Foundation Series – What Good Government Actually Requires
The series is currently 11 Bricks and will posted 2 per week starting June 9th, 2026.
The Long View From 1964 is political commentary for the Americans who can’t find their checkbox. As non-partisan as I could make it.
The series left a hole. If this is what we have — if this is where we are — where does the future lie? As I dissected what felt broken I had to ask myself what would fix it. The building was strong but the foundation had rotted. Could it be saved? I think it can.
I cast my first vote in 1968. I recently cast a vote in the Oregon primaries. Twenty-two thousand four hundred and seventy-four days between those two moments at the ballot box — and I’m ready for the next one.
Are you?
In the Foundation Bricks series I offer suggestions. But nothing will ever change if you don’t exercise your right to vote.
The Accountability Brick What Good Government Actually Requires — Brick One – Accountability
The Term Limits Brick What Good Government Actually Requires — Brick Two – Term Limits
The Cabinet, Party Favors Brick What Good Government Actually Requires — Brick Three – The Cabinet, Party Favors
Before We Go Any Further A Reality Check
The Judicial Branch Brick What Good Government Actually Requires — Brick Four – The Judicial Branch
The FCC and The News Brick What Good Government Actually Requires — Brick Five – The FCC and The News
The Capitalism Brick What Good Government Actually Requires — Brick Six – Capitalism
The Education Brick What Good Government Actually Requires — Brick Seven – Education
The Healthcare Brick What Good Government Actually Requires — Brick Eight – Healthcare
The Environment Brick What Good Government Actually Requires — Brick Nine – Environment
The Immigration and Social Services Brick What Good Government Actually Requires – Brick Ten – Immigration and Social Services
The Public Investment Brick What Good Government Requires – Brick Eleven Public Investment
The Public Investment Brick What Good Government Requires – Brick Eleven Public Investment
The government taking equity stakes in strategic industries is no longer a radical proposal. It happened with Intel. It happened with rare earth mining. It happened with U.S. Steel.
The Public Investment Brick What Good Government Requires – Brick Eleven Public Investment – Video
The government taking equity stakes in strategic industries is no longer a radical proposal. It happened with Intel. It happened with rare earth mining. It happened with U.S. Steel. The only question is whether those
The Immigration and Social Services Brick What Good Government Actually Requires – Brick Ten – Immigration and Social Services – Video
We are a wealthy country. We are — when we choose to be — a compassionate one. We should never fail to provide basic services to the people who need them. Not because it is
The Immigration and Social Services Brick What Good Government Actually Requires – Brick Ten – Immigration and Social Services
We are a wealthy country. We are — when we choose to be — a compassionate one. We should never fail to provide basic services to the people who need them. Not because it is
The Environment Brick What Good Government Actually Requires — Brick Nine – Environment – Video
Not a perfect environmental policy. Not a zero extraction economy. Just the honest acknowledgment that exploitation without limit is not capitalism. It is not freedom. It is not progress. It is greed. And more greed.
The Environment Brick What Good Government Actually Requires — Brick Nine – Environment
Not a perfect environmental policy. Not a zero extraction economy. Just the honest acknowledgment that exploitation without limit is not capitalism. It is not freedom. It is not progress. It is greed. And more greed.
The Healthcare Brick What Good Government Actually Requires — Brick Eight – Healthcare – Video
The river doesn't have to change course overnight. You move the banks incrementally and the water follows. It has been done before in pieces — Medicare negotiating drug prices, the ACA expanding Medicaid eligibility, surprise
The Healthcare Brick What Good Government Actually Requires — Brick Eight – Healthcare
The river doesn't have to change course overnight. You move the banks incrementally and the water follows. It has been done before in pieces — Medicare negotiating drug prices, the ACA expanding Medicaid eligibility, surprise
The Education Brick What Good Government Actually Requires — Brick Seven – Education – Video
What is missing is a federal civilian pathway to trade certification that carries the same social contract as the degree programs. We fund your training as an electrician, a welder, a medical technician, a licensed
The Education Brick What Good Government Actually Requires — Brick Seven – Education
What is missing is a federal civilian pathway to trade certification that carries the same social contract as the degree programs. We fund your training as an electrician, a welder, a medical technician, a licensed
The Capitalism Brick What Good Government Actually Requires — Brick Six – Capitalism – Video
We are currently in a period of deliberate deregulation. Sold as freedom for business to grow. What it actually produces — when the major players are left to their own devices — is consolidation until
The Capitalism Brick What Good Government Actually Requires — Brick Six – Capitalism
We are currently in a period of deliberate deregulation. Sold as freedom for business to grow. What it actually produces — when the major players are left to their own devices — is consolidation until
The FCC and The News Brick What Good Government Actually Requires — Brick Five – The FCC and The News – Video
I can remember when the news was presented as news. Facts. This is what is happening. If an outlet wanted to offer opinion it was called an editorial and labeled as such. The separation was
The FCC and The News Brick What Good Government Actually Requires — Brick Five – The FCC and The News
I can remember when the news was presented as news. Facts. This is what is happening. If an outlet wanted to offer opinion it was called an editorial and labeled as such. The separation was
The Judicial Branch Brick What Good Government Actually Requires — Brick Four – The Judicial Branch – Video
The Supreme Court needs its own enforcement mechanism. A Marshal's service with the specific authority to detain anyone — anyone — that the court by majority vote determines is willfully operating outside their constitutional limits
The Judicial Branch Brick What Good Government Actually Requires — Brick Four – The Judicial Branch
The Supreme Court needs its own enforcement mechanism. A Marshal's service with the specific authority to detain anyone — anyone — that the court by majority vote determines is willfully operating outside their constitutional limits
It Takes Two to Tango, But The More The Merrier – Video
But enough of beer bars and bedrooms. Off to where the real back-stabbing and dirty stuff happens — politics and government.
It Takes Two to Tango, But The More The Merrier
But enough of beer bars and bedrooms. Off to where the real back-stabbing and dirty stuff happens — politics and government.
Before We Go Any Further A Reality Check – Video
The obvious goal with this set of foundation blocks isn't to fix the broken system. It's to provide a structure with enough strength that it cannot be so easily broken and manipulated again. The strength
Before We Go Any Further A Reality Check
The obvious goal with this set of foundation blocks isn't to fix the broken system. It's to provide a structure with enough strength that it cannot be so easily broken and manipulated again. The strength
The Cabinet, Party Favors Brick What Good Government Actually Requires — Brick Three – The Cabinet, Party Favors – Video
There would still be infighting. There will always be infighting. Human nature doesn't get reformed by better institutional design. But more handshakes and less backstabbing is not a naive hope. It is what happens when
The Cabinet, Party Favors Brick What Good Government Actually Requires — Brick Three – The Cabinet, Party Favors
There would still be infighting. There will always be infighting. Human nature doesn't get reformed by better institutional design. But more handshakes and less backstabbing is not a naive hope. It is what happens when
The Term Limits Brick What Good Government Actually Requires — Brick Two – Term Limits – Video
Not reform it. Not balance it. Remove the institutional infrastructure that makes it the only viable option. No party designations on ballots. No party primaries with public funding. No party based committee assignments in Congress.
The Term Limits Brick What Good Government Actually Requires — Brick Two – Term Limits
Not reform it. Not balance it. Remove the institutional infrastructure that makes it the only viable option. No party designations on ballots. No party primaries with public funding. No party based committee assignments in Congress.
The Accountability Brick What Good Government Actually Requires — Brick One – Accountability – Video![Brick One Accountability]()
The Accountability Brick What Good Government Actually Requires — Brick One – Accountability – Video
That's it. That's the foundation. Everything else — healthcare, infrastructure, justice, national security, the institutions we depend on daily without noticing — sits on top of that one simple principle. Remove it and nothing else
The Accountability Brick What Good Government Actually Requires — Brick One – Accountability
That's it. That's the foundation. Everything else — healthcare, infrastructure, justice, national security, the institutions we depend on daily without noticing — sits on top of that one simple principle. Remove it and nothing else
Guest Post – Outrage Turned Us vs. Them Into Us vs. Us – Video
That reality does not erase legitimate differences between left and right. It simply raises a different question: who benefits when citizens become so consumed by fighting one another that they stop paying attention to the
Guest Post – Outrage Turned Us vs. Them Into Us vs. Us
That reality does not erase legitimate differences between left and right. It simply raises a different question: who benefits when citizens become so consumed by fighting one another that they stop paying attention to the
The Wake Up Call We Needed — Now What? – Video
Elect moderates. I don't care if they carry a D or an R. Get away from the extremes. Flush MAGA down the toilet. Dump the wokes in a landfill. Look for people who want a
The Public Investment Brick What Good Government Requires – Brick Eleven Public Investment
The government taking equity stakes in strategic industries is no longer a radical proposal. It happened with Intel. It happened with rare earth mining. It happened with U.S. Steel.
The Public Investment Brick What Good Government Requires – Brick Eleven Public Investment – Video
The government taking equity stakes in strategic industries is no longer a radical proposal. It happened with Intel. It happened with rare earth mining. It happened with U.S. Steel. The only question is whether those
The Immigration and Social Services Brick What Good Government Actually Requires – Brick Ten – Immigration and Social Services – Video
We are a wealthy country. We are — when we choose to be — a compassionate one. We should never fail to provide basic services to the people who need them. Not because it is
The Immigration and Social Services Brick What Good Government Actually Requires – Brick Ten – Immigration and Social Services
We are a wealthy country. We are — when we choose to be — a compassionate one. We should never fail to provide basic services to the people who need them. Not because it is
The Environment Brick What Good Government Actually Requires — Brick Nine – Environment – Video
Not a perfect environmental policy. Not a zero extraction economy. Just the honest acknowledgment that exploitation without limit is not capitalism. It is not freedom. It is not progress. It is greed. And more greed.
The Environment Brick What Good Government Actually Requires — Brick Nine – Environment
Not a perfect environmental policy. Not a zero extraction economy. Just the honest acknowledgment that exploitation without limit is not capitalism. It is not freedom. It is not progress. It is greed. And more greed.
The Healthcare Brick What Good Government Actually Requires — Brick Eight – Healthcare – Video
The river doesn't have to change course overnight. You move the banks incrementally and the water follows. It has been done before in pieces — Medicare negotiating drug prices, the ACA expanding Medicaid eligibility, surprise
The Healthcare Brick What Good Government Actually Requires — Brick Eight – Healthcare
The river doesn't have to change course overnight. You move the banks incrementally and the water follows. It has been done before in pieces — Medicare negotiating drug prices, the ACA expanding Medicaid eligibility, surprise
The Education Brick What Good Government Actually Requires — Brick Seven – Education – Video
What is missing is a federal civilian pathway to trade certification that carries the same social contract as the degree programs. We fund your training as an electrician, a welder, a medical technician, a licensed
The Education Brick What Good Government Actually Requires — Brick Seven – Education
What is missing is a federal civilian pathway to trade certification that carries the same social contract as the degree programs. We fund your training as an electrician, a welder, a medical technician, a licensed
The Capitalism Brick What Good Government Actually Requires — Brick Six – Capitalism – Video
We are currently in a period of deliberate deregulation. Sold as freedom for business to grow. What it actually produces — when the major players are left to their own devices — is consolidation until
The Capitalism Brick What Good Government Actually Requires — Brick Six – Capitalism
We are currently in a period of deliberate deregulation. Sold as freedom for business to grow. What it actually produces — when the major players are left to their own devices — is consolidation until
The FCC and The News Brick What Good Government Actually Requires — Brick Five – The FCC and The News – Video
I can remember when the news was presented as news. Facts. This is what is happening. If an outlet wanted to offer opinion it was called an editorial and labeled as such. The separation was
The FCC and The News Brick What Good Government Actually Requires — Brick Five – The FCC and The News
I can remember when the news was presented as news. Facts. This is what is happening. If an outlet wanted to offer opinion it was called an editorial and labeled as such. The separation was
The Judicial Branch Brick What Good Government Actually Requires — Brick Four – The Judicial Branch – Video
The Supreme Court needs its own enforcement mechanism. A Marshal's service with the specific authority to detain anyone — anyone — that the court by majority vote determines is willfully operating outside their constitutional limits
The Judicial Branch Brick What Good Government Actually Requires — Brick Four – The Judicial Branch
The Supreme Court needs its own enforcement mechanism. A Marshal's service with the specific authority to detain anyone — anyone — that the court by majority vote determines is willfully operating outside their constitutional limits
It Takes Two to Tango, But The More The Merrier – Video
But enough of beer bars and bedrooms. Off to where the real back-stabbing and dirty stuff happens — politics and government.
It Takes Two to Tango, But The More The Merrier
But enough of beer bars and bedrooms. Off to where the real back-stabbing and dirty stuff happens — politics and government.
Before We Go Any Further A Reality Check – Video
The obvious goal with this set of foundation blocks isn't to fix the broken system. It's to provide a structure with enough strength that it cannot be so easily broken and manipulated again. The strength
Before We Go Any Further A Reality Check
The obvious goal with this set of foundation blocks isn't to fix the broken system. It's to provide a structure with enough strength that it cannot be so easily broken and manipulated again. The strength
The Cabinet, Party Favors Brick What Good Government Actually Requires — Brick Three – The Cabinet, Party Favors – Video
There would still be infighting. There will always be infighting. Human nature doesn't get reformed by better institutional design. But more handshakes and less backstabbing is not a naive hope. It is what happens when
The Cabinet, Party Favors Brick What Good Government Actually Requires — Brick Three – The Cabinet, Party Favors
There would still be infighting. There will always be infighting. Human nature doesn't get reformed by better institutional design. But more handshakes and less backstabbing is not a naive hope. It is what happens when
The Term Limits Brick What Good Government Actually Requires — Brick Two – Term Limits – Video
Not reform it. Not balance it. Remove the institutional infrastructure that makes it the only viable option. No party designations on ballots. No party primaries with public funding. No party based committee assignments in Congress.
The Term Limits Brick What Good Government Actually Requires — Brick Two – Term Limits
Not reform it. Not balance it. Remove the institutional infrastructure that makes it the only viable option. No party designations on ballots. No party primaries with public funding. No party based committee assignments in Congress.
The Accountability Brick What Good Government Actually Requires — Brick One – Accountability – Video
The Accountability Brick What Good Government Actually Requires — Brick One – Accountability – Video
That's it. That's the foundation. Everything else — healthcare, infrastructure, justice, national security, the institutions we depend on daily without noticing — sits on top of that one simple principle. Remove it and nothing else
The Accountability Brick What Good Government Actually Requires — Brick One – Accountability
That's it. That's the foundation. Everything else — healthcare, infrastructure, justice, national security, the institutions we depend on daily without noticing — sits on top of that one simple principle. Remove it and nothing else
Guest Post – Outrage Turned Us vs. Them Into Us vs. Us – Video
That reality does not erase legitimate differences between left and right. It simply raises a different question: who benefits when citizens become so consumed by fighting one another that they stop paying attention to the
Guest Post – Outrage Turned Us vs. Them Into Us vs. Us
That reality does not erase legitimate differences between left and right. It simply raises a different question: who benefits when citizens become so consumed by fighting one another that they stop paying attention to the
The Wake Up Call We Needed — Now What? – Video
Elect moderates. I don't care if they carry a D or an R. Get away from the extremes. Flush MAGA down the toilet. Dump the wokes in a landfill. Look for people who want a
