I’m sick of having a dysfunctional government.

I know it’s a complex power struggle. I know there are many points of view as to why this dysfunction exists.

I think this crazy partial government shutdown is probably going to happen, and to me this signals a new low.

I’m not interested, right now, in a right or left opinion of whose fault it is, or why this is necessary. I think both sides share the blame in this, and, it will require both sides to return to a productive government.

I want ideas.

I want to focus on ideas that can motivate those in government right now. Before new elections.

For years now, it would seem the only thing the government can get done is to collect massive data on US citizens, or get us into more wars. Mostly our government stays quite busy arguing. Yes, it’s polarized, and, in my view, to the detriment of us all. This is hurting everybody.

I’m not a government hater, I want it to work, I believe it can work, and yet, it isn’t working.

I just don’t understand why our representatives can’t roll up their sleeves, negotiate, compromise, create solutions, and put them into action. Can we agree that we have lots of problems that need solved? Some of which — many of which — have nothing to do with a right or left view of the world? And there is common ground on even the most divisive of issues — why can’t we focus on that?

I’m starting, with this post, an online brainstorm that answers the following question:

In what ways might we inspire our current representatives in the US Federal Government to focus on getting things done?

I will erase overt partisan political statements or arguments that don’t respond directly to the ideation question.

Answers to the question, actual ideas, are what I am seeking. I want a nice, long, list of ideas, that is actual ways to motivate or inspire our representatives in Washington to do more to solve our problems. Let’s keep it simple, state your idea in a few sentences or less. If you are not a USA citizen, please say so. Might be good to know where you vote, but I won’t require it. More than one idea per person is okay, but please make ideas separate entries. All ideas are allowed (unless they are hateful or blaming).

I’ll forward responses to my congressman and senators in Michigan. I might even hand deliver them.

If you think it’s the wrong ideation question, let me know what you think it ought to be…that’s also acceptable. It needs to start with “In what ways might we..”

How can we recreate this economy if the government can’t even operate itself full time? Innovation doesn’t happen in an unstable economy!