Waiting for Superman
by Leo Linbeck III
Early in Waiting for Superman, educator Geoffrey Canada tells the story that was the inspiration for the film’s title. As a young boy, Dr. Canada believed that, one day, Superman would arrive in his neighborhood and “save the good people.” But when Canada was in the fourth grade, his mother gave him the bad news: There was no such thing as Superman.
It is a poignant story, an inflection point in his life when he finally understood that “there was no one coming with the power to save us.” It was up to him. And, years later, this talented teacher worked with his neighbors in Harlem to do precisely that: save his community.
Recently, the Republicans have been acting like the young Dr. Canada. They’re waiting for Superman to save them.
First, it was Donald Trump. He was going to tell President Obama, “You’re fired.”
Next, it was Rick Perry. He was going to tell the President, “Adios.”
Then, it was Chris Christie. The Republican establishment was telling him, “Baby, you were born to run!”
Then Herman Cain and came and went.
Then Newt Gingrich was the great hope for change.
Now, Rick Santorum has come out of nowhere to a virtual tie in Iowa.
Bankrupt System
The spectacle of Republicans searching for Superman highlights the bankruptcy of our political system at this time in our nation’s history. And not just the GOP: In 2008, the Democrats were convinced that they had found their Superman. Now, however, the President is looking more like Clark Kent: clumsy, confused and weak.
Like the young Dr. Canada, it is time that we all wake up and realize we can only save ourselves.
The size and diversity of our nation means that most of the problems we face – a lackluster economy, a staggering public debt, unsustainable entitlements, overreaching regulations, a failing education system and a bias toward the “bigs” (big corporations, big unions, big special interests, big bureaucracies, and big money) – cannot be solved at the federal level, much less by the President.
Pundits often speak of a lack of political will in Washington, D.C. But for our major problems, Washington does not lack the will, it lacks a way.
Take health care. There is simply no way to centrally plan a $2.3 trillion industry serving more than 300 million people. There is no historical precedent for the successful regulation of an industry of this scale, although this reality has not stopped Republicans and Democrats from trying. But no matter how smart, industrious, educated and informed federal officials may be, no sustainable health care policy can be designed and implemented on a national scale. The problem is simply too big and too complex.
Smaller and Simpler
So, when faced with such a problem, what can Congress do? Well, it should start by making the problem smaller and simpler. Devolve decision-making, disperse power, distribute resources, decrease federal authority, and deputize states, local governments and citizens. Break the problem into smaller, simpler pieces, and push those pieces to down the line, closer to the people.
In fact, the federal government must stop trying to address every problem. The concentration of power in Washington is itself a threat to some of the most vital sectors of our economy: banking, health care, education and energy. And concentrated power inevitably leads to corruption: money to buy the power, and power to protect the money.
One result of this corruption is the emergence of a ruling elite whose members believe they’re Superman, certain of their superiority and invulnerability. And why not? As the world is hurtling toward an economic disaster, life has never been better in the Nation’s Capital. But the elites increasingly look ridiculous, like a bunch of folks wearing capes and tights who are convinced they can fly.
But they’re not Superman, and that is why we must restore self-governance. We must take power away from a federal government in denial, and return control to states and local communities, where we can work with our neighbors to address the real problems facing our nation.
The American people are no longer waiting for Superman. We know he’s not coming, no matter what Republicans and Democrats in Washington would have us believe.
We don’t need heroic fantasy. We need self-governance.
Leo Linbeck III runs a family business and teaches MBA students at Rice and Stanford. He is Co-Chair of the Alliance for Self-Governance.
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