Are you tired of hearing about the complexities of the economy, unemployment, foreign policy, etc? Are you frustrated by politicians telling you the challenges America faces are too difficult for you to understand? I was too! So, I decided to dive headlong into each issue and find the real truth behind the ’so called’ complexities, and what I found may surprise you. The issues of today aren’t mind boggling. They aren’t huge algorithms. What they are is straightforward challenges, which we can solve with good old fashioned common sense solutions. The problem is most politicians can’t balance a check book, let alone the national budget. They’re also too busy running for re-election instead of working for their constituents. In order to make this topic easy to understand and to bring it closer to home, we’ll follow Harold Barnes and his son Joshua as they go on an unexpected journey that starts with the writing of a Civics paper for school. The innocent and straightforward questions of a sixteen year old boy ignite their neighborhood, and then their state, into a political firestorm that eventually becomes The Franklin Party. If you want to recapture your pride in America and the spirit it was founded on, read this book.

Political Common Sense for America

The Creation of The Franklin PartyBy Brian J. Boeheim

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2009 Brian J. Boeheim
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4389-7688-4

Chapter One

"Dad, why do you look so worried?" Joshua asked.

Geez, he startled me, I hadn't realized Joshua was standing there. His question made me realize my jaw was clenched as I sat on the edge of the ottoman watching each of the political party leaders rationalize how important a $700 Billion bailout will be to the middle class. Then, in the same sentence, they added it's the other party's fault we are in this mess. They sound like 5 year olds.

"Joshua, I was just watching our elected officials talking about the economy and it's a little frustrating." Looking into his eyes, I saw both confusion and sadness. I'm glad he's well informed, but a teenager shouldn't feel the weight of this economic insanity. At 16, he should be clutching onto the last bits of childhood, since all too soon he will be feeling the pressures of adulthood.

"I've got a question about this bailout," he started, "the economy is broken, right?"

"Yep, that seems to be the case," I replied, as I watched Joshua's face contort.

"My teacher said that mortgage companies and banks took advantage of home buyers. He says it's all about corporate greed and we need to regulate more."

The knot in the pit of my stomach just got tighter. I want my son educated, but I would prefer the political opinions be edited out.

"Joshua, there is some truth to that, but it's over simplifying the problem. It's easy to blame the lenders and the corporations, but the reality is, no one is blameless in this.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

Okay, now I've got myself into it, "there is no question that some lenders didn't give all the facts to borrowers, but there were just as many borrowers who took advantage of the system by borrowing money they couldn't afford to pay back. They were nave to think the economy would keep expanding to make up the difference. Everyone contributed to this problem, mostly out of greed."

"So, people borrowed more money than they could afford to, like when my friend Trisha used her dad's credit card to buy a new iPod and then got in trouble. Now she's working at his office on weekends to pay it off ?" Joshua concluded.

Wow, this kid is smart. Well, it's clear where he gets it from. Thank goodness he takes after his mother. "Joshua you got it, the only problem is that some of these people borrowed so much money they can't make enough to pay it off . And, at the same time the economy changed and it's making everything harder," I explained.

"What about the government?" he asked.

"This is where it gets frustrating. A few years back some people in government tried to regulate this borrowing, but others felt that it was the only way for lower income families to buy homes. Now that it's falling apart, the same people who didn't want the regulation are blaming everyone else," I said.

"That happens a lot in Washington doesn't it?" Joshua half said and half asked.

"Yeah, the Democrats and the Republicans like to blame each other for the problems," I answered even though he had already drawn that conclusion.

I immediately flashed back to a training class where the instructor talked about people who look at the world through one of two filters. The first is a filter of 'Abundance'. These people are always trying to contribute to the success of others. They believe that other people's success doesn't limit their own opportunity for success. On the other hand, some people look through the filter of 'Shortage'. These people believe that the world is a zero-sum game, where if their neighbor gets ahead it means there is less for them. They feel a need to tear people down so that they can get ahead, because if someone else fails then there will be more for them. A shortage mentality sure does describe the average politician's thought process.

"Why do they always seem to take opposite sides of everything?" Joshua asked.

"Well, they do cross the aisle once in a while to get things done," I replied.

Joshua frowned, "You make it sound like sending a man to Mars. How hard can it be to have two people agree on what is the right way of solving a problem?"

Okay, now he is using logic on politics. How am I going to explain that the two don't mix? "See, each party has a platform of ideals that they agree to and then everyone from that party is supposed to stick to those ideals, even if the other party has a good point."

"So, if I'm a Democrat and I like an idea that a Republican has, I have to argue against it?" he asked.

How do I say this without making it sound bad, "You'd have three choices: 1) You could argue against it and gain support from your fellow party members, 2) you could agree with the other party in which case you will most likely receive less money and support from your own party in the future, or 3) you could just keep your mouth shut and stay in the background."

"I can guess which one most of them take, #3, right?" he snapped back.

"I hate to say it, but I think you're right on that one," I agreed.

We both sat there for a little bit just staring at the TV, watching politicians slam the opposing party and the current President, when Joshua said, "How would you run things?"

After having been a parent for 16 years, I know an opening when I see one. So I turned it right around on him, "I have a few thoughts, but I'm more interested in what you would do?"

He clenched his jaw and raised his right eyebrow just slightly. I've seen that look before. It usually comes just before he figures out something really important. Like the time he figured out that Cindy and I left the presents under the Christmas tree, or like the time he figured out the song 'I'm Henry the VIII' was about the 8th Henry the widow married and not the King of England.

He stared right at me like Superman would if he was trying to see through me. It seemed like minutes, but in reality it was just a few seconds. "Okay, I have a few ideas," he blurted out.

"What kind of ideas?" I asked as I watched the glint in his eye start to grow.

"Well, for starters, I think we need another political party," he boldly stated.

I smiled and said, "We already have a bunch, like the Libertarian Party and the Green Party. They each have a very specific point of view, and none of them has a very large following."

"Why?" he quickly asked.

"Mostly, because they usually have very non-traditional views that only appeal to a very small segment of the population."

He was silent for several moments and then just as I started to reach for the remote to change both the channel and the conversation, Joshua asks, to the universe more than anyone, "You've always told me the most important thing is to use good common sense. What if there was a party that focused on solving our problems using common sense, instead of blaming each other or trying to see who can win control? In Social Studies we learned that Government is all about checks and balances. Shouldn't the Democrats and the Republicans have a 3rd party to act as the check and balance on the way they're doing their job?"

What is a father supposed to say to his son after that display of logic? He hit the nail right on the head. We need political representation that tries to solve today's problems using common sense and acts as the swing vote between the Democrats and the Republicans.

"Okay, what would you call this new party?" I asked him.

He scratched his head and replied, "The Revolutionary Party."

I like the enthusiasm, but the connotation especially in today's Homeland Security climate, is just a little too dangerous. Before, I could explain why 'The Revolutionary Party' would be too volatile a name; we were interrupted by my wife Cindy calling us to dinner.

Chapter Two

As we sat down to dinner, my daughter Sarah came running into the room and with one mighty leap jumped into my arms.

"Hi Daddy!" she said, as she gave me the biggest hug.

Every time I look into her beautiful blue eyes, I get this wave of hope. If she is the future, then somehow everything will be all right. The smell of homemade mac-n-cheese brought me back to the here and now.

As Cindy brought in the ceramic dish filled with cheesy goodness, she smiled at Sarah and announced, "Sarah grated the cheese."

"Is that right," I exclaimed, "what a great job. Look at all of that cheese; it must have taken you all day?"

Sarah giggled, "Almost all day."

After we all had our servings and started to eat, Cindy asked, "What were you guys talking about before? You looked so serious."

I looked at Joshua and he just nodded as if it was up to me since his mouth was full. "Joshua was asking about the congressional bailout and he was trying to understand why the Democrats and the Republicans can't find common ground," I replied.

"Wow, now I know why you guys looked so serious," she stated and then asked, "did you guys come up with any answers?"

Joshua blurted out, "Yep!"

"Okay I'll bite; what did you guys figure out?" she asked.

Joshua looked to me for approval to continue. I just smiled and nodded, first because it was his idea, but also because this time my mouth was full of mac-n-cheese.

Joshua kept it simple, "We need a 3rd party that's made up of people who want to do the right thing and make common sense decisions."

I looked at Cindy for a reaction. She looked thoughtfully at Joshua and said, "That's very insightful on your part. You know your Social Studies teacher mentioned to me, at our parent/ teacher conference, that you can always do an extra credit project to help your grade."

Before I could come to his defense she continued, "Since the weekend weather is going to be so rainy, you and your father should work on a paper for extra credit."

Well, that should stop Joshua's enthusiasm right in its tracks, but to my surprise Joshua looked over and asked, "Can you help me with it?"

Why not, I thought, "Sure, sounds like fun."

Sarah chimed in, "I want to help too!"

As we were putting the dishes in the dishwasher Cindy asked, "Joshua what's the name of your new party?"

Joshua smiled and proudly said, "The Revolutionary Party." Cindy cringed, "Joshua that might be just a little too volatile for a name. It has a connotation of fighting versus collaboration."

"Oh," Joshua said softly.

His mother quickly jumped in realizing she didn't want to stymie his enthusiasm, "What is the cornerstone or key message of your party?"

Joshua didn't hesitate, "What you and Dad always tell me, common sense."

"Hmmm," she said, "well, Thomas Paine wrote the book Common Sense, but he isn't that well known to the average person and the Paine Party just wouldn't be taken seriously. What about calling it the Franklin Party after Benjamin Franklin; he was thought to be the mediator between all of the opposing views in the Constitutional Congress?"

Joshua tapped his finger on the counter, as if pondering, and then all at once he asked Sarah, "What do you think of the Franklin Party?"

Sarah lit up, she was getting to make a decision, "I like it!" she exclaimed.

As Joshua exited the kitchen he proclaimed, "Then the Franklin Party it is!"

Chapter Three

Joshua, like most teenagers, needs a little more sleep on weekends. My beautiful five year old daughter Sarah, on the other hand, was up by 7:00 am. Thank goodness for kids programming on Saturday morning TV, otherwise my wife and I would never have a chance. As I sat at the kitchen table, I watched Sarah working on a puzzle of the United States. She actually knows the names of a couple of the States, but it's all about shapes for her at this point. When she's my age, what will she think of all this political and economic craziness? I wonder if it will be similar to the way we look at the Depression of the 1930's or the Recession of the 1970's.

With a rumble and a bang, down the stairs comes Joshua. Still a little sleepy, he turns the corner from the hall to the kitchen and just misses knocking over the plant by the door. He goes right for the refrigerator and pulls out the milk and in one quick swoop grabs the cereal from the pantry right next to it. Both doors closed and he's at the table pouring the cereal in a bowl I had ready for him.

"Good morning," I said with a slightly sarcastic tone, since it was almost 10:30 am.

"Good morning Dad," he replied in a quiet voice still waking up.

"When do you want to get started on your project?" I asked.

More quickly than I expected he responded, "Right after breakfast."

I was astonished. Usually Cindy and I have to drag him kicking and screaming to do school projects on a weekend.

"Well, that's very industrious of you," trying to overcome my shock and throw some encouragement his way.

He just harrumphed and said, "I was up half the night thinking about it and then I even dreamt about it. I need to get this thing done, so I can get it out of my brain."

Twenty minutes later, there he was, sitting at the table with a big yellow legal pad and his laptop ready to go. I don't think I've ever seen him this motivated. It's going to be hard not to put my two cents into this, but I'm going to do my best to just ask questions.

"Okay, Joshua, what can I do to help you with this?" I asked.

Joshua looked up at me and said, "do what you do in your training classes, help me take all of these ideas I have in my head and organize them into something my teacher will like."

"Okay," I started, "what is the purpose of this paper?"

He smiled at me and said, "extra credit, I want an 'A' in Social Studies."

"Alright, wise guy, you know what I mean. Why do you think there needs to be a new political party?"

Joshua with an amazing level of clarity says, "I think the most important thing is that the party be about common sense and doing what is right for everyone not just a select few."

"And you don't think the Democratic and Republican parties do that now?"

"Not from what I see, it looks like more deals are done behind closed doors and they are more interested in getting elected than having the courage to do the right thing," he said with a sad tone in his voice.

"What if we just suggest they fix one of the current parties?" I retorted.

"I think both parties probably started out to do the right thing, but somehow it broke down. It's sort of like our refrigerator. It started out great, and then one day it stopped working. You're forced to make a decision whether to fix it or replace it," he argued.

"Huh?"

"Dad, remember when our refrigerator stopped working while we were gone for the weekend?" he asked.

"Of course I do Joshua. It was a disaster, because we had just bought all that frozen meat and it all spoiled. I still remember that putrid smell."

"Exactly, that's what I think of the two current parties. They have broken down and the meat has spoiled inside. Even if we could fix them, will we really be able to trust them with our future?" Joshua concluded.

Wow, I'm not sure of the analogy, but I can see his point. You would have to clean house completely, in either of the parties, in order to ensure that you got all of the 'spoiled meat' out.

"Okay, you've convinced me," I started, "so, what are the first things you want to fix?"

"Well Dad, here is where I'm a little stuck. I have ideas on things like medical care and schools, but they don't seem to be the right place to start."

"You're probably right. What if you start where Jefferson and Adams started? Why not start at the foundation; what makes America great?" I suggested.

"That makes sense," he acknowledged, "you mean like democracy and freedom of speech?"

"Yeah, the categories I immediately think of are democracy, freedom, and capitalism," I said.

"I like those."

"So Joshua, when I say democracy what do you think of?"

"I think of the checks and balances that I learned about in class. That no one person or group has ultimate power," he answered.

"Yep, and I would add, it's about the idea that the citizens are in charge and the elected officials are supposed to act in the long-term interest of the people who elected them."

Joshua looked quizzically and asked, "What do you mean by the long-term interest?"

"It's easy to do whatever is popular. We need our leaders to think about the future more than we can. The average person is just trying to get by and if you ask them what they want from the government, they will probably give you a very short-term, tactical, list of things that will make their life easier right now. The problem is the average person doesn't understand how something like nationalizing health care might reduce the overall quality of the care they receive."

(Continues...)

Excerpted from Political Common Sense for Americaby Brian J. Boeheim Copyright © 2009 by Brian J. Boeheim. Excerpted by permission.
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