New USA

WHY OUR GOVERNING SYSTEM MUST BE UPDATED TO PRESERVE AMERICA AS ESTABLISHED IN 1776 In a parable about 21st-century Americans, author and management consultant Dinesh Shah offers a bull's-eye diagnosis of how America's "e;win-win"e; governing system (the U.S. Constitution, the three branches of government, and the system of checks and balances) has degenerated into an un-American "e;I win-you lose"e; version, sending America from 'Hero' to 'Zero.' That's why early Americans enjoyed unparalleled prosperity and a peaceful, tranquil life, while Americans today are stuck with shrinking prosperity, affordability challenges, and a cantankerous, divisive, dysfunctional government. To reverse this shift, he offers a roadmap to restore the "e;win-win"e; governing system and the good life it once delivered. Written in the style popularized by "e;Who Moved My Cheese?"e; and similar books, the author makes highly complex scholarly issues understandable even to a 10th grader. The book is inspiring, intriguing, and entertaining, but above all, it's a survival manual for preserving America as founded. Publisher's Note: "e;The New USA"e; is a revised edition of the previously published "e;USA 2.0."e;  EXCERPTED FROM THE FOREWORDIn this essay, written when many in America are celebrating the nation's 250-year anniversary, Dinesh Shah assesses our system of governance-namely, the U.S. Constitution, the three branches of government, and the system of checks and balances. With his background in systems architecting, a system either works as planned and expected, or it doesn't. If it doesn't, it's the job of people like him to investigate why and find solutions. Not just fix it, but strive to make it significantly better. That's what he has attempted to achieve in his evaluation of our system of governance. Presented through a story, he tackles complex aspects of the U.S. Constitution and our system of governance in a way that is easy to understand and interesting for everyday readers, and equally challenging for scholars in the field. It is a bold, ambitious, and provocative undertaking, and a challenge to our elected officials and America's thought leaders. It will be interesting to see their responses. -Daniel Cooperman. Mr. Cooperman is a strategic adviser to Institutional Venture Partners, an active angel investor, and a board member/advisor for several companies.