Once upon a time a much vaunted democracy was the envy of the world. It was imperfect and had lasting wounds. But America was a beacon for freedom and prosperity and respected on the world stage.
Over time, too many of her citizens and leaders became complacent, distracted, blinded, or just couldn't be bothered. Self-service began replacing public service and the civic good. "Me" replaced "we."
Meanwhile, a dictator-like figure was able to slip through the cracks and into the White House. And the top 1% now holds $55 trillion (32%) of the nation’s total wealth. The entire bottom 50% of households holds just 2.5%.
Rebuilding U.S. democracy and the economy is what we do here. This work includes all of us— the professional class, civic-minded leaders, and, especially, everyday voters.
I prep regular voters or influential leaders on how to excel in politics so they can get what they want.
Skills and themes we will come back to regularly:
- Finding your political voice and making it effective
- Understanding the levers of power and how to use them
- The art of advocacy and becoming a persuasive storyteller– the most prized skill in politics, besides fundraising
- Thinking through the future you want to see and working backwards to achieve it
- Moving beyond grievance and pessimism to a strategic mindset that listens to, even studies, diverse viewpoints
- Designing your own fact-based information diet and minimizing misinformation
- How to assess candidates running for office: electability versus morals and identity
- How to harness the innovation of AI across society, including as a democracy enhancer
- How to revive community and civic bonds
Foundational principles
Here’s what drives me and this site:
- The ideological bent of Levers of Power is mainstream, not extreme. The focus is on the mechanics. Much can be learned from both political parties and the various spectrums within parties.
- We value public service, not self-service.
- We back moral leadership that delivers what it promises, while respecting the rule of law and our Constitutional values of freedom, equality, and prosperity.
About Kevin Nix
During my time in Washington, D.C., I served as a senior message and media strategist on 10 winning policy advocacy campaigns. All were national or state policy victories, resulting in new or protected laws in healthcare, marriage equality, and the U.S. military. On behalf of national nonprofits, my campaign work took me to extended stays in New York, New Hampshire, Maryland, and Iowa. I also worked for global public affairs firms and public health systems in Texas.
Now, in Houston, I run a solo firm on political and policy storytelling and teach a political science course at University of Houston.
Education:
- Master’s in American Government from Johns Hopkins University
- Higher education teaching certification from Harvard University
- B.A. in Latin American Studies from Tulane University