Background
My wife and I launched our business in 2006. We rolled out in 13 states and exceeded our expectations for two years. Then the financial crisis hit. And we barely survived by the skin of our teeth. Some of our friends and competitors did not. That’s capitalism with a capital “C”. But the Wall Street banks that caused the crisis don’t actually believe in capitalism. Nor do they have any interest in adhering to its tenets-but they will expend disproportionate effort at making you believe that it is their guiding philosophy.
The financial crisis of 2007-2008 was caused by excessive greed. Plain and simple. Large, systematically important financial institutions deliberately and fraudulently misled investors, and when the whole thing blew up Capitalism reared its voracious appetite for failure and came knocking at Wall Street’s door.
But the free exercise of capitalism would have resulted in a lot of wealthy and powerful people losing a significant portion of their income and investments. So Wall Street exercised its might, derived from extensive campaign contributions and insisted on a socialist solution. They reached out to their embeds in Congress, the Supreme Court, and the White House to bail them out. And with taxpayers’ conscripted backing, a trillion dollars was created out of thin air to rescue these systemic institutions from capitalism. These so called free market capitalists abandoned their religion at the first sign of trouble.
We now have a hybrid financial system in the United States. The vast majority of us operate under the framework of full time, 24 hours a day capitalism. However, if you are wealthy enough, you can opt into the part-time capitalist system: gains are capitalized while losses are socialized. It is the ultimate heads I win tails you loose scenario.
The Taft Test Index
I created the Taft Test Index in order to replicate Senator Taft’s sense of civic duty, captured in the quote that appears at the top of every page on this website. This attitude is reflective of what I remember learning about public service as a student, and the way I view it today. And I think it captures the spirit of the things Americans do in fact overwhelmingly agree on.
The 17 Point Scale
Do yourself a favor and read this article about legendary baseball coach John Scolinos. For those of you who don’t, I will attempt an abbreviated version that does precious little respect to the original story.
John Scolinos was the baseball coach at Cal Poly Pamona. He once gave a speech with a baseball home plate hanging around his neck. In succession, he asked little league coaches, high school coaches, and professional coaches how wide home plate was in each of their leagues. The reply in every case was “seventeen inches.” Coach Scolinos went on to make an important point. When a pitcher can’t throw the ball over home plate, you don’t widen the plate for him. Either you coach him better or find him another passion.
It seems to me when it comes to elections in this country we’ve been widening the plate. We’ve been lowering the bar. I’ve now even had to set a minimum prerequisite for judging elected officials: you have to know how to use a computer and you have to be able to speak in complete sentences. Right now, in my community, we have an elected official who can’t meet that prerequisite.
The Taft Test is meant to raise that bar. If you can’t pitch over a seventeen inch base, you don’t belong in the major leagues. And more and more of our politicians, especially at the highest level are unable to pitch over a thirty inch base let alone a seventeen inch one! It’s like the rides at Disneyland: you must be this tall to ride. Maybe it is time to stop judging our elected leaders by the standard of a fictional children’s fantasy land! In the spirit of John Scolino, The Taft Test sets the standard at 17.
- Scores of 17 and lower are reflective of candidates who most likely, at the end of the day will put their country ahead of party and personal wealth.
- Scores from 18-34 are concerning and warrant further investigation. Proceed with Caution.
- Scores 35 and above indicate that personal ambition is likely more important than party and country. Danger Will Robinson!
The Data
The Taft Test data inputs are broken down in to three general categories: personal information, affiliations, and outside analytics.
Personal Information
Personal Information consists of things like education, career, and affiliations.
Inconvenient Relationships
If you dig in to and compare the background of the key players and entities in the 2007-2008 financial crisis, and then do the same for the largest post Citizens United campaign contributors, you immediately notice certain patterns start to become prevalent. Analyzing the overlapping data reveals a group of 70 or so entities that seem to play pivotal roles in the shaping of political power. I call these entities ‘The Inconvenients’, in honor of their belief that a Constitutional Republic is an inconvenient obstacle to infinite income. And they are right. It is in inconvenience. That is the whole point of a Constitutional Republic. Our style of Democracy is contingent upon a set of rules or rights that apply to all citizens.
Outside analytics
There are a number of relatively independent and non partisan organizations that do a good job of collecting and distributing political data. You can find some of my favorites on the links page.
Decisions, Decisions, Decisions…
The Taft Test is meant to be a tool to help make informed decisions come election day. But it should by no means be the sole factor in decision making. It is not perfect. It is not infallible. Do your homework. Check out the links page. Talk to people, especially those who disagree with you. We no longer have the luxury of being a backseat driver to our own destiny. It is time to take the wheel.
The Taft Test 