I wrote principles at Sticker Mule to help my team understand how I think. I am doing the same in politics to help the voters understand me. It would be great if politicians did the same. We rarely know what framework politicians use to make decisions. My principles are the framework that I use to make my political decisions. They are:
Be honest and authentic
Tell the truth and be yourself. It's not worth being in politics if you're going to give up who you are as a person.
Work hard and smart
Politicians are responsible for the welfare of the masses and must be prepared to work hard, but, keep in mind, you have to work smart as time is finite.
Avoid time wasters
Some bad actors in politics exist only to distract you and waste your precious time. Avoid time wasting people and projects.
Answer questions
Give honest answers to as many questions as possible and share those answers publicly so people know how you think. Recognize that answers are subject to change as you learn more about issues too.
Prioritize and fix problems
There are always going to be more problems than you have time to fix. Prioritize to focus fixing problems that provide a good return on time and resources.
Seek feedback
Regularly solicit feedback from citizens to maintain awareness of issues and to help your team prioritize.
Measure results
Find ways to measure the results of your actions as much as possible. Share results and show what you're working to improve.
Advocate to help people
Aside from passing legislation, advocate for issues that help the masses and use your voice to educate citizens about topics they may not fully understand.
Increase human happiness
Aim to increase human happiness as you penultimate goal and fight against bad political ideas that reduce happiness.
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