Hey Red Team, Hey Blue Team!

OK, we have 94 days to the November election, and it is going to be a long one for most people. One of the most fascinating things that I learned when I started digging into this was how few people each political party has supporting them. The most recent polling from Gallup, published July 1st, 2024, shows that 28% of Americans call themselves Democrats, 30% of Americans call themselves Republicans, and 41% of Americans call themselves Independent. As a sales guy, I see an opportunity there.

The fact of the matter is that many independents are not aligned with “everything” that each party represents, and if they vote, they vote for the lesser of two evils or the party/candidate that is a little closer aligned with their beliefs. What this really means is our two political parties have a lock on the election cycle, and I want to change that. I am not trying to create a third political party—that would divide us further—I am trying to have both political parties start serving the needs of all Americans, not just their base. The President that wins this election is going to have to tell their base that for the good of the country, we need to come together. That means we are not going to win every battle, not solve every problem the way one side or the other wants it done, but compromise and create the best version of America, in the middle.

This is not the America that I want to leave to my children and their children. America is the land of opportunity and it does not feel that way to many people. Today, we still have our fair share of problems, but if we the people come together, have a cup of coffee with each other, and start talking about solutions instead of blame and criticisms, we will innovate and create opportunities for all Americans and overcome the challenges we face.

Every election, it comes down to the undecided voters and the swing states, and this election is no different. Hey Red Team, Hey Blue Team, if you want our vote, stop bashing each other and listen to the needs of the other side for a moment. Neither of you have all of the answers, or the polls would show you were winning. You are both losers from a statistical perspective, as 41% of us want something different. If you want to win, shut up and listen.

Over the next 94 days, we are going to identify what Americans are thinking so that we can share these problems with the media and our leaders. Then, on Election Day, we are going to see who wants to be the President for all Americans. This is not going to stop there; we will continue to gather the top three things that are important to each American and create a to-do list for you once you are in office. I am going to host a podcast to talk about ideas to solve these problems and invite you to join me in my basement. As you know, every two years we go through this process, and we will be tracking how you vote on the issues that Americans have told you to fix. We will be asking you to have coffee with people on the other team, listen to their ideas, and look for ways to compromise. We will also be looking for thought leaders along the way for the next election cycle and put some money behind people who want to bridge the divide.

Join us in The Mdle.

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Bridge The Divide

I love this country. Despite our problems, this is still the land where people from all over the world risk everything to seek a better life.

My name is Chris Kilcullen, and I am an average American, just like you.  Professionally, I am a hotel broker ad not a politician. Over my 30-year career in hospitality, I have witnessed people rise from housekeepers to General Managers, from front desk agents to owners. I've seen immigrants from every part of the globe come here with nothing and build incredible wealth from scratch. As I have researched markets in various communities, I've seen entrepreneurs embrace ideas, take risks, and build amazing companies that have real impacts on real people. This kind of success story only happens in America.

My enthusiasm fades however when I watch the news these days. We are in the midst of a political process that is simply embarrassing, and I am embarrassed.  I’m not just talking about Biden or Trump, behind these two choices that nobody likes are two political parties that have distanced themselves from the needs of the average American over the years. Today, 51% of Americans identify as Independent, 25% as Republican, and 23% as Democrat. Americans want change, look it up, Gallup has been tracing this since 1988 and it has never been this far apart.

The real problem lies with these two political parties. They do not represent the values of real Americans and they have created a strategy of division to win votes, diverting their attention from serving the American people.

I am not trying to create a third party. I want to turn the process upside down and give power back to the people, the very foundation of our Democracy. Let’s hit Control-Alt-Delete for a moment, rethink how we got here, and reimagine how we elect our leaders moving forward.

Here is what I want your help with….

1. Register to Vote
   We need this election to have the highest voter turnout in American history. Even if you feel disillusioned, your vote is crucial to send a message.

2. Identify Your Top Three Issues
   Think about the top three things you want fixed in this country. Focus on three key issues, even if there are many more. We will compile these concerns from your friends, neighbors, and co-workers to create a To-Do list for our leaders.  Click on the How It Works tab and it will step you through. 

3. Join the Conversation
   I will host a podcast to discuss the problems you want addressed. We will seek compromise, talk with experts, and crowdsource ideas and solutions. There are 542 elected officials from the President down and 333 million Americans—clearly, they do not have all the answers. We must decide to listen and look for ways to compromise on differences and look for ways to minimize problems when we can not solve them completely.

4. Ensure Accountability
   We will report on the problems you want fixed and hold our leaders accountable at the state level and in Washington. We will invite them to join our conversations, perhaps in Zoom Town Halls, and track their work on issues that matter to you. We will form a Political Action Committee to fund elections for people you support, not just the established parties.

Democratizing Our Democracy

I want to democratize our Democracy and provide you with a voice that extends beyond the November vote. It's time we lead our leaders. We won’t win every battle individually, but together, we can create a better version of America.

Our problems are bigger than the red team and the blue team, and it’s time we come together. This doesn’t mean giving up on your principles; rather, we will gain new perspectives by listening to both sides of an issue.

All I need from you are your top three issues. It will take about three minutes, and I will do the rest. If you are tired of the current electoral process, we need to change the way we elect people. If you like what we are doing, please share this with your network. We have some swag on the site to show our presence on the streets and signal that you are part of the solution.

Building a Platform for Change
Once we gain traction, we will hire a team to build a better site where you can share and vote on ideas and discover new thought leaders who truly want to serve this country and not their . (Give me some grace; I’m learning as I go because no one else was doing this.)