Real Change: From a World that Fails to a World that Works
by Newt Gingrich (former Speaker of the House)
Theme: activist citizenry must rise up to make government work … it won’t happen on its own due to entrenched (unionized) bureaucracies and power-hungry partisan political parties.
Factoids & Interesting Points:
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It’s insane to the same thing and expect a different result (credit to Albert Einstein)
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Easier to be in the minority – just complain and object.
Majority must lead — come up with big ideas and implement them -
Politicians are much better at campaigning than governing
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Republican strategy: narrow partisan target. negative messaging, voter turnout … only works for a few campaign cycles … shrill messages eventually lose their edge and effectiveness … people can’t stay angry long enough
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Democratic strategy: pander to small, specific activist segments, e.g. unions, environmentalists, who can only “win” with gov’t control and ultimately resist change to the status quo … leverage the money & visibility of the elites ( media, show biz, uber-rich) …problem: promises never materialize, mostly due to cost and ineffective government bureaucracies (waste & fraud)
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More African-American males in prison than in college … for some, prison brings street cred … many inner-city entrepreneurs – they just operate outside the law
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In NYC, vice cops worked 9 am to 5 pm … drug dealers worked 9 pm to 5 am … since dealers wouldn’t change their work schedules, Rudy made the cops change their schedules
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High school “on time” graduation rate less than 50% in Cleveland, LA, Miami, Dallas, Denver … 40% in NYC … Baltimore lowest @ 38.5%
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France does some things right: high speed rail, 80% nuclear powered electricity … and some things wrong: minimum work for maximum pay mindset
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Over half of Americans own stock … over 8 million paid capital gains taxes in 2006
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Social security tax rate = 12.4% (ouch) … split between employee and employer … currently capped at about $100k … Obama’s “tax & redistribute” plan: 12.4% from zero to $100k, and over $250k
Newt on Leadership (credit to Peter Drucker)
Values > Vision > Metrics > Strategies > Projects > Tasks
First, win agreement … then win the vote
Win agreement by saying “yes, if…” rather than “no, because …”
Reward the efforts & success of “contributors” … don’t penalize it
Newt’s formula for change
Homeland security – the highest priority
English – the official language … preserve American history & culture·
Ken’s Take: Quick read … not much new, insightful, provocative
… borrow it, don’t buy it.
The Homa Files 
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