The Illinois Republican Party is up to its old games — working overtime to block any new blood or enlightened thinking from making its way into its leadership ranks. In fact, that’s really the only time you see the IL GOP in action — when it is rigging conventions, disenfranchising or threatening to sue rank and file Republicans, or keeping the “country club” closed to outsiders.
When we have party leaders who are motivated by things like being rewarded with high paying jobs — it’s understandable that they want to follow orders and keep the damper down on any political reform.
While the battle continues on for the passage of SB600, all 102 GOP county conventions take place on March 3rd.
What the Republican Party needs locally, statewide, and nationally are political innovators. Call them political Edwards Demings. One source describes Mr. Deming’s contribution to businesses across the globe as follows:
The teachings of Dr. Deming affected a quality revolution of gargantuan significance on American manufacturers and consumers. Through his ideas, product quality improved and, thus, popular satisfaction.
This country faces “gargantuan” political problems, so that word applies nicely.
Here is how Wikipedia opens their entry Deming:
William Edwards Deming (October 14, 1900 – December 20, 1993) was an American statistician, professor, author, lecturer, and consultant. Deming is widely credited with improving production in the United States during the Cold War, although he is perhaps best known for his work in Japan. There, from 1950 onward he taught top management how to improve design (and thus service), product quality, testing and sales (the last through global markets), through various methods, including the application of statistical methods.
Deming made a significant contribution to Japan’s later reputation for innovative high-quality products and its economic power. He is regarded as having had more impact upon Japanese manufacturing and business than any other individual not of Japanese heritage. Despite being considered something of a hero in Japan, he was only just beginning to win widespread recognition in the U.S. at the time of his death.
There is also a W. Edwards Deming Institute, which is a nonprofit organization founded in 1993 by Dr. Deming himself. On the Institute’s website, it’s noted that they –
– seek to conduct ourselves in a manner consistent with his high moral and ethical standards, professional and personal integrity, and commitment to lifelong learning. We do this solely from our dedication to the philosophy and values of Dr. Deming and our belief that together, with humility, we can and will make a difference in the quality of life for everyone.
High moral and ethical standards? What, no political payoffs? Professional and personal integrity? What if that gets in the way of your own personal bottom line?
As I’ve written often — the free market think tanks, conservative research organizations, and pro-family groups have already provided Republicans plenty of material to use to advance a message that sells the GOP Platform to voters. Now all that’s needed is a political apparatus that is of similar high quality.
