Can Politics Be Healthy? Lessons From the Belly of the Beast. | Layla Zaidane | TEDxJacksonville

Key Concepts

Politics, political polarization, bipartisan legislation, young elected officials, retention crisis, citizen legislatures, working conditions for legislators, Future Caucus, cross-partisan collaboration, civic engagement.

The Problem: A Distorted View of Politics and a Retention Crisis

The speaker argues that the common perception of politics is often negative and distorted, focusing on conflict and polarization. This contrasts with the reality of many young, bipartisan elected officials who are actively working together to solve problems. The speaker highlights a "retention crisis" among these promising young leaders, meaning they are leaving office due to unsustainable working conditions.

• Distorted Image: The speaker challenges the negative image of politics, suggesting it's often fueled by online narratives.
• Bipartisan Action: Despite the perception of polarization, young legislators are actively engaging in bipartisan collaboration.
• Statistic: 25% of state legislators are Millennials or Gen Z, but they wrote 40% of all bipartisan legislation that passed last year.
• Retention Crisis: Promising young leaders are leaving politics due to various challenges.

The Story of Representative Ru: A Case Study

The speaker uses the story of "Ru," a Kansas State Representative, to illustrate the challenges faced by young elected officials.

• Background: Ru left a fulfilling job at an international humanitarian nonprofit to serve his community.
• Challenges: He faced long hours, a significant pay cut (75%), limited staff support, and increasing partisan tensions.
• Burnout: By 2022, Ru was on the verge of quitting due to burnout.
• Turning Point: In 2023, Kansas implemented reforms, including a pay raise and technology investments, which encouraged Ru to redouble his efforts.
• Impact: Ru has since worked with both Democrats and Republicans to advance bipartisan legislation on affordable housing.
• Significance: Ru's story exemplifies the difficulties faced by citizen legislators and the importance of creating sustainable working conditions.

Barriers to Retention: The Three Main Issues

The speaker identifies three main issues contributing to the retention crisis among young elected officials:

1. Low Pay: State legislators earn significantly less than the average American worker (average of $22,000 less). Legislative wages have often lagged behind the cost of living for decades.
2. Lack of Staff Support: Many state legislatures are understaffed, making it difficult for legislators to perform basic functions like answering constituent calls or organizing town halls.
   • Example: In Georgia, there is one staffer for every eight elected officials.
3. Toxicity on the Job: Legislators face threats, harassment, and hostility, making it difficult to build trust and collaborate.
   • Statistic: According to the Brennan Center, 43% of state legislators report being seriously threatened or assaulted in the past 3 years.

Solutions: Creating a Sustainable Environment for Legislators

The speaker proposes several solutions to address the retention crisis and create a more sustainable environment for legislators:

1. Policy Changes: Implement policies that support legislators, such as childcare benefits.
   • Example: Arkansas Senator Brienne Davis changed the law to allow campaign funds to be used for childcare expenses.
2. Infrastructure Investment: Invest in critical infrastructure like technology, communications support, and staffing to improve efficiency.
3. Support Networks: Build support networks to connect legislators who want to work across the aisle.
   • Future Caucus: The speaker's organization, Future Caucus, helps young policymakers build relationships and collaborate on common-sense solutions. It has launched bipartisan chapters in 34 states and Congress.

The Role of Future Caucus: Building Cross-Partisan Collaboration

The speaker emphasizes the importance of cross-partisan collaboration and highlights the role of Future Caucus in fostering it.

• Generational Identity: Future Caucus connects young elected officials based on their generational identity rather than their partisan affiliation.
• Building Trust: These forums help legislators get to know each other as people, deprogram harmful assumptions, and build trust.
• Transcending Polarization: This approach helps transcend the toxic polarization that often poisons the political environment.
• Success: Since its inception in 2013, Future Caucus has become the largest cross-partisan network of young elected officials in the country.

The Call to Action: Civic Engagement and Amplifying Positive Stories

The speaker concludes with a call to action, urging viewers to engage in civic life and amplify positive stories about collaboration and progress.

• Practice Democracy: Engage in your community, attend local events, volunteer, and engage with people who see the world differently.
• Connect with Elected Officials: Look up your state and local elected leaders, sign up for their newsletters, and stay informed about the issues that impact your life.
• Amplify Positive Stories: Seek out and amplify stories of innovation and collaboration, rather than focusing solely on dysfunction.
• The Power of "We the People": Democracy is sustained by the active participation of citizens.

Synthesis/Conclusion

The speaker argues that the negative perception of politics is often inaccurate and that young, bipartisan elected officials are actively working to solve problems. However, these leaders face significant challenges, including low pay, lack of staff support, and toxicity on the job, leading to a retention crisis. By implementing policy changes, investing in infrastructure, and building support networks, we can create a more sustainable environment for legislators and foster cross-partisan collaboration. Ultimately, the speaker calls on viewers to engage in civic life, amplify positive stories, and help write the next chapter of American democracy.