Political INNOVATION to Overcome Division (with Solomon Lieberman)

image
Published: 09 Mar, 2021
1 min read

Today’s episode is all about solutions. We talk with Executive Director of the Institute of Political Innovation (IPI), Solomon Lieberman, about what cross-partisan “politics industry theory” reform is, and how it can help us move into a better era of American politics.

“Politics industry theory” was first formulated by Katherine Gehl and Michael Porter while they were attempting to pinpoint objective, unbiased reasons why American government was failing. What they found was that our political duopoly (the Republicans and Democrats together) has slowly removed legitimate competition from their industry. The Institute for Political Innovation was then formed in order to help organize and empower reformers from both sides of the political isle to return competency and accountability to government through true competition.

Some of the “powerful and achievable” ideas discussed in this episode that IPI is fighting for are implementing Final Five Voting and Ranked Choice Voting. Solomon and Jim also talk about things like the problems of politicians being primaried, plurality voting, polarization and party-line voting in Congress, the Hastert Rule, lesser-of-two-evils elections, and the dual currency of politics, votes vs. money. Listen in to change your perspective on politics, and find positive ways to get involved.

You Might Also Like

Group of people standing outside in DC.
Ranked Choice Voting Survives Delay Attempts in DC
According to reporting from The Washington Informer and WUSA9 (CBS), D.C. Councilmember Wendell Felder (D Ward 7) has withdrawn his emergency legislation that would have required the D.C. Board of Elections (DCBOE) to conduct a comprehensive needs assessment before implementing ranked choice voting (RCV) in 2026. Felder’s proposal did not receive enough support from his colleagues during the council’s December 2 legislative meeting, following a breakfast discussion earlier that morning....
04 Dec, 2025
-
3 min read
Bob Foster
Remembering Bob Foster
Independent Voter News is saddened to share the passing of Bob Foster, a trusted advisor to the Independent Voter Project and a longtime friend of our organization. He died on Sunday at the age of 78....
04 Dec, 2025
-
2 min read
Caution tape with US Capitol building in the background.
Did the Republicans or Democrats Start the Gerrymandering Fight?
The 2026 midterm election cycle is quickly approaching. However, there is a lingering question mark over what congressional maps will look like when voters start to cast their ballots, especially as Republicans and Democrats fight to obtain any electoral advantage possible. ...
11 Nov, 2025
-
8 min read