Gil gives us the background info on why he likes some of the PPR’s ideas (although he considers some of them “idealistic”), but does not believe Rogelio Figueroa is the man to make it happen.

Highlights:

- Met with Rogelio & his executive team as a prospective consultant to help re-write the platform, and to potentially advise on the campaign.
- Considered the platform idealistic and off-target with the average voter, although not in disagreement.
- Feels like Rogelio erred by not building a power base early to strengthen the new party, to get them a real chance of election in 2012 (wanted him to run for the Senate)
- Has the impression based on personal observations that too much “ego” was in play specifically with Rogelio.
- Rogelio insisted he was electable and could achieve 1,000,000+ votes.
- Believes the party’s strength is in Technology & Environment.

Bullet point format does not do his response justice. I encourage you to visit his blog to read the full article.

I might add:

- I have heard several people comment that they detect a “grandiose” attitude when they hear Figueroa speak. This in combination with my lack of exposure to him, was why I choose to endorse the platform as “insightful”, rather than the candidate (for whom I do not have enough information even now)
- I agree with Gil that many elements sounded “idealistic”. And while I like idealism, I understand even grand intentions needed to be communicated carefully, and framed within the votes perspective. Perhaps we might have seen that happen had history been different, and Gil had moved forward as a consultant helping to guide the platform.
- I am interested in finding out what happens at the polls, in terms of final %-ages.
- And after Governor Luis Fortuno is elected, I suppose my personal focus will be to zero in more on his platform and how we can help get the word out about what was good from the PPR, how it can work for Fortuno with a little tweaking, and how it can work for the people of Puerto Rico.
- BTW: Is it just me that would like to see the detailed platform the Jenius would create?

Idealism is like a vision of a beautiful statue that can be carved from a block of stone. But the transition from block to sculpture takes (1) the right tools, and (2) a skilled artist in whose hands the “vision” becomes a reality. If the tools are wrong or the artist is unskilled/inexperienced, the resulting statue will not match the original vision.

If I gave you precision chisels, could you recreate “David”? If we gave Michelangelo a block of stone and a pencil, could we expect “David” from him? No. Both tools and artist are needed, for reality (i.e. the outcome) to match the vision (i.e. idealism).

I intepret what Gil is saying, in this metaphorical context, as the following:

While the vision is OK, the tools are lacking (i.e. power base) and Figueroa is no Michelangelo… at least not at this point in time.