Tutorial - The "How to" for Holding Candidates Accountable

Opening Remarks

The single most important message in this tutorial is simple.  The American people, and many candidates for elective office, want a method to  hold candidates for public office accountable once elected to serve.  How do we create such formidable change? The most powerful change occurs when a truth is shown that influences a persons feelings.  This is particularly so in efforts of large scale change where political transformation shifts power away from the powerful and increases the power of the individual.  Feeling empowered by truth that change is possible is the heart of change itself.  

A truth is shown in the following material that holding candidates accountable by contract is not only possible, it is a dormant constitutional right granted us by our Founding Fathers. There are no similar methodologies  for change as those presented in The Responsibility Era. Based on the necessities of practical politics, The Responsibility Era holds promise to create large scale political change in America by holding candidates and elected officials accountable by contract -- and drive positive change that feels good to candidates, elected officials and the American people.

Contract law is already in the political spectrum and is such a fundamental construct of how we govern ourselves it is like breathing -- we forget we use air until we are under water.  Many Americans, including many elected officials, have an urgent sense we are under water -- and if we stay there much longer -- we may drown.  Fundamental change is needed to preserve and protect the democratic principals we hold as truths in this great nation of ours. 

There are over 511,000 elected officials in the United States and candidates periodically seeking election to public office increase that number twofold.  America has tens of millions of voters and each of these candidates needs voter support in order to get elected.   The core of change is about changing the behavior of people.  Collectively, we feel great angst about the problem of  lack of accountability by elected officials to their constituents. 

By changing our behavior, together we can deliver a solution that  feels good and is in the best interest of our country.  Candidates, needing voters to vote for them, change their behavior by offering a simple contract holding themselves accountable if elected to office.  Voters change their behavior by supporting and voting for candidates who voluntarily offer a contract that holds them accountable if elected.

The following sections allow for quick identification of a topic of particular interest and will  allow you to go directly to that relevant portion of the material.

Abstract

If responsibility by contract is good for corporate America and good for the American public as we meet our responsibilities in modern American life, responsibility by contract must be good for political America, and good for American ideals of representative government.... Full Text

Overview

America can meet its national goals of government accountability and responsibility, without disrupting existing institutions of government, voluntarily and constitutionally, as set forth and intended by our founders, with these simple changes...Full Text

Framing the Question

 We must regulate the regulators who control our system of government –  elected officials at all levels of American government. Demanding a new social contract, a Microtution, from every person seeking public office gives `We the People’ the ability to do just that. Americans have the right to demand that the public good is more important than re-election or special interests...Full Text 

A Little History 

“The past is but the beginning of a beginning, and all that is and has been is but the twilight of the dawn.”

 H. G. Wells

Our founders established the United States government by social contract, following the lead of the states by including preambles or articles outlining the genesis of the only legitimate source of government power – the people. These state and federal contracts hold that powers not granted are retained by the states, or by the people. As with every valid contract, these contracts include sanctions for nonperformance. ‘We the people’ have the right to take back the powers we granted. This is not very practical, but it is our right nonetheless. It can also be said that we have the right to exercise the powers we reserved – a far more practical approach to improving the way we govern ourselves...Full Text

Foundation for a Microtution* - Key

This section focuses on the foundation of a Microtution contract and the importance of understanding the framework of powers associated with the individual elective office that is the subject of the Microtution. As shown in Figure 1, a Microtution is a social contract from an individual candidate for a specific public office at any level of elective government...Full Text

Elements of a Microtution* - Key

Candidates must think, and think clearly, about the content that surrounds the framework of their Microtution. The action items, or “body of action,” included in a Microtution must meet the following guidelines...Full Text

Microtution Candidate Contract Template* - Key

According to the Founding Fathers of this great nation, all just authority in the institutions of political society is derived from the people and established with their consent. To reinstate the bonds of trust between the people and their elected representatives, in acknowledgement of your constitutional right to government by contract, I offer this Microtution as my commitment to you if elected to represent you in the office of ________________ (fill in the blank)...Full Text

Analysis of the 1994 Contract with America* - Key

Irrespective of what one thinks of Newt Gingrich's politics, his 1994 contract with America was brilliant.  The  voting public was drawn to the idea of politicians holding themselves accountable by contract to a few principles if elected to office. This is the opportunity for this electoral success Microtutions deliver to individual candidates for elective office at all levels of American government...Full Text

The Responsibility Era

 In 2002, President Bush delivered remarks at the ‘Congress of Tomorrow’ lunch at The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. His comments referenced the American people’s resolve to become involved in the war on terrorism as well as the need for increased corporate responsibility to restore faith in the public stock markets. The President introduced the idea of “The Responsibility Era.”...Full Text

Who do They Think They Are?

The “Era of Responsibility,” as it stands now, is limited to the arena of individual and corporate responsibility. Over the past several years, Americans have witnessed the largest corporate failures in their history. The federal government relied on the use of contracts and sanctions to end wrongdoing and abuse of the public trust in public capital markets by corporate executives.  If contracts and sanctions are good enough to end abuse of the public trust by corporate executives, then it follows the same remedy is good to end the abuse of the public trust by elected officials...Full Text

Conclusion

 If our business leaders are to be held accountable, via contract, for their actions, certainly it is reasonable to expect no less of our political leaders. In fact, it is incumbent upon the American people to demand such accountability. Failure on the part of the American people to demand political accountability by contract will ensure the government/business/people equation remains out of balance. 

The tool needed to usher in the era of political responsibility is at hand – the Microtution. With it, Americans can secure the ideals that hold them together as a nation – life, liberty, and the pursuit of individual and governmental responsibility in the name of freedom for all.

Get Active, get going.  The Responsibility Era is Here.