NEW NEEDS IN POLICY DEVELOPMENT

Most significant corporations and institutions have offices in Washington or are represented by trade associations, or both. Further, there are hundreds of public interest and advocate organizations who in some cases form permanent or ad hoc ideological or issues groups. The purpose is interaction with government on issues pertinent to their interests. A likely majority of these interactions are constructive. Government can’t know everything about the massively complex American economy and institutions. The results of government actions and new developments are vital information for Capitol Hill committees and their staffs and for the executive and independent agencies.

Benjamin Franklin and the Founding Fathers often discussed the danger of factions to democracy as they had destroyed or corrupted it throughout history. In America today certain business and advocate lobbies pander false ideas and perceptions to justify self serving agendas contrary to the public interest. Advocates mainly lever the voting power of their members to keep the status quo or insist on change. The business lobbies wield awesome economic power. They contribute to the campaigns of Senators and Members of Congress or to opponents they prefer and are especially active in presidential campaigns. They conduct fund raising and hold award dinners or other affairs for incumbent friends. They similarly garner notoriety for new candidates of their choice. They render other electoral assistance with cash for political party expenses or assistance in other functions. They also hire former office holders and staff, to ply their concepts in Washington and state capitals. What they will do when leaving is always a consideration to those in power.

Many individuals and organizations are struggling to resist the dominance of moneyed interests in politics. They have far fewer resources, but there is one fact that Ted Marmor, FTAD Chairman, has pointed out: 

“The more prominent an issue becomes in the public eye, the less the influence of those acting behind the scenes.”

National conversations in America are mostly about generalities and isolated specifics. Such conversations are much more productive when they are about something that is comprehensive and achievable. Debating about a generality that is not achievable is a good way to assure change does not occur. Fragmenting a public issue with discussions of incremental improvements essentially accomplishes the same. Avoiding examination of what other nations are doing is characteristic of our introverted superpower and mitigates our knowledge base on policy matters. 

FTAD intends to build models of public policy. These will be prospective legislative actions with all necessary specifics and details. The changes or innovations and the benefits anticipated will be estimated in terms of societal, economic or security improvements or savings of public or private funds.  Most important how the policy is to be managed and how it is to be financed will be described and quantified. Such requires an immense amount of work. There must be the ability to look down every data path, to critique every concept and to explain the alternatives and reasons for the conclusions made. Policy models must be based on accurate, referenced, and well defined data and must be authoritative in every respect.  All of the studies germane to the issue have to be examined and embraced or rejected with specific reasons given. At the depth of the model, competent researchers find which concepts are realistic and which are not.

It became evident to FTAD that building policy models must be done by multidisciplinary teams. Many in the academic professions contribute vital data and thinking. Because legislation is the essential there must be lawyers and as there is politics there must be political scientists. As business is always involved there must be economists and executives.  In particular, the teams must include those who have worked at all levels and in all related fields to add the necessary elements of reality.

FTAD envisions a series of projects directed by its board and project committees. We will select from main issues now dominated by corporate, institutional or advocate interests, molding public opinion by popularizing untruths or by shutting out the truth and getting the public and political leaders to believe them. We will also deal with policies concerning which there is a dearth of general public knowledge. Project Committees will be in charge of making the most detailed policy models possible. Separate boards of peer review will insist on full explanations and qualifications. 

FTAD determined to avoid publicity until it had a model finished. The first is on the American healthcare system, the most egregious domestic issue the people of the United States face. The model is complete in a publication, Healing America's Healthcare: the Facts and a Model. It took five years and eight disciplines to complete. The healthcare project website has been started and follows an explanation of FTAD's project plans. FTAD is ready to become part of America’s current affairs. It is far better and easier to have a national conversation about a specific model than about generalities which may or may not really work. Building policy models is a major step forward in public affairs for the media, the public and political leaders.

We have found that once established, the healthcare model will not only work, but will save Americans upwards of one third of present costs or over 4% of GDP. It will also provide universal healthcare based on progressive taxation.  Given the urgency of accomplishing this for economic and human reasons and to relieve burdens on businesses, FTAD will participate in a campaign to bring the changes about. At the same time it intends to create an energy policy model and initiate one on education.