Societal and economic thinkers Frank Islam, George Muñoz, and Ed Crego, were kind enough to take the time to answer a few questions about their provocative and visionary book Renewing the American Dream: A Citizens Guide.
Frank Islam, George Muñoz, and Ed Cregochallenge the standard ways of thinking about government, business, the economy, and the role of the nation's citizens, and describe their revolutionary concept of problem solving that envisions America as a shared venture enterprise.
Thanks to Frank Islam, George Muñoz, and Ed Crego for their time, and for their very comprehensive and informative responses to the questions. They are greatly appreciated.
What was the background to writing this book, Renewing the American Dream: A Citizens Guide?
Frank Islam, George Munoz and Ed Crego: After the financial meltdown of 2008, we expected political and business leaders to pull together much the same way they had after 9/11. Instead, what we saw was almost completely partisan politics inside the beltway and inertia in the business community outside of it. This lack of leadership was concerning because of the country’s condition. The country has been in decline for more than a decade and the American dream is at risk.
We wrote Renewing the American Dream out of a sense of responsibility to call citizens’ attention to this crisis because we believe that many do not grasp the gravity of the current situation. Our purpose is to enlist citizen participation to reverse the decline. As citizens who have lived the American Dream we not only have the right, but the responsibility, to speak out and make our voices heard on the critical need to renew America and the American Dream.
What caused you to describe the Dream as “at risk”?
Frank Islam, George Munoz and Ed Crego: America can deliver on the Dream only if it stays competitive on a global basis. There is clear evidence that our economic standing in the world is at risk. As our leadership slips so does the American Dream.
Survey after survey discloses that the American people feel that the future is slipping through their hands and for the first time parents are saying that their children may not be better off than they are.
This is happening because America as a nation has been losing its competitive advantage. That advantage has been driven by a strong manufacturing sector, an ample supply of jobs, a vibrant middle class, and innovation, entrepreneurship, and successful small businesses that have been the job generating engine accounting for well more than one-half of the nation’s GDP. All this forms the platform for delivering on the American Dream. But as other countries become more competitive, our platform has been deteriorating and in need of renewal.
Internationally, the competition is getting tougher than it’s ever been before. We are running into a new BRIC wall. That’s Brazil-Russia-India-China. Especially in Brazil, India and China, GDP and the earning power of citizens is growing quickly.
Frank Islam (photo left)
Americans are disillusioned with what they see as a country going downhill? Why are people so worried about the present and the future?
Frank Islam, George Munoz and Ed Crego: While the country may be going downhill a little, the status of the middle class is in serious decline. More Americans are slipping into poverty. The numbers that just came out place 1 in 7 of our citizens in that category. Those who aren’t in poverty have seen their net worth plunge over the past two years as the values of their homes fall precipitously and holdings in the stock market lose value. In the ten years from 2000-2009, the median income and net worth decline for the first time since those things have been measured.
People are worried because they are experiencing this shift on a personal basis. Right now, even if GDP growth returns to normal and there is a real recovery, there is no guarantee that will translate into enhanced IEW – Individual Economic Well-Being. IEW is what gives each of us comfort. IEW is not a concept that has yet gotten into the vocabulary or become a front and center issue for our elected officials and public policy.
But our elected officials are not fighting for us. In our book, we talk about how our political process has become dysfunctional, leading to partisan gridlock rather than united fronts against our enemies and against the decline of the American Dream.
George Muñoz (photo left)
Is the situation hopeless or can the American Dream be brought back to life?
Frank Islam, George Munoz and Ed Crego: The situation is far from hopeless the Dream is not dead, yet. But for many Americans, as our earlier answers indicate, it may be on life support
We are in a pivotal period. This past decade has been one of decline for the country and our citizens. This next decade will be the decisive one. The decisions we make and the actions that we take in it will determine the future and the fate of America and the American Dream.
There are two ingredients that we think are central to renewing the dream: one is creating a competitive advantage for the nation and its citizens, the second is bringing organizations and citizens together in shared venture to work on Enterprise USA.
How can competitive advantage be restored in an increasingly global economy?
Frank Islam, George Munoz and Ed Crego: It has to start with by creating a plan for competitive advantage for the nation. America is our “enterprise”. This country is the citizens’ business. We must treat it as such.
In the book we set out a framework for reestablishing our competitive advantage. We call for a nonpartisan Commission to conduct a thorough and in-depth strategic analysis of the current situation and develop a comprehensive strategic plan for the country. That plan should spell out the vision, goals, and strategies for consideration by the President and Congress.
No major business ever developed a competitive advantage without putting a plan into place. It is absurd to think that in a world where our new competitors are engaging in and will be doing much more centrally planned capitalism that our old “laissez faire” approach will allow us to prevail.
What is the American Dream anyway, and how can it be assessed for what works and what needs improvement?
Frank Islam, George Munoz and Ed Crego: We each have our own definition of the American Dream. The definition that we developed for the book after talking with a number of citizens from all walks of life is simple: It is the opportunity to be the bet that you can be and to be rewarded and recognized for accomplishing that. We should stress that it’s an “opportunity” not a “guarantee”.
To amplify a little more, the American Dream is the chance to be successful and to achieve economic security. The fundamental elements of the dream are getting educated and working hard in order to have a good job that pays decent wages, provides adequate benefits, puts food on the table, a roof over one’s head, and allows for retirement with dignity.
A core precept of the dream is that doing this will ensure that America will continue to grow and prosper and that each generation will have a better life than the previous one. We believe that two other aspects of the Dream are: a concern for the common good, and pride in the nation and its standing in the world.
How do you assess the Dream and what needs improvement? If those are the elements, break the definition apart and give a grade to each. A few decades ago, we probably would have had “ A’s” in almost all areas. We’ll leave it to your readers to assign their own grades for where we are today. We’d be willing to bet, however, that their report card will not be one that you’d like to take home to your parents.
Ed Crego (photo left)
What are some of the factors that must be considered to revive the Dream and who are the agents of that renewal?
Frank Islam, George Munoz and Ed Crego: Establishing a competitive advantage plan for the country is only the beginning.
Other things that need to be done to ensure that we achieve a competitive advantage and are successful in renewing the American Dream include: redirecting government; redirecting business; renewing leaders, organizations and individuals; implementing a renewal process which stresses proper preparation, involvement and execution; implementing policies and programs that create jobs, rejuvenate the middle class, reignite the manufacturing sector, unleash the potential of small business and entrepreneurs, ensure a vital news media and advance America’s role in the world.
The agents of renewal are what we call in the book twenty-first century citizens. Twenty-first century citizens play in the 3-I league. They are: Independent – they don’t toe the party line they think for themselves. Informed – they do their homework and the come to their own conclusions. Involved – they decide what issues matter the most to them and they roll up their sleeves and go to work on them.
Twenty-first century citizens know that sitting on the sideline is not an option. They get engaged at the individual, organization, civic, social and leadership levels to make a difference. In our book we describe things and approaches that we can take as citizens to further each form of engagement.
How can Americans in the government, the private sector, and nonprofit organizations work together to rebuild America?
Frank Islam, George Munoz and Ed Crego: As citizens we can do this by participating in a shared venture that we call “Enterprise USA”. We believe that the enterprise concept is the centerpiece for revitalizing all aspects of America and the American Dream.
We have become a divided nation. Our political system is increasingly bipolar and dysfunctional The Enterprise concept provides an alternative paradigm for reframing the issue in a manner that brings us together for problem-solving and to act in our common interest as citizens.
There are two essential elements to the Enterprise concept. First, is to see the U. S. as an enterprise – the nation is the citizens’ business. Second, is to emphasize it is a “shared venture” – it’s not just government’s or business’ responsibility to renew America. It is the responsibility of all of our organizations and of us as 21st century citizens working together.
The problem today is that we have too many people in leadership positions framing issues incorrectly and in “either or” terms. The truth is it’s not “either or” -- its “both” “and.”
If you study the way America was built it was not in spite of government and business. It’s been because of government and business and religious organizations and non profits and community-based organizations and the collective and individual actions of citizens. That’s what our history and performance as a nation clearly tells us. Those who would say otherwise are either ignorant of the facts or motivated by other agendas.
What is the first step to building what you call in the book Enterprise USA?
Frank Islam, George Munoz and Ed Crego: The first step is recognition. With recognition, comes the understanding that there is the need for change. That change begins with us as citizens. We all need to become change agents.
If we realize that citizenship cannot be a spectator sport and get onto the playing field America and the American Dream wins. No one can defeat us.
What is next for Frank Islam, George Munoz and Ed Crego?
Frank Islam, George Munoz and Ed Crego: As we said in our book, the real work begins when the writing ends. We’re out doing the real work now.
We’re spreading the message, engaging in dialogue, and getting involved with other citizens in working on issues that matter to us. We’re doing that now and plan to continue to do so in the future in order to make whatever contribution we can to creating Enterprise USA and renewing the American Dream.
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My book review of Renewing the American Dream: A Citizens Guide by Frank Islam, George Muñoz, and Ed Crego
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