The Hedgehog Party
Given the total lack of consistency, reason or vision behind our two political parties, it is time that we create a strong viable third party. I propose that we base the platform of the new party on Jim Collins' Hedgehog Concept, and therefore name it the Hedgehog Party. It will be the donkeys, elephants and hedgehogs debating on CNN in four years.
The Hedgehog Concept is a model for defining your core as an organization by looking at the overlap in the answers to these three questions:
- What are you deeply passionate about?
- What drives your economic engine?
- What can you be best in the world at?
The party platform would be based on the answers to these questions as we reflect on our country. Here is my first cut at the platform:
1) What are you deeply passionate about?
Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all.
2) What drives your economic engine?
Innovation.
3) What can you be best in the world at?
A pluralistic society that reflects the diversity of the world.
If you use this as a filter, you can look at key issues being debated in the public square and quickly get to a framework for defining a rational and reasonable policy.
For example, take the issue of health care. If we are deeply passionate about life we have to have universal health care coverage. Immigration. That is our differentiator - bring 'em on. Education. Increase investment to ensure we retain the innovation curve.
So, next time you are evaluating a candidate or issue, be sure to ask - "what would a hedgehog do?"
This is an interesting exercise. I'd be curious how the 2 major parties would answer the questions. I suspect they might give the same answers, but their policies would be decidedly different from yours.
I think for this mental framework to really add value to the debate, you have to better define the answer to question #3 ... "What can we be the best in the world at doing?"
For me, this question is what drives the Hedgehog principle. Win at something specific. So let's say instead of the intangible diversity, let's call it equality of opportunity. This encompasses diversity, of course, because in order for there to be equality of opportunity, we have to take into account that people begin from many different starting places. So to use your examples. Healthcare. Sure, according to #! we care about life and therefore should demand universal coverage. But let's take our new definition, equality of opportunity, and apply it to this problem.
Everyone should have an equal chance to be a healthy, productive member of society. Without basic vaccinations, access to an ER, and prescription drugs, low income people cannot hope to achieve the same level of productivity and prosperity as their more affluent countrymen. In order to ensure equality in the prospect of social well-being, we need to ensure (among many other things) that everyone has equality in healthcare.
I like the framework, but I think the entire thing centers upon how you answer question #3. And this is really where individuals can differentiate themselves in defining their own political and ideological beliefs. I, obviously, care about equality of opportunity, and then let the chips fall where they may. Some other people may value equality of outcomes, and thus answer question #3 differently. Or maybe you care most about avoiding and ending all war. So everyone needs to define what they care about most (per #1), and then create a personal answer to #3. It is this logic process that helps us create filters through which to evaluate policies and candidates. And this is precisely what the author here wants us to do better.
Great perspective. Appreciate you reminding us of the importance of focus and discipline in Collin's Hedgehog Concept. This model can help us as individuals, organizations and political parties determine who were truly are at our core. I look forward to hearing more about the Hedgehog Party. Thanks for these insights.
From my perspective, applying the Hedgehog Concept (or any major strategic planning framework) to the future focus of our country or a political party is a clarifying starting point. Often I wish that our political parties (as well as many of our largest businesses) would get to such a simple perspective to enable individuals at all levels to grasp what they are doing and why.
Regarding your proposed future party, I wonder if the responses would be a bit less "motherhood and apple pie" and a bit more capitalistic. For example:
1) What are you deeply passionate about?
Being the largest economic force in the world.
2) What drives your economic engine?
A willingness to take and repeat risky behavior.
3) What can you be best in the world at?
Leading or preventing others in leading the effort to change the way we power the world.
All in all, a very interesting concept, ultimately reminding me the truth in the phrase, "Words make worlds".
Great suggestion -- I'd love to see our political process have this much clarity. The Hedgehog concept is also about knowing what you're not good at and staying out of that. How much could be improved if our politics acknowledged what we as a country are not good at as much as where we can excel?
The comments are interesting too. It would be a fascinating poll--is our country really deeply passionate about "life, liberty and happiness for all" or about personal economic gain?