(Readers: The assumed chronological date for most of the entries in this blog is after the expected 5^th revolution in the US.  For more background about  the expected revolution – labeled the Revenge Revolution – and author, please view entry #01.) 

Scene: Jordan’s office.  POTUS calls Jordan for some advice.

Jordan:  “Yes, Mr. President, nice to hear from you.”

POTUS:  “Jordan, all well with you?”

Jordan:  “Fine, thanks.  I assume all OK with you…well, as much as can be expected in Washington.  What’s up?”

POTUS:  “A social call.”

Jordan:  “C’mon.  You calling me is never a social call.  What’s the issue and how can I help?”

POTUS:  “The issue is repairing the infrastructure in the US.  It’s horrible and needs to be fixed.”

Jordan:  “I agree.  As a country we have fallen farther and farther behind.”

POTUS:  “You know.  I know it.  But the deterioration has been gradual so a lot of people don’t realize there’s a problem.  At least don’t know it until something happens to them.”

Jordan:  “I equate the infrastructure repair problem to the proverbial frog in the pot of water.  If you put the frog in and the water is cold and then turn up the heat, the frog doesn’t jump out and boils to death.  If you throw the frog in the water when it’s hot, it jumps out.  People don’t seem to realize the extent of the problem with infrastructure.”

POTUS:  “I’ve always wondered if the story of the frog in the pot is true.  But I guess it doesn’t really matter.  The story is a good way to think about the infrastructure issue.”

Jordan:  “You and I know the public is not good at looking ahead.  Preventive maintenance is not a strong suit for most people.”

POTUS:  “And preventive maintenance is not very sexy topic for politicians.  Think about it.  Would you rather cut a ribbon for a new bridge…or tell people we are going to repair the highway and they should plan on traffic delays for the next 12-18 months?”

Jordan:  “Not much of a political choice…at least the way most people think about issues.”

POTUS:  “Maybe that’s the secret.  Reframe the issue.  You mentioned to me once before the need to reframe these kinds of issues.”

Jordan:  “Frame the issue so people…voters…look at the traffic disruption as a positive, not a negative.”

POTUS:  “OK, Mr. Marketer.”

Jordan:  “Former Mr. Marketer.”

POTUS:  “Whatever.  Put on your old marketing hat.  How do we convince people we need to repair infrastructure and…notice I said and…raise taxes to pay for it?”

Jordan:  “At the end of the day all politics is local.  Tip O’Neill said that how many years ago?”

POTUS:  “Sometime in the 1980’s.  But it is still true today.  Maybe we should take Tip’s advice to begin bridging the divide between Republicans and Democrats.”

Jordan:  “Part of the divide was eliminated with the new Congress after the Revenge Revolution.”

POTUS:  “But a lot of rancor still exists.  So if we frame the infrastructure issues as being local, then maybe we make some real progress.”

Jordan:  “We can position repairing the bridge and the disruption as a local project to help local area become more competitive and create more jobs locally.”

POTUS:  “Voters don’t really care much about national issues, let alone international issues.”

Jordan:  “OK, then how do we convince people to pay for the cost of repairing infrastructure and be happy with the disruption?”

POTUS:  “Let’s talk about paying for it.  We can fund the repairs the same way they have been funded for many years…the gas tax.”

Jordan:  “Raise the federal tax on fuel?”

POTUS:  “Exactly.  Most people have no idea what the federal tax…or state tax…is on fuel.”

Jordan:  “I’m not even sure I know.”

POTUS:  “You made my case.”

Jordan:  “How much you thinking about raising the tax?”

POTUS:  “I have a different approach that should even satisfy die-hard, never-raise taxes Republicants.”

Jordan:  “I love the term Republicants.  What’s the idea for raising taxes?”

POTUS:  “I’ll let you know but I need to call you back in a little while.”