We are all thoughtful as the old year draws to an end and the prospect of 2012 opens. And it's an election year. A year for decisions. How to shape America's future? Who's out there, thinking about it?

We face fundamental strategic challenges. There are dramatic steps to meet them that are within our grasp. And C-PET is working to drive the debate.

Strategic challenges? What about these three.

1. The long term must frame the policy choices of the short. Today must answer to tomorrow. The faster things change, the more vital this is. If today keeps trumping tomorrow, tomorrow is lost.
2. Questions come before answers. We must be Asking Tomorrow's Questions (C-PET's motto). The policy community's assumption that we know what the questions are and need to focus on the answers must end.
3. Innovation needs to shape the corporate culture of Washington, DC. Not talk about innovation; innovation remaking a tired and deeply disinnovative organism. C-PET is registering InnovateDC. No-one else has bothered.

And we address them how? What about these three initiatives for starters. Readers of my columns will recognize some old ideas and also some new ones. All this is doable in the first half of 2012.

1. Why doesn't the President move Camp David to Silicon Valley, spend 50% of his time on the west coast, add the Science Adviser, CTO and CIO to the cabinet, and add under-secretaries for innovation to every federal agency?
2. Why doesn't Congress convene a Joint Committee on the Future with supercommittee-type powers, and responsible leaders from left, right and center develop a Grover Norquist-type sign-on pledge whose focus is on innovation and the long term?
3. Why don't the major tech companies make a transparent commitment to require their government relations reps and contract lobbyists and trade organizations to devote one-half of their efforts to issues that lie beyond the current electoral horizon - and remunerate them appropriately?

It's election season. For America, this nation presaged on the future, it needs to be ideas season.

So what are we doing about all this at C-PET? 

Here are three Projects we are working on for 2012:

1. An invitation to the GOP candidates to debate - guess what - emerging technologies, innovation, and the future. We hope they will agree.

2. A nationwide tour with the title "The Future of America: Technology Security, Values." Let's get the message out, city by city.

3. A C-PET base in Silicon Valley, following on from our "How to Bridge the Continental Divide" initiative- to bring the world's greatest creative community into closer relationship with Washington. They need each other. But most of the denizens at both ends don't much care. Let's change that.

We need your tax-deductible help with these efforts. Major corporate partners/sponsorships. Smaller gifts from well-wishers. Players at both ends of the scale. And we need it now, as the year-end approaches. 

Go to c-pet.org to make a gift online. Mail it in to me at 10 G Street NE, Washington, DC 20002, Suite 710. Or call me to discuss - my cell is 202 607 3803.

I do believe we can make a difference. A huge difference. If we work together, focus resources, do fresh thinking, we can drive the debate and make 2012 a turnaround year.

Will you join me? Let's be thoughtful as we celebrate the holidays. My best to you and your family.

Nigel

Nigel M. de S. Cameron, Ph.D., M.B.A

President and CEO, Center for Policy on Emerging Technologies