What this election should be about

Management planning comes under a number of titles: zero-based budgeting, management by objects and shared governance, to name just three. For years our business theorists have given us approaches and systems to apply to almost every kind of business. Unfortunately, those theories so closely followed by successful businesses have not found their way to government.

A well-run business develops plans that take it into the future. In the formative stages of the planning process, those who share the business responsibilities are asked for ideas so everyone involved not only has an opportunity for input, but also will know where the business is headed so they can pitch in to help. At least, that is what the management textbooks at our universities tell us.

If one wants to borrow money to start a new business and goes to the bank, the first thing the bank will request is a business plan. The business plan should include current assets, the need for the product or business service, an assessment of the marketplace and the projected use of the money.

Now, please answer the following questions:

What is the energy plan of the U.S.?

How do wind, pipelines and more efficient cars fit into a plan?

What is the plan to stop illegal immigration?

How do the fence, enforcing employment law and the National Guard fit into a plan?

What is the plan to balance the budget?

At what point will the federal deficit become the tail that wags the dog?

I could ask similar questions regarding other important issues. For these three, I would have to confess that I don't know what the plans are. I would hope our leadership in Washington, D.C., has plans for handling these important issues but, if they do, they aren't sharing their plan with "we the people."

If a business plan is necessary before a business can borrow money, shouldn't our government -- our biggest business and the ultimate borrower -- be required to have a comprehensive business plan? Our government's lack of planning has the country in debt to one funding source or another for more than $19 trillion. Worse, it has our people and political parties fighting among themselves. If our people don't know the government's plan to solve the debt problem, the illegal immigration problem or the energy problem, how can they become part of making the plan successful?

Our lack of such planning reminds me of what French film director Nicolas Hulot called the "Titanic Syndrome." Picture a giant luxury ship steaming along at night through icebergs, with all the lights on and the band playing. Picture the results of not planning ahead, of not slowing down and being careful.

The lack of a viable plan in so many areas is what the next election should be about.