the Commissioners. The new schedule should provide an opportunity for average residents to weigh in with legitimate complaints and suggestions.

In his initial remarks, Sherman made a commitment to focus the new administration on human services and public safety. Arguably, both issues are among the most important deliverables of county government. However, the new administration should seek the advice of experienced department heads who understand their respective domains before making major changes.

The initial task facing the majority Republican Commissioners was the appointment of high-level support staff who will advise the Board on legal, financial, and administrative matters.  The decision to appoint local attorney Gary Sweat as County Solicitor had merit. Attorney Sweat has municipal law, real estate, and oil/gas experience with no apparent political agenda.

The choice of Daryl Price to serve as chief of staff surprised many observers. Mr. Price graduated with a business degree from W&J College and has worked as an Adjunct Professor at Point Park University. Unlike his two predecessors in the position, Michael Namie and James McCune, he has little experience in county government.  At this point, the important position of financial director has not been filled. Apparently, the commissioners will continue to use the services of the financial advisor retained last year to perform this service.

The last four years saw the elected Republicans in the Row Offices dominate many ugly news cycles. It would be a welcome relief if these officials settle calmly into their courthouse duties, follow instructions from the Commissioners and President Judge, and remain bi-partisan during their terms in office.

The County Controller, April Sloane, will stay in the news for her arrest on felony animal cruelty charges as the case makes its way through the criminal justice system. Sloane shows no intention of resigning despite universal demands that she do so. If she decides to serve out her term, only impeachment proceedings by the State House of Representatives and a trial in the Pennsylvania Senate can remove her. Because of the time and millions of dollars it takes to impeach an elected public official, this result is highly unlikely.

I will finish this commentary by highlighting two county projects that continue to be discussed but which were never implemented. My thought is that the beginning of a new term may be the perfect time to reintroduce them before the commissioners’ plates get too heavy.

Washington County Cultural Center. Washington County needs a building or campus dedicated to local cultural activities and the arts. The commissioners in other counties the size of Washington have created “Cultural Center Authorities” with the focused goal of purchasing, developing, and preserving a community cultural center. A county created authority would bring together the numerous music, theater, creative arts, and cultural groups to locate and maintain a permanent home.

Washington County Diversity Commission.  Over the last decade, Washington County has continued to get more diverse. The introduction of oil and gas operations and other economic opportunities have brought families with diverse backgrounds to live and work in our communities. Numerous Pennsylvania counties undergoing similar changes have formed Diversity Commissions.

Such a working group, appointed by the commissioners, but functionally independently would be charged with creating a strategic plan to encourage minority participation in community life and to promote racial equality. The simple but important goal would be “we are all better off when we are all better off.”

 

 

AMERICA’S DIVERSITY SHINES IN SAN DIEGO

 

Residents in the Washington County area assume that local communities represent good examples of American diversity. After all, numerous ethnic groups settled in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Each brought with them a plethora of traditions and religious backgrounds. The many food festivals and multicultural events are a constant reminder that the region is not homogeneous.

Our recent visit to Southern California exposed us to a very different experience concerning American diversity. In fact, a week in San Diego felt like a visit to another country. From the climate, architecture, food, attractions, and explosion of Mexican culture, two wide-eyed Pennsylvanians could only react like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. We were not in Washington County anymore.

The historic sites in Old Town San Diego were the location of the first European settlement in California. This was a good place for us to begin our understanding of local history. The old adobe church and early haciendas were carefully reconstructed and contained many exhibits highlighting the area’s past.

Traditionally, elementary school students are taught the history of Plymouth, Massachusetts. America’s first permanent English settlement led to the establishment of the original thirteen colonies. The west-coast Spanish colonization that began in Old San Diego can claim an equally important American origination story. These events culminated in the formation of California as the thirty-first state in 1850. Unfortunately, this important chapter of American history is largely ignored in most elementary school history books.

Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1821. “Alta California,” which includes present day California and portions of six other states became a Mexican province. Initially, California residents were descendants of agricultural families and retired soldiers from Mexico. By the 1830s, white settlers from Canada and the United States began populating Southern California.

In 1835, President Andrew Jackson was unsuccessful in negotiating the purchase of Texas and Alta California with the Mexican government. In July 1846, Commodore Robert Stockton, under instructions from his superiors, issued a proclamation annexing California to the U.S. and raised the American flag over San Diego. Following a sporadic military conflict, peace negotiations with Mexico resulted in the Treaty of Guadalupe in 1848. This treaty required Mexico to cede 55 percent of its territory, including the present-day states of California, Nevada, Utah and most of Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona.

The population of San Diego when California became a state was only 650. Now, over 1,374,000 inhabit the area with thirty-four percent claiming a Mexican-American heritage. Twenty-three percent of all citizens were born outside of the United States, more than double the U.S. average. San Diego County is home to more than 100,000 active-duty service members and 240,000 veterans, making it one of the largest concentrations of military personnel in the country.   This unique composition of Hispanic/military residents adds to the diversity.

No conversation of San Diego would be complete without a discussion of the Zoo and Zoo Safari Park. Both are world famous for their size, assortment of animals, and wildlife rescue operations. Several highlights of our visits were a thirty minute up close observation of a mother tiger and her twin cubs at play and an encounter with a young giraffe, only feet from our safari tram. We were fortunate to be enjoying both attractions between Thanksgiving and Christmas when the crowds were thin. The zoo community was buzzing with anticipation at a possible return of giant pandas, after Chinese President Xi Jinping hinted at this possibility while visiting California in November.

San Diego has a year-round “Goldilocks” climate. It is never too hot, too cold, or too humid. The basic climate features are sunny/dry summers with cooler/wetter winters. Normally, 344 days a year are hotter than 60 °F, but only 25 days are hotter than 80 °F. Customarily, there are 146 sunny days and 117 partly cloudy days a year compared with our region that averages 306 cloudy days and 59 clear days.

San Diego has an uncommon marine climate, strongly influenced by cool Pacific Ocean temperatures. The ocean air spreads inland from the beautiful beaches, gradually warming inland valleys. Despite the warm climate, winter skiing is only three hours away in the San Bernardino Mountains.

The close proximity to Mexico makes Hispanic cuisine a major attraction. We ate in a one star Michelin restaurant in La Jolla, an upscale beach town near San Diego. The airy establishment featured exceptional, gourmet tacos and desserts like the mango cake that had us begging for more. All of the locals boast of their “secret” carne asada and margarita recipes.

San Diego offers the perfect vacation and cultural trip. While the travel time to this sunny location takes longer than a jaunt to South Florida, the rewards far outweigh the effort. Seventy miles of shoreline full of marine life and tidal pools are unique to Southern California and fun to explore.

The median age of San Diego residents is 35. Young families are everywhere enjoying the pleasant weather. The city has the highest percentage of those who walk or bike to work, the lowest percentage of obesity, and the most dog parks per capita.

San Diego is one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse places in the nation. It has earned the title of “America’s finest city.”  It is a place to admire as we consider the benefits of a young, vibrant, and growing, multicultural community.