THE TEN RECOMMENDATIONS

The following recommendations are suggestions on how to manage change in a world which, for the most part, denies it. They are based on the premise that, while one cannot control events, feelings and other people's actions, one can control one's own behavior.  Here, "behavior" includes thoughts, which can be easily redirected.  We can stop focusing on the emotional messages we're receiving and start considering how much of what we're hearing is real and how much is conjecture and/or entertainment. Then we can start the process of understanding and adapting to the world as it is.

Until recently, expertise has been something earned through a long process of training and practice. Today, however, we are led to believe that, due to the immediacy of the Internet and the pandering of the media (with their endless panel discussions and man/woman-on-the-street interviews), we are already sufficiently knowledgeable to sound off on any and every topic of the day.  We no longer differentiate between information, knowledge and wisdom.   

So, first, it's OK to admit that you don't know or can't opine about something. Really. It's actually better for us all. As someone said: "A wise man knows what he doesn't know." This means that no one can know everything; wisdom comes from experience and study and must not be confused with unfounded rumor. There's a limit to how much time one can spend staying current with all of the issues of the day, so we all need to rely on experts to cut through the noise and explain the facts and their fact-based conclusions to us.   

It thus follows that, to really understand an opinion or theory, one should expose oneself to an opposing point of view. If one's thinking is fact-based, then listening to an "evil other" should not threaten one's beliefs; it should inform and even deepen one's understanding and position.  Even more radical in today's marketplace of ideas is that modifying or changing one's mind based on new, reliable information is an indication of intelligence, flexibility and an open mind. Who knows? It might even lead to that elusive expertise.  

So, here's what you need to know: On the national level, all eligible citizens may vote for president, vice president, senators and representatives. In these elections, each vote counts, and winners are determined by who receives the most votes (for Congress) and electoral votes (for president). Voters decide their votes based on who, they believe, shares their values and can effectively represent them. Emphasis on represent. 

However, once elected, these folks need to do their jobs. In a representative democracy, our representatives need to create and pass policies and laws. They, not we, are paid to research and decide what is best for their constituents (us), and their country. 

As discussed elsewhere in this book, it is highly unlikely that everyday citizens with busy lives understand the particulars of each piece of legislation or directive put forth by our representatives.  And until and unless we immerse ourselves totally in the proposed content, we need to avoid the trap of believing and then parroting the often uninformed talking points of our friends or preferred media personalities.

Here is a list of "don'ts" about voting:

• Don’t call your representative and tell him or her how to vote on an issue based solely on the chatter of friends, colleagues or favorite entertainer; particularly on an entertainer posing as an expert.
• Don’t vote for a candidate about whom you know nothing except what you heard in the breakroom at work or while waiting for a flight at the airport. 
• Don’t play color-the-dots on a ballot when you come to a person or an item with which you are unfamiliar.
• Don’t vote without exploring different points of view regarding a politician or resolution. 
• Don’t base your vote on the loudest, most indignant and even most amusing pontificator. These are often the most extreme, least informed, and least thoughtful people who capture your attention with the force of their personalities rather than a deep understanding of the subjects of their rants.
• Don’t vote with the attitude of “They’re all crooks, so I’m going to shake things up.” First of all, they’re not all crooks (no group of people is “all” anything), and second, electing a completely unqualified person just to “stick it to the man” is irresponsible and dangerous. Whom we elect does matter. Your protest vote, while understandable, is very likely to put an incompetent person into an office whose duties he or she cannot adequately perform.