Leonard Pash is a lower-middle class family man: wife, two kids, small house with a mortgage living in his hometown of Riverbend. He is a volunteer firefighter and serves on the executive of a wilderness organization. He likes baseball.
Len’s occupation is a factory worker. He thought he would have this job until retirement. But the factory shuts down. Len’s employment future is uncertain.
His fellow co-worker and neighbor, Rich Riddel, finds a new mission in life. Rich is starting up a local TDG (Tiered Democratic Governance) group in northwest Riverbend. Rich invites Len. Len has little interest in politics, but he needs something to pass his idle time. So he joins Rich’s group. Slowly, Len’s TDG attendance turns him from a reluctant watcher to a valuable TDG worker.
Leonard Pash is a fictitious character in my novel “Diary of a Future Politician.” The purpose of this novel is to teach average Americans that they can put the TDG together.
I am on Medium to promote the TDG. Medium seems have a higher intellect than other internet forums than I have participated in. I believe I have engaged with at least 3000 people in my 3.5 years on Medium. Most of this focus group has silently told me to go away.
Sometimes the TDG naysayers do respond to me. Let me summarize their two main objections to the TDG. First, they believe that there is no way the current political structure will ever allow something like the TDG to be built. Second, they believe that the TDG calls for skills and attitudes that humanity cannot attain.
So where does that leave someone like Lenard Pash?
My Medium focus group indirectly says that someone like Len Pash should be regarded as an American fool. Why would anyone commit the volunteer time into a system that is likely to go nowhere. It makes more sense for Len to spend his spare time watching more baseball on TV.
Right?
So what about you?
Just imagine if Len’s TDG work does build a new political culture. As time passes, you see the TDG membership growing, its elections finding capable leaders, and those leaders working with a consensual style of decision making. The American public takes more interest in this movement. The TDG is now deliberating on a new constitution for the country to replace the one from the 18th century. Both political parties are acquiescing to the public acceptance of the TDG — and the transition is likely. All because people like Len Pash took that first step. At what point in this evolution would you call Len an American hero?
If you can see yourself changing from “Len Pash Fool” to “Len Pash Hero” later than sooner, then why not just go “sooner”?
Give the TDG a serious try. It will be an interesting life path for you. Your great-grandchildren will be in awe of your TDG contribution. Starting the TDG will require only 10 hours a month of your time.
Diary of a Future Politician is available for a free read from my website.
Len Pash is the main character of this novel. He is a minor character in Confessions of a Future Politician and Circles of a Future Politician.
Published on Medium 2023
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