Lower Costs, Job Creation, Less Red Tape and Harnessing AI

Perspective from the 19^th Hole is the title I chose for my personal blog, which is meant to give me an outlet for one of my favorite crafts – writing – plus to use an image from my favorite sport, golf.  Out of college, my first job was as a reporter for the Daily Astorian in Astoria, Oregon, and I went on from there to practice writing in all my professional positions, including as press secretary in Washington, D.C. for a Democrat Congressman from Oregon (Les AuCoin), as an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, as press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and as a private sector lobbyist.  This blog also allows me to link another favorite pastime – politics and the art of developing public policy – to what I write.  I could have called this blog “Middle Ground,” for that is what I long for in both politics and golf.  The middle ground is often where the best public policy decisions lie.  And it is where you want to be on a golf course.

For this blog, I am indebted to my former partner and long-time friend, Gary Conkling.

In his own blog, he wrote about issues that could be involved down the road in the 2028 presidential election.  My first reaction is that I hope the election comes soon because I am not sure any of us can survive three more years of the worst president in U.S. history, Donald Trump.

Enough of that.  So, without formal approval from my friend, Gary (he would have given it had I asked) here is his post.

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My former boss Les AuCoin asked me recently what issues I thought a Democrat presidential candidate should embrace to win in 2028.  I confess I punted.

Saving the day, Democrat campaign guru David Plouffe offered five solid suggestions in a recent op-ed in The New York Times.  He even consulted a chatbot.

“The hole Democrats are in is deep,” Plouffe warns.  “But so is MAGA, and it cannot dig out while Trump is astride the project.  It’s a gift in any competitive arena to have your opponents stuck in place.”

His five suggestions include plans to lower costs, create jobs America needs, harness artificial intelligence, reform the political system and hold leaders accountable.  In light of President Trump’s actions that threaten to unravel the transatlantic alliance, there also should be a plank for a sane foreign policy.

But first, a review of Plouffe’s domestic policy ideas, which span the obvious, practical and wishful thinking.

Lowering Costs
Plouffe doesn’t cite “affordability.”  Instead, he advises to look at “the long list of ideas that would save voters real money, then make choices, make it short, make it sing.”  Avoid an ideological wish list and ensure the agenda “sings” on Instagram and TikTok.  He urges prosecution of price gouging and ash-canning Trump’s retribution tariffs.

Creating Jobs
Job creation is always a political winner.  Plouffe recommends getting specific about what jobs America needs, then investing in training programs to produce people to fill those jobs, which Plouffe called a “national economic emergency.”  “Auto insurance rates are skyrocketing,” he said, “because there aren’t enough mechanics.”

Washington Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, who owns an auto repair shop, would add we also need right-to-repair laws enabling consumers to fix their own devices, including cars.

Harnessing Artificial Intelligence
In what is quickly becoming obvious, Plouffe says America needs a strategy defining “AI’s role in our lives, society and economy” as we running a race with China on a battle of technological superiority.  The challenge isn’t just outcompeting China, but making algorithms more transparent and deepfakes easier to identify and eliminate.  He also recommends tackling the energy crisis and rising electricity rates caused by a massive buildout of data centers.

Reform
The reform agenda Plouffe recommends includes term limits and banning Members of Congress from stock-trading and becoming lobbyists.  He says Democrats have achieved a reputation of defending government and now must demonstrate a willingness “to reform and modernize” the government.  “Donald Trump’s corruption makes such proposals more relevant and powerful.”

Leader Accountability
“The Democrat establishment too often folds when it should fight and is too in love with process,” Plouffe asserts.  “It wants to perfect the world but is not maniacally focused on improving the lives of those living in right now.”  People are demanding change, and he advises Democrats should give it to them now by cutting red tape and scrapping underachieving programs and outdated policies.

Foreign Policy
Plouffe’s Democrat comeback plan didn’t include a foreign policy plank, even though that will be critical in light of the turmoil Trump has created in his first year of his second term.  At the top of the list will be restoring faith and brotherhood with postwar U.S. allies, which Trump has alienated as much or more than Vladimir Putin.

Immigration
Plouffe’s list also omits addressing the domestic fallout of Trump’s immigration purge and the divisive mark it has left on American cities and law enforcement.  The next president would be wise to end draconic tactics and push Congress to enact long overdue immigration reform legislation.

Whatever becomes of U.S. adventurism in Latin America, the next President must re-establish neighborly policies with Mexico and Canada, which have become economic family members.  Instead of ambushing boats, a good place to start would be to crack down on illegal gun running into Mexico and Central America.

Fresh Faces
Diplomatically, Plouffe doesn’t dabble in whether the Democrat Party needs fresh faces in its leadership.  Perhaps he felt that is obvious and better left unsaid.  Despite his omission, finding someone with chutzpah, experience and an engaging persona is no small feat.  In politics, there is rarely a perfect choice.  That said, the process of looking should start immediately.

What AI Said About AI
An intriguing part of Plouffe’s op-ed was the response when he asked ChatGPT to devise a Democrat AI policy, which emerged in the form of a short video:

Visuals:  Empty factory floors.  A family sitting in the dark as power bills pile up.  A young man staring blankly at a computer screen.  A rocket launches, symbolizing billionaire wealth soaring. 

Narrator (serious, urgent tone):

“Politicians told us A.I. would make life better.  But what did it really bring?  Lost jobs.  Sky-high energy bills.  Mental health in crisis.  And the billionaires?  They got richer – while we got left behind.  Every time they side with Big Tech, they’re choosing profits over people. I t’s time to ask: Whose future are they building?  Because it sure isn’t ours.”

Tagline “Hold them accountable.  Say no to AI greed.”

Ironically, by the time the 2028 presidential election rolls around, candidates will be relying heavily on AI for issue research, voter outreach and campaign slogans.  As Plouffe notes, “Add political consultants to the endangered occupation list.”

GOP Post-Trump
Democrats won’t be alone searching for their next leader when Trump finishes his second term.  The chaos and destruction sowed by Trump will be even greater three years from now, which Republicans will have to own and fix.  Intra-party divisions are already appearing on Trump’s foreign forays, heavy-handed immigrant arrests and assault on the independence of the Federal Reserve.

The obvious next-man-up for the GOP is Vice President JD Vance.  However, his political reputation is being tarnished as he defends unpopular Trump policies.  The haunting absence of Republican congressional pushback to extreme Trump actions may make GOP political insiders go looking elsewhere for a candidate that can appeal to more than hardcore MAGA voters.

Male X Factor
Political trenches in America are pretty deep, so the race for the White House in 2028 may boil down to who can appeal to disaffected men, especially young men.  Undoubtedly, a significant part of the 2028 campaign will be waged on platforms like Instagram and TikTok.  The enigma is what will motivate men by then.

Research suggests young men want political leadership that “understands their struggles” and makes them “feel heard.”  They want leaders to address their sources of anxiety such as gainful jobs, cost of living and future opportunity.  Most of all, they want an empathetic, competent leader.

In that, they may not be that much different from all other Americans.