Fantasies can be a healthy outlet for our over stimulated brains and a great escape for days when you feel that something has to be done about the current troubling issues of life in America. In truth, I think that many citizens would bring more common sense and better judgment to some vexing issues than their elected representatives, so let’s fantasize for a while.
The luxury that those of us outside the world of politics have is that we aren’t in a popularity contest, so we can give our best thoughts about practical, ethical, and affordable solutions. In our “If I Were President” world, no unions have plied us with the “mother’s milk” of politics (money), and we can listen to chosen wise advisers instead of self interested, paid lobbyists. As President, I would say that we are living in an age of reinvention for America. Many things are changing and indeed, have to be recalibrated. What I refer to as entrepreneurial thinking embraces the attitude that change is inevitable.
Health care has jumped to center stage for debate across the country, and most of us are confused about what exactly is being proposed. First of all, just about every suggested path for health care reform is unhealthy for the fiscal health of the country. So, as President, I’d have to say that if you want the government going on the hook for billions of health insurance dollars, you have to give up something else because otherwise, we can’t afford it. Is it foreign aid, farm subsidies, or some other program that has gone on for 50 years too long?
Since we find ourselves still enmeshed in an Iraq war while stepping up our involvement in Afghanistan, I’d force myself to have regular press briefings to tell the American people why we are really there. I would not hide behind the “it’s for freedom and democracy” lie because that is not how American self interest is defined. History tells us that wars are about money, territory or both- hardly ever about principles.
Here are a couple of interesting quotes from recent occupants of the Oval office. At his second inauguration, Bill Clinton said: "We need a new government for a new century humble enough not to try to solve all our problems for us, but strong enough to give us the tools to solve our problems for ourselves." Ronald Reagan in his First Inaugural Address famously stated that, "Government is not a solution to our problem; government is the problem."
Anyone who believes that there is a free lunch in their present or future has to be taught the simple truth: everything has a price that must be paid sooner or later. America has had many great business people and a number of statesmen who taught this lesson by example. I would endlessly talk about the lessons of history and how they can keep us from self destructing as a democratic country. With many of our states and cities committing very public financial suicide these days, what more do we need to see?
Along with athletes, rock stars, actors, and other pop-heroes, I’d build some pedestals on which to place business owners and founders all the way from micro enterprises to industrial giants. These are the people who are at the center of us being able to pay for all the stuff that is bulging out of our garages and self-storage units. Remember, the country was hammered together by merchants, farmers, and others who were beneficially engaged in commerce.
I would tirelessly push for a reinvigorated public education system. It would take much gnashing of teeth, loud arguments, and a major purge, but it would be worth it. Having a system that teaches well and holds the students to stringent standards of scholarship is one of the foundations of a great country. We’ve had decades of an increasingly ill prepared and ignorant electorate, and I don’t think that many of us are pleased with the results.
As President, I’d have to do a superb job at helping all citizens understand that we are truly in this together. I want them to know that going forward, entitlements are few, but the opportunities are great. We have now seen that the expectations that each generation of Americans will be better off than the previous are false. The world is a competitive place, and we can easily see that the passionate pursuit of dreams is not something we have an exclusive franchise on. When was the last time you heard a President outline long term national goals and not just a piece of legislation enabled by greater spending? It may have been John F. Kennedy, in May of 1961, when he said, “I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth.” It was a noble undertaking that stimulated national pride when the goal was met in July of 1969.
Nicollo Machiavelli the famous statesman wrote about change in his great work, “The Prince.” He said, “there is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct or more uncertain in its success than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things.” As President, I’d have that one inscribed on a plaque for both the east and west wings as well as putting it on the front page of the White House web site!
Let me know your thoughts by e-mail: nelson@makingittv.com
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