Searching for Citizenship, Found in Hampton Roads

by Missy Schmidt, Communication Manager, Hampton Roads Partnership

“The people are the only legitimate fountain of power.” – - James Madison “All free governments are managed by the combined wisdom and folly of the people.” — James Garfield “Democracy today is feeling pretty messy,” according to event organizer, the Hampton Roads Center for Civic Engagement (HRCCE). In this, the second (free) annual Summit, we talked about where and how citizens can fit into problem-solving, hearing from experts on the national scene. The Summit is quickly becoming a landmark regional event.

After a warm welcome on this beautiful Saturday morning to the nearly 200 attendees by Jim Oliver, President of HRCCE and former city manager of the region’s cities of Norfolk, Portsmouth and Hampton, Dr. Alvin Schexnider, President of Thomas Nelson Community College, introduced the keynote speakers, Bill Schneider and Bob O’Neill.

Wide angle crowd shot. Photo by Chris Bonney

Bill Schneider, former Senior Political Analyst for CNN, brought a special Hampton Roads flavor to the event; he was born in Portsmouth, Virginia and lived there for the first 18 years of his life, attending the same high school as his mother and learning from some of the same teachers.

In noting that the political landscape had changed since the last national election, Schneider said, “I never thought I’d see the day” that an African-American is President of the United States. “I thought I’d seen it all and then there was Sarah Palin.”

Mr. Schneider quipped about Hollywood’s involvement in national politics, observing that democrats and liberals run Hollywood but elect all Republicans, pointing to the examples of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Congressman Sonny Bono and President Ronald Reagan.

But, “Virginia goes its own way,” always electing a governor of the opposite party after national elections except for elections in 1972, a rare exception. Nixon (R) had won the White House and Virginia elected Mills Godwin, also a Republican … at the time. Ironically, Godwin was also governor before, as a Democrat.

America is the most populist country in the world, according to Schneider. The people rule, and politicians and government are very sensitive to public opinion. In contrast, the European Union (EU) is not. By example, if a country allows the death penalty, they may not join the EU. Americans have nixed the government-instituted dollar coin in any number of iterations and refuse to embrace the metric system. The EU also leaves the legal system to experts while the U.S. uses jury trials, trusting popular judgments instead. The U.S. is also the only country in the world to elect judges.

Examining politicians of the past, Schneider took aim at President Clinton saying that public opinion polls sustained his career when politicians hoped to oust him from office.

According to Schneider, America has a deep tradition and history of religious freedom due to the many groups that migrated here to avoid persecution. But there is also a red-blue division. In some ways it’s harmful; in some ways it’s good. Politicians use divisiveness to stir passions in order to raise money. Public opinion, on the other hand, is about getting along.

America is increasingly segregated by politics, not race. We tend to live with others who share the same political views and lifestyles. We were brought together as a country by “911” – which lasted about one year. The Iraq invasion brought out the old divisions, and the country is as bitterly divided as ever. Despite President Obama’s efforts, division persists, according to Schneider.

In the U.S., there are three principles of problem-solving:

1. Politics is the enemy of problem-solving (examples:  Ross Perot wanted to run the country like a business; opposition to stimulus because too many projects were politically motivated);
2. Solutions require consensus (examples:  a “can Obama unite the country?” poll with a 50-50 split; most divisive time since the Civil War as experienced recently by Virginia’s Governor Bob McDonnell); and
3. Big changes require a crisis, a sense of urgency is needed to overwhelm a blockage (examples:  education crisis; “wars” on poverty, crime or drugs).

We are an optimistic people with not a lot of confidence in the public sector. We’re a people that is angry that government doesn’t live by the same rules; that we have “professional politicians,” said Schneider. Politicians want to be liked and make constituents happy. Constituents are unhappy when nothing changes. Politicians perceived as “outsiders” – such as Presidents Obama and Carter – are thought to be able to shake things up.

Ross Perot proposed to run the country like a business. “Business is not a democracy. If it were, it would be run like a government,” said Schneider. “Can you imagine voting for your boss?”

“A journalist’s job is to discern the real and not real,” shared Schneider. “The press thrives on cynicism; that’s why they’re so hated.”

There is a way to politicize everything. Case in point: trash collection. The “left” will want to pay taxes and have government do it for them. The “right” will want to cut taxes and figure a way to collect it themselves.”

Bob O’Neill, Executive Director of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) and a former City Manager of Hampton, Virginia, spoke next. His work has taken him to local governments all over the world.

Mr. O’Neill opened by commenting that, in his view, America is schizophrenic beginning with our founding. The founders of our country had a deep mistrust of government and insisted on a balance of power. O’Neill noted that the further one gets away from local government, the more the distrust grows.

Today, we are at a moment of crisis, said O’Neill, as he shared a few slides from a presentation he uses all across the country, “Navigating the Financial Crisis.” At all levels of government in all regions, revenues are down in all sectors of the economy. None of us have experienced this before. Rather than the Great Recession, O’Neill referred to this time as the “Great Reset” or the “New Normal” and indicated this was an opportunity.

Federal and state governments are in a fiscal crisis with 48 of the 50 states in “structural bankruptcy” and regions and communities many be on their own. While Virginia is better off than most, an improved economy may not be the only answer. O’Neill estimated that it may be 2017 before localities bounce back, and this increases pressure on elected officials and citizens.

According to O’Neill, those who cope best with hard times are educated stakeholders and organizations and governments that are/have: adaptive and transparent, flexible and efficient, revenue diverse, long-term financial planners and fees for services that reflect actual costs of delivery.

Governments reflect the values of their communities. And there are opportunities in crisis, said O’Neill, reflecting on an ICMA study:

1. Focus on what is truly important
2. Share services where possible
3. Develop partnerships
4. Organize work in different ways
5. Leverage technology (high-tech)
6. Approach community conversations in new ways (high touch)

O’Neill noted that this list was similar in other countries, indicating this is a common-sense approach. Also consistent across communities are the issues that matter:  jobs/economic security, education, safety, healthcare and the environment. Americans are a pragmatic people; we want actions that produce results. Yet these issues do not represent a “neat package” or fall into one organization or government’s responsibility or capability alone.

O’Neill added that government must work on building better communities, advancing sustainability, providing high priority services in the most equitable and efficient manner and creating great places for citizens to live. Some of the best ways to accomplish this are to promote best practices in civic engagement and building capacities for collaboration. Intergovernmental relationships must be enhanced as well (between state, regional, federal, schools, taxing districts, etc.)

Dr. Alvin Schexnider of Thomas Nelson Community College (standing) moderates panel questions with Bob O’Neill (L), Executive Director of the International City/County Management Association, and Bill Schneider, PhD (R), author, scholar and former Senior Political Analyst for CNN. Photo by Chris Bonney

The question and answer period ensued:

Schneider noted that “all politics is local, except when it isn’t.” Big sweeping issues on the national level do affect local elections. While the red-blue federal divisions are having an affect, we must remember that government is supposed to be about problem-solving, not debating ideology and philosophy.

One participant who asked if O’Neill or Schneider felt unions had any blame in the current financial strife was told that the power of trade unions has diminished significantly from a high of one-third of workers in the 50s to close to 10% today. More public sector workers are unionized than the private sector, said Schneider. “Unions have been on a downward slide since Reagan broke the air traffic controllers strike in 1981.”

Another participant asked if the Dillon Rule (versus Home Rule) affected the grassroots. While Bob O’Neill made clear he was not a Dillon Rule advocate, he did explain that Virginia grants local government a lot of flexibility and power except in the areas of finance. Increasing the powers of local government is in his top ten, but not top one or two, problems to fix.

A member of the Tea Party in the audience added that when citizens come to discuss issues, they’re ignored, feeling that meetings such as today’s were not a “honest process” when staffed by city workers. He suggested that local government should put all major issues to referendum. O’Neill, a founding member of HRCCE, suggested that today’s event was a neutral place for conversation. He also suggested that citizen involvement should include voicing opinions in a constructive way.

“If I don’t agree with you, therefore I am the enemy” is not the right way to engage, said O’Neill. “We may disagree, but the process is to come to a resolution that works best for the majority of citizens.”

According to O’Neill, issues do cross jurisdictional boundaries and that is no excuse to reduce accountability or effectiveness of elected officials. Colorado and California are examples of “referendum run amok,” said O’Neill.

A student from Virginia Wesleyan College asked if America was fixated on entitlements, pointing to the recent stimulus and healthcare debates. Will it lead to our downfall?

Schneider responded with: “there is a little known secret that America was designed with a weak government” by the founders due to their distrust of government. When people get angry, they’re heard. “When there’s public pressure, the barriers fall away and government works pretty well.”

He cited examples: the populists of the 30s, Lyndon Johnson in the 60s, the tax revolt of the 70s, term limits in the 90s and today’s Tea Party.

Schneider added that public opinion polls and the president’s approval ratings were akin to the “Dow Jones Industrial Index of Washington.”

There were many students in attendance, the next generation of leaders.  One young woman drove all the way from Ft. Wayne, Indiana, and she has promised to stay in touch. One younger participant said, “Local communities can be a bit combative at times. As Baby Boomers are aging out of power and my generation, the Gen X-ers, are moving in, we’re ready to move past this.”

Bob O’Neill added:  “There are discernible generational differences on the definition of ‘community.’ To Gen X and Gen Y, it is not geographical. The Internet has been the platform that has allowed this to happen, and it will have a profound effect on the way we get things done. Government isn’t structured in this way. There is a huge impact on the horizon.”

Schneider added that government is an institutional framework and used guns as an analogy. “Government isn’t the problem; it’s the people running it.”

“Government has been the creator of public good for the most part and the record shows it,” said O’Neill, pointing to the Internet, information technology, air travel and roads as examples. Government was engaged in many of the 100 greatest inventions on the 20^th century, according to Brookings, said O’Neill.

A participant asked if the Fairness Doctrine should be reinstated with media. Schneider said that Fox News and others have discovered that audiences want their news delivered with a point of view, and diversity of point of view is important. The doctrine of a free press is that there will be no government point of view in delivery of news, and we must always allow for news with no point of view. “Freedom is the answer, “ said Schneider, “and the Internet is providing that. Some sources are trustworthy and some are scurrilous, but that’s been true in America for 200 years.”

O’Neill countered, saying that some boundaries are needed, especially with anonymity online.

One vote, one person isn’t true with money spent on elections, especially with corporations deemed as people, said one participant.  Schneider pointed to British elections which are reduced to 3 weeks of campaigning with all financing from tax money while America’s campaigns last two years with no public monies. “The real problem is rich people running for office,” said Schneider, noting that it was better to have a campaign’s war chest filled with small donations from many people such as Reagan’s use of direct mail and Obama’s use of the Internet.

Ken Wheeler leads discussion on results of the 1st Summit held in 2009 including the work of the Information & Communication Team in distilling the hundreds of responses received during small group sessions. Photo by Chris Bonney

Next, Ken Wheeler of HRCCE shared the work of the Citizens Information and Communication Team, a group of 30 volunteers from around the region who distilled the 2009 Summit question as to how the region could make public decision-making better for all participants and increase mutual trust. The group met at least once per month over the last year, and the results were the subject of an interactive exercise using electronic keypads. Complete results will be posted on the organization’s website at http://HRCCE.org.

Based on a show of hands, approximately 60% in attendance did not attend last year’s Summit. And many commitment and comment cards were turned in, indicating an interested and willing community.

Several film clips were shared as examples of BAD civic engagement. One from the BBC series “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” and, the other, a clip from a meeting (not local!) where a community activist smacked a city commissioner on the back of her head with a handful of papers as she passed her in the council chambers.

Equal time was given in sharing some local success stories. Terry Danaher, a Portsmouth resident, told a wonderful story of how citizens and government worked together to make Vacant to Vibrant a reality. Citizens educated themselves in governmental processes, worked toward improved and respectful inclusion and revitalized their community with new city ordinances through legislation signed into law in February 2009 by then Governor Tim Kaine. The new derelict structures law (SB1094) will have a positive impact on Portsmouth and the entire Commonwealth.

Jonathon McBride (L) of the City of Hampton’s Neighborhood Office and Robert “Robin” Carpenter, a resident of the city’s Phoebus neighborhood and Director of Hampton Public Libraries by day, discuss a good example of citizenship: actions taken to revitalize Fulton Street Park’s L.B. Davis Playground.  After several attempts to bring the community together, their lesson learned:  don’t give up on civic engagement. Flexible outreach was the key to impactful resident input. Photo by Missy Schmidt

Small break-out groups were used to discuss issues of how to be part of the process with questions:

1. What is your role in solving public problems as citizens? Examples such as facilitator, educator, communicator, organizer, coordinator, participant, information resource, etc. were heard.
2. What are the processes or tools that are needed to be in place to successfully fulfill that role? Examples such as the web, publications, email, commissions, civic organizations, etc. were heard. Results will be posted on http://HRCCE.org.

As the entire group reconvened for a wrap-up, the question was asked:  how do we orient more youth toward civic engagement? Our speaker, Mr. O’Neill said he felt we would continue to struggle with that as competition for our time increases. The answer is to hit every medium as often as possible.

Mr. Schneider added that government is in place to allow for opportunities and to not “get in the way.” Citizens don’t care about politics; they care about getting ahead, making money and succeeding in life. The Internet is a great resource for discovering others with mutual views, interests and issues. He indicated that the Tea Party is an excellent example of a spontaneous, grassroots organization.

“Just because it’s on the web doesn’t mean it’s true; the Internet is filled with dragon sightings,” cautioned Schneider. He added that young people are idealistic and interested in making a difference. They simply exercise it in a different way, virtually, not through Lions and Rotary Clubs. “We need to value that and provide opportunities to engage in decision-making,” said Schneider. “They don’t see government and politics as the way to get things done.”

O’Neill added that there are few examples of large scale fixes, though, without government engagement.

HRCCE President Jim Oliver closed the event by thanking the Summit’s community partners:  WHRO’s Center for Regional Citizenship, The Planning Council, Portsmouth Partnership, Hampton Roads Partnership and Future of Hampton Roads.

HRCCE’s goal is to provide a safe place to talk about the tough, citizen-driven issues and to manage the conversation with community support. The organization is neutral, independent and citizen-based.