Brian Lucas's Open Salon Blog

Tapping into the Power of Young People

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:01:37 -0500

Every year I conduct admissions interviews for my alma mater. I love getting the chance to meet with high school seniors to talk with them about their accomplishments, and to get a sense for what their goals are for the future.

After each interview I come away amazed by the intellectual curiosity of these students. I am inspired by the way these teenagers are connected with their communities and are working hard to make a difference. I am humbled by their drive, their passion, and their ambition to make an impact on the world.

One of my recent interviews was with a young man who spends his “free time” in a lab at the University of Minnesota helping research possibilities around “tumor suppressor genes.” When I was in high school I thought breeding fruit flies to track eye color changes was a cool experiment. Targeted gene therapies were a little out of my scope. He was so enthusiastic telling me about the work he’s doing. It was a privilege to tap into the mind of someone who is so excited about learning.

It reminded me of an article I read about a 17-year-old girl in California who just won a $100,000 prize from a national science contest sponsored by Siemens. She’s been conducting research as an “after school project” that could lead to a cure for cancer. Angela Zhang created a nanoparticle that can seek out cancer cells and kill them, leaving healthy cells unharmed.

Then there is the story of Samantha Garvey, who was living in a homeless shelter when she got word that she made it to the finals of a national Intel science competition. She had spent two years studying the effects of the Asian short crab on the mussel population of a salt marsh in Long Island. Samantha and her family have since been able to find a home. Samantha is hoping to go to Yale or Brown next year.

These stories, and countless others, demonstrate a profound truth that we need to embrace in this country. Every single child has potential, and the opportunity cost of failing to nurture that potential is beyond measure.

We have no idea where the next Einstein is going to come from. We don’t know who our next Steve Jobs will be. There are so many children out there with potential to change the world but maybe they don’t have a home, or food, or books, or parents to read to them, or a teacher to inspire them.

We talk a lot in this country about leveraging resources and return on investment. It’s time we focus on our greatest untapped resource: children. If we can unleash the collective power of ALL of the young people around us, cancer and global warming and a host of other “unsolvable” problems don’t stand a chance.

So the questions is… how do we do it? How do we reach people who are falling through the cracks? Please submit your thoughts… maybe we can come up with some ideas of our own!

Five Budget Negotiation Lessons from the Minnesota Shutdown

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 14:07:13 -0400

Conventional wisdom says the sign of a good compromise is when neither side feels happy about a resolution. Unfortunately, the compromise that ended Minnesota’s government shutdown is the exception to prove that rule. Now, as the federal government engages in its own game of “political chicken” around the debt ceiling, Minnesota’s experience can serve as a cautionary tale.

It’s hard to imagine anyone feeling good about the way the budget “negotiation” played out here. We endured the longest shutdown in history, and we walk away without anything to show for it. We have no vision… no direction… no sense for what Minnesota stands for and what our path for the future will be.

Our Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton and our Republican leaders unfortunately seem to be continuing in the footsteps of Gov. (and presidential candidate) Tim Pawlenty, kicking budgetary problems down the road like an old tin can. Minnesota is no longer the “State that Works.” We've become a “State of Denial.”

Governor Dayton had the best intentions going into this debate. He ran for office saying he was going to increase taxes on the wealthy, and he seemed to be sticking to his guns. The Republican legislature drew a line in the sand against ANY new revenue, and the shutdown was born. In the end, the two sides agreed on some accounting tricks to pass the budget deficit on for others to solve. In return, the Republicans agreed to drop a number of social initiatives they were pushing for around abortion rights and stem cell research, etc.

In the spirit of trying to learn from mistakes (and it pains me that Minnesota has become a national example for this) I offer a few guiding principles that may help federal negotiations and other states facing fiscal crisis. If lawmakers can stick to these simple rules, maybe we can have an honest discussion, and we can rediscover the spirit of innovation, compassion, and community that is necessary for any healthy, thriving community.

Rules for a productive budget negotiation:

1. Do your homework

The large number of freshmen legislators in Minnesota this session yielded a significant learning curve. That was to be expected. The problem was, many legislators seemed to operate on the assumption that they were there only to teach, not to learn. They refused to listen to those who had been through these battles before (see the harsh reaction they had to an attempt by former Republican Governor Arne Carlson and Vice President Walter Mondale to help come up with a compromise plan). The new guard demonstrated an arrogance, as if they had nothing to learn.

We can only hope that the newer members of Congress can be a little more humble, and a lot more intellectually curious.

2. Don’t be afraid of creativity

One of the stumbling blocks in this negotiation from the very beginning was that the Republicans painted themselves into an absolute: no tax increases of any kind. Yes, their constituents spoke loud and clear about fiscal responsibility, but that doesn’t excuse legislators from having to think in nuance, and it doesn’t mean they can’t get creative in the name of meaningful compromise.

The Republican Party has a long history in Minnesota of looking for creative, targeted ways to balance budgets using a combination of revenue and cuts. It wasn’t until Gov. Pawlenty that revenue was taken off the table. The Republicans need to get back to finding ways to stay true to their ideals, without locking themselves into a simple catch phrase like “no new taxes.”

3. Stop the "rich people are overtaxed" myth

The argument against taxing the wealthy often hinges on the fact that the wealthiest five percent of the population pays 50-60 percent of the income taxes in the United States. On its surface, the argument seems to make sense.

But it’s also true that the top five percent control the vast majority of the wealth in our country. (By many estimates they control 70-80 percent of the wealth, leaving the other 95 percent of us fighting over 20-30 percent of the money). In that light, shouldn’t they be asked to pay a similar proportion?

I’m still amazed and confused by the number of low and middle income people who fight the idea of tax increases on the rich (when many wealthy Americans are open to the idea). Honestly, the wealthy don’t need us to defend their interests. And if you still believe in “trickle-down economics” you need to ask where the trickle down from the Bush tax cuts has been landing.

4. Stop the "rich people will pack their bags and leave to avoid taxes" myth

Do we really think our wealthiest citizens will move away if they are asked to pay more taxes?

Minnesota has always been a relatively high-tax state. Despite this, we have built a disproportionate number of Fortune 500 companies. We have produced millionaires and billionaires who love the state, appreciate the quality of life here, and give back generously.

5. Focus on the real problems

One of my issues with the Minnesota “compromise”is Gov. Dayton’s insistence that social issues and proposals by the Republicans (abortion issues, voter ID, etc.) be dropped in exchange for a no new taxes “solution.” This contingency makes no sense other than as a way to alleviate political headaches. In essence, it rewards the Republicans for raising these sidebar issues in the first place when the focus should have been on the budget and nothing but the budget.

I can already imagine the attempts to line up even more “social ammo” for the next negotiation, under the theory that it can be used as political capital once again. Let’s hope we can avoid these distractions and become laser focused on our economic future.

The political brinksmanship of a government shutdown threat should not be taken lightly. In Minnesota, it’s unfortunate that our Governor didn’t stick to his guns through the shutdown to finally force movement on revenue/taxes.

I hope President Obama doesn’t look at Minnesota as an example. It’s time for a leader to draw a new line in the sand, and to finally force open discussion about revenue, rather than just cuts.

Mission Accomplished: So Why Don't I Feel Like Celebrating?

Mon, 2 May 2011 13:05:17 -0400

I was a little late to the game last night in hearing about Osama bin Ladin’s death. I was watching last week’s episode of Glee on Tivo, completely unaware of the drama that had been unfolding around the world. When the show was over, and I switched to live TV, I was shocked to see President Obama’s announcement. I was even a little disoriented, as the fictional world of television morphed into stark reality. Bin Ladin, al-Qaeda, 9/11 and the “War on Terror” seeped back into my consciousness from where they had been… in a not-so-restful hibernation state.

Once the news settled into my brain, I have to confess that there was a disconnect between what I was feeling, and what I was seeing on the news. I didn’t feel like taking to the streets and celebrating. Yes, the world is a better place without Osama bin Ladin in it. Yes, I am grateful for, and in awe of, all of the intelligence and military precision that went into this historic moment. And of course, this is a significant milestone in our efforts to defend ourselves from terrorism.

But as I watched the chanting and cheering crowds, I couldn’t share their excitement for a number of reasons:

1. Our grander mission is not accomplished: As a symbolic moment, we can’t overstate the importance of bin Ladin’s death. On a larger scale, however, does it really make us a safer country? We know al-Qaeda will live on. We know bin Ladin will be hailed as a martyr by some. We can’t let this victory decrease our vigilance around fighting terrorism and working to make this a safer world.

Personally, I hope we can use this moment to re-think our ant-terrorism strategy. Can we stop making the Islamic community as a whole out to be villains? Can we finally end our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan? Can we focus on re-building those communities through infrastructure, health care, and education to give terrorists fewer targets for recruitment? That would be a reason to celebrate.

2. The impact of 9/11 lives on: Osama bin Ladin’s terrible act on 9/11 accomplished more than I’m sure even he bargained for. Beyond the horrific human toll, America has sustained collateral damage that continues to impact us today. In the aftermath of 9/11 we unfortunately let some of the worst tendencies of our country overwhelm our best qualities.

We flexed our military might and have lost nearly 6,000 brave Americans in the process. More than 30,000 men and women have been injured. This has impacted countless lives to an extent that is impossible to measure.

We compromised our own ethical standards through increased surveillance of our own citizens, the establishment of a detention camp at Guantanamo Bay, and the use of torture for interrogation.

We poured billions of dollars into wars (with much of the money kept off the official balance sheets), and are now faced with massive federal and state deficits that are impacting our ability to deliver basic needs (health care, education, infrastructure, public safety) to our own citizens. (Obviously the wars are only part of the equation for our economic collapse, but they are a significant factor).

I can’t help but wonder where our economy would be right now without 9/11 and the decisions we made in its wake.

3. It doesn’t bring anyone back: As I tried to sleep last night my thoughts drifted to the victims of 9/11 and their families. I knew two people who were killed in the towers, and I hope bin Ladin’s death brought some sense of closure to their families’ pain. I know it won’t take that pain away.

So as we move into this post-bin Ladin world, what has really changed for us here in America? The wars still rage. The economy is still teetering. Our lawmakers are still deadlocked in disagreement about how to balance our budget.

I know we’re witnessing history. I got chills listening to President Obama’s announcement. But I can’t quite get myself to celebrate the death of this man.

I can only hope this moment helps us move forward, re-focusing on the qualities that really make America great: our freedom, our compassion, and our commitment to building a brighter future for our own citizens as well as those around the world.

Can Tucson Help Renew Respect for Public Service?

Tue, 18 Jan 2011 00:01:55 -0500

When I was in college, I spent one summer as an intern in Washington, DC working for Congressman Martin Sabo. I loved being on Capitol Hill. I admired the dedication of all the people I worked with and I even contemplated running for office one day.

Congressman Sabo, to me, was the definition of a “public servant.” He did not run for office for personal glory, he did it because he believed in the ability of government to make a positive difference in people’s lives. Sabo was a liberal, but he worked across the aisle and always treated his colleagues, and our political institutions, with respect.

In the wake of the horror that took place in Tucson earlier this month, I couldn’t help but think how times have changed in Congress. The collegial tone that I witnessed seems to have disappeared. Even the words “Congress,” “politician,” and “government” have taken on negative undertones in our country.

In the aftermath of the Tucson shootings, we have an obligation to reflect on the state of our Union. Gun control, mental health care, and, yes, the tenor of our national dialogue all deserve examination. But I also hope the Tucson shootings can signal an official end to what has become one of our favorite pastimes as Americans: denigrating and disrespecting our government leaders.

The term “public service” used to mean something special. People who dedicated themselves to serving in office were afforded a certain level of respect by political foes and allies alike. Today it seems the more “patriotic” a person claims to be, the more they will espouse that the best government is “no government at all.”

Ironically, politicians themselves have become some of the harshest critics of their own profession. Incumbents seek political cover by distancing themselves from their peers, or from “government” in general. Challengers decry our political system even as they work feverishly to join the ranks of those they claim to detest.

The vilification of government by pundits and politicians can’t help but impact the way the general public views government. This has led to a too lenient atmosphere when it comes to rhetoric and campaign tactics.

In the past “targeting” candidates in crosshairs would have been political suicide. Today it makes you the leader of a movement. Not long ago, calling a sitting president the “worst president in history” in a campaign ad would have been lambasted as unpatriotic. This past November Arizona voters rewarded Ben Quayle for that ad by electing him to Congress (where he pledged to “knock the hell out of the place!”)

To be clear, I don’t believe we can blame the acts of a deranged individual on Sarah Palin any more than we can blame the movie Taxi Driver for the attempt on Ronald Reagan’s life. But even without a direct link, can’t we still acknowledge we’ve gone too far. It’s time to stop using guns in campaign ads, putting “targets” on opponents, or holding “machine gun socials” as campaign fundraising events.

I remember seeing footage of a teenaged Bill Clinton shaking the hand of President Kennedy in the Rose Garden as part of a Boys Life event in 1963. Clinton spoke about how that meeting inspired him to think about a career in public service, and it planted a seed within him that he could be president one day.

Then I think about nine-year-old Christina Taylor Green arriving at that event in Tucson, so excited to meet her Representative, Gabrielle Giffords. Christina was also inspired by the idea of public service. Witnesses say at the time of the shooting she was standing behind Rep. Giffords with a huge smile on her face. She could very well have grown up to be a Congresswoman… or President. We’ll never know.

Calling for an end to the denigration of public service doesn’t mean we can’t criticize public officials or our government. It is our duty as Americans to hold our leaders accountable for their actions and their positions. But we don’t need to tear down or belittle the role of public service because we don’t like the views of the person holding office.

It’s time to restore the role of “public servant” to an honored place in our society. Maybe if we all expect the best from government, we will get the kind of governance that America still deserves.

Here Comes the Sun: Music, a Marathon, and a Mission

Mon, 8 Nov 2010 14:11:50 -0500

Last month I completed a challenge that I never dreamed I would attempt. I ran the Twin Cities Marathon.

I’m not a runner. “Marathon” was not a term that would ever appear on my “bucket list.” Still, there I was, shoes on, slathered in body glide, starting down the road for one reason and one reason only… my wife, Betsy.

Five years ago, Betsy checked into the hospital to begin treatment for cancer. Total body radiation, intense chemotherapy, and a stem cell transplant all helped her fight a rare form of Leukemia that was already in its final stage when she was diagnosed.

It was a difficult battle. I am lucky that Betsy is a fighter. And earlier this year we celebrated Betsy’s 5^th anniversary of her bone marrow transplant. We can now call her cured. It is in her honor that I decided to run, as part of Team in Training, to raise money for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society.

I took on this challenge much in the way that Betsy accepted hers, one step at a time, dealing with each obstacle as it came. Obviously the stakes aren’t nearly as high for a marathon, but this was my attempt to give back, to try to take something positive from our experience, and to help those who will be fighting their own cancer battles in the future.

Before I signed up for this challenge, the longest I had ever run was three miles. Suddenly I found myself on a training schedule where three-mile runs were considered “rest days.”

I slowly saw my distances grow… 16 miles… 18 miles… and finally a 20-miler. Everyone told me if you can do 20 you can do a marathon. I wasn’t so sure about that, considering how I felt after 20. (It probably didn’t help that I went to a party the night before featuring beer and a “taco truck”… mmmm… taco truck…).

In any case, I finished my 20-miler and then fully embraced the best part of marathon training… the “tapering phase.” In the final weeks before the marathon you are SUPPOSED to reduce your training and rest your body. If there’s one thing I’m good at… it’s NOT running. I added in a premature stretch of “carb loading” for good measure. If it hadn’t been for the marathon looming on the horizon, it would have been a perfect couple of weeks!!

I spent the day before the race preparing my gear, writing names on a hat that had been sent to me by supporters of my race. I had asked for any names of people touched by cancer. I was sent more than 50… complete with amazing, inspiring, and sometimes heartbreaking stories. Writing down these names was a humbling and emotional exercise that helped remind me why I was running this race, and got me mentally ready for the challenge.

My other task on the day before the race was my music playlist. I strung together six hours of music on my iPod, trying to match the music to how I imagined I would be feeling during each stage of the race.

Race day started with an early wake up call to be sure I applied extra layers of body glide, took my Advil, and had enough breakfast to carry me through. My morning brain struggled to understand why I was up so early just to embark on a torturous run. I reminded my morning brain it was for a good cause, and we agreed to proceed to the marathon.

The weather was perfect… cool… blue skies. I gathered with my teammates for a photo and then we dispersed to the starting line. The massive crowd of runners started to move, and there I was… running a marathon.

I hit “play” on my iPod and started the first of what I figured were five distinct phases of the race:

Phase 1: I’m running! I’m actually running!

(Key song: Run – Ben Kweller – Perfectly captured the spirit that carried me through the run)

The initial rush of the race was amazing. I was in the middle of a huge mob of people, cruising through the streets of downtown Minneapolis. There was optimism and excitement.

Music wise, this is where I put all of my “running” themed songs. I figured for the first 6-8 miles songs about running might actually be inspirational. I knew later on these songs would only remind me that, yes, I was still running.

I saw Betsy, and my two daughters, Molly and Julia, twice during this stretch and their cheers gave me an incredible boost. There was actually a brief moment when I thought, “Hey, this isn’t going to be too bad.”

Phase 2: Cruise Control

(Key song: A Love Bizarre – Sheila E. and Prince – Great beat, great song, and it carried me along for 12 minutes!)

Once I got past the initial euphoria, I settled into the task of ticking off as many miles as I could while I was still feeling pretty good. Miles 8 to 16 were all about forgetting I was running and getting into a groove.

I appreciated every distraction during this stretch of the race. There were bands along the route providing live music. There were crowds of enthusiastic people. I found it genuinely amusing when people clapping for us happened to be clapping to the exact beat of the music I was listening to on my headphones. That’s what passes for entertainment during a marathon.

I had written my name on my jersey along with the words “for Betsy.” I could feel a surge of energy every time I heard someone call my name. I got an even bigger boost when people would yell out, “Do it for Betsy!”

Phase two was still good. Even enjoyable. Then I hit:

Phase 3: How did I get here?

(Key Song – Sunshine – World Party – Perfect for reflection on the journey)

Miles 17-20 were all about introspection. The miles started to pass more and more slowly. I still enjoyed the crowds and the excitement, but I also started to turn inward, concentrating on the events in my life that led me to that moment.

I pushed through the 20-mile mark, and then I started to hit:

Phase 4: The Wall

(Key Song: All Will Be Well – The Gabe Dixon Band)

When you cross the 20-mile mark at the Twin Cities marathon, you run underneath a giant inflatable “wall.” A couple miles later I felt like I ran into a brick wall. On the incline up to Summit Ave. my legs pretty much abandoned me. I had to put my head down and start simply concentrating on putting one foot in front of the other.

Two things kept me going during this stretch:

1. Betsy and the girls met me at mile 22. Betsy was holding a sign that read “Happy First Date Anniversary!” I had completely forgotten, but the marathon happened to fall on the 13^th anniversary of our first date. This dose of serendipity (and big hugs from my family) gave me a needed lift.

2. As I reached the end of Summit Ave. and passed the Cathedral, the song “All Will be Well” came on my iPod. “All will be well” was a phrase that became a mantra for Betsy when she was in the hospital. When this song came on I had to hold back tears. A flood of memories rushed into my mind about the last five years and the deeper meaning behind my run.

Phase 5: Here Comes the Sun

I didn’t have many specific expectations or hopes for the marathon. My goal was to finish before they shut down the course, without doing any permanent damage to myself.

But in the back of my mind I did have one other goal. I wanted to cross the finish line to the Beatles song, “Here Comes the Sun.” This was the song that Betsy and I listened to just about every morning when she was in the hospital. I wanted that song to provide the soundtrack to the end of my race.

The song came on my iPod a few minutes before the finish so I hit “pause” and then “play” again when I could see the finish line. I then did what can only be described as a slow motion imitation of running, but the best I could do, for that final stretch.

I saw Betsy and the girls cheering wildly for me as I passed by them. When I crossed the finish line I was hit with a wave of emotion that completely caught me off guard. I tried to keep it together as a volunteer put a medal around my neck. I tried to keep it together as I grabbed bananas and potato chips. But when I finally exited the race area into the arms of Betsy, Julia and Molly it was too much. I lost it. I was too exhausted to fight it anymore. I was relieved to be done, and so grateful see my family.

When it was all over I felt good. Not good as in “I think I’d like to do this again.” (I announced my retirement from the marathon circuit immediately following the race) I felt good about the experience. I felt particularly good about being able to give back to an organization that helped me get to this point… where five years after her diagnosis with Leukemia, my wife could be waiting for me at the finish line.