How About Starting a Michigan Consensus '08: Right Here, Right Now?

I first heard about a project called the Copenhagen Consensus a few years ago. As I understood the idea, it was all about prioritizing the world's greatest social and economic challenges and then deciding which solutions were the most effective, based on proven "what works" practices and on the results of "the biggest bang for the buck" social and community studies and research.

Sounded like a good enough idea. Why? Because the Copenhagen Consensus dared to ask people to make hard choices about what they should focus on and learn about and vote for solutions to, given that no one can possibly focus on, learn about and vote for solutions to all problems.

I have since learned more about the Copenhagen Consensus. It was founded by an academic named Bjorn Lomberg, who is at the Copenhagen Business School. The Consensus project is an economists' exercise and is global in its mission. In May, 2008, the Consensus project met to determine, prioritize and examine "the most promising solutions, based on best practices and research, to 10 of the most pressing challenges facing the world today." For more information, a2ethics.orgers can go to: www.copenhagenconsensus.com.

So what does this project have to do with us? We are in an election year. Michigan is a swing state. The Presidential candidates have been criss-crossing the state and seem to be in the area every week.

Most people claim that they want the candidates to focus on "the issues." Polls and surveys have been conducted on what issues Michigan citizens want to discuss. So why not create then, our own Michigan Consensus? Here is what I propose:

1. Compile all the surveys on what top 5 issues, that is the 5 most pressing challenges and opportunities that Michigan citizens want to discuss AND for which we want to know 5 solutions to. Not the ones that candidates favor. But the ones that we give reasons for why they are the most pressing and therefore our priorities. AND that have several SOLUTIONS that have been shown to work and have passed economic cost/benefit analyses tests.

Right off the top of my head, I can think of 5 issues that are the most pressing and for which I have many reasons to think they are the priorities for Michigan citizens to focus on. And I am eager to hear working solutions to these issues as well.

My Michigan list: economic prospects and widening income equities, health care and nutrition, energy independence and cooperation, K-12 education and natural resource use.

To be sure, maybe Michigan citizens think the 5 most pressing challenges and opportunities which we want to discuss working solutions to are: sex education, teen pregnancy, the reform of Washington,change we can believe in and gun ownership.

If that is the case, then I am all for hearing why these issues should be our PRIORITIES and what the 5 best solutions are for them.

So, right here and right now, let's create the Michigan Consensus Project.

2. If not, then why not create a Michigan Compact?

From right here and right now until November 4, we promise to get the candidates to talk only about the most pressing issues... or to talk about any issues at all. That would be a sign of progress.

Pass this along. I realize it needs alot of work. And that the proposal needs just as much vetting. At least as much as that given to Vice Presidential candidates?