HomeHomeApril 2008
"It's the economy, stupid"--or is it?
If you walk into just about any American bookstore, you'll find dozens of self-help books, offering guidance for your personal and professional lives and everything in between. Cultivating a sense of optimism about the future is important, we are told. No great leader is without this most vital quality. To be successful, you must have a game plan, and work very hard to accomplish your goals. You must act, not just sit around dreaming about where you want to be five or ten years from now. For a few dollars, these authors will point you in the right direction, if you follow their plan.
Americans buy millions of these books, keeping the self-help industry alive. We believe in the power of creating our own destinies and forging ahead in our lives and careers while overcoming our own obstacles. We are optimistic dreamers and doers.
Needed: new leadership with hope, dreams and a long-term plan
The three major presidential candidates understand this facet of the American character, and they have all written their own books about the importance of courage, faith, and hope, while also offering their own glimpses of living during historic times. They are working hard to explain and prove themselves to the American public, and to address our collective hopes, dreams and fears.
And they've got their work cut out for them. According to a recent CBS/NYT poll, 81% of Americans believe the country is headed in the wrong direction, even as the poll respondents expressed "cautious optimism" about the long-term future.
During this spring of our discontent, Americans struggle with major concerns, such as rising fuel and food prices, a crumbling health care system, a never-ending war, seemingly without an end plan, and an "is-it-or-isn't-it?" recession. Add to those woes the housing and jobs crises, and the next few months are going to be a bumpy ride.
As Bill Clinton's campaign strategist, James Carville, famously said during the 1992 election, "It's the economy, stupid."
Or is it something more? Can we look beyond the current economic struggles to dream a bigger dream for the nation? Will our next President understand our complex history, and inspire us--as well as guide us to a better future?
What can we learn from other countries? There are three interesting issues to watch closely as we look to our friends and allies Down Under: a national conversation, a formal apology, and a simple "local" action that inspired the whole world.
Looking ahead to 2020
Is it possible for a new leader to conduct a national conversation about the issues shaping the nation's future and draft a long-term plan? Kevin Rudd thinks so. He's the new Prime Minister of Australia, and on April 19th, Rudd will preside over the Australia 2020 Summit to determine a "long-term strategy for the future".
Looking backward, moving forward
Rudd is not only looking forward, but he's also acknowledging Australia's painful past injustices. Two months ago, Rudd made history by formally apologizing to the Aboriginal people for past mistreatment (Sydney Morning Herald, 2/13/08).
The issue of saying "sorry" for generations of inhumane treatment has been debated Down Under for years, and it's too soon to know the full impact of this historic gesture. One thing is certain--this official acknowledgement of governmental and institutional wrongdoing paves the way for legal action on the part of many of the "Stolen Generation" Aborigines.
Earth hour
Australia isn't just leading the way in historic changes. In March 2007, Sydneysiders "turned off the lights" for one hour to show how one small collective sacrifice could have a major impact on reducing energy consumption. What began as a local movement last year quickly became a global movement this year as cities around the globe got in on the act.
What if?
While it may be possible to win an election with luck, plenty of money and lots of polling, the next President is going to need a long-term vision in order to be successful, and to be able to capture the nation's dreams and sense of optimism. What is our collective dream?
What would happen if Americans were to follow Australia's lead and conduct a national conversation about the future? What if we were courageous enough to formally apologize to our Native- and African-American brothers and sisters for past mistreatment? Would race relations move forward with a powerful governmental acknowledgement of past wrongdoing?
What strides can we make in terms of innovative new ideas?
Could a new leader bring to fruition an idea that has been percolating for some time--the formation of a National Service--by making volunteerism a permanent part of American culture? (See Richard Stengel's Time magazine article, "Time to Serve: The Case for National Service").
A personal wish
It's clear that the new president will have a full agenda in dealing with the nation's and world's problems. However, there's one personal wish I have for America: that we acknowledge the overwhelming sacrifice our soldiers are bearing in the current war.
If we do not rigorously safeguard, monitor and protect the mental and physical health of our soldiers and veterans, then no amount of good that we do in a future National Service project will make any sense.
As we have noted before, opportunities for giving back to our military families are abundant, but we must remember to acknowledge the sacrifices made daily on our behalf. Also, the journalists who risk their lives to tell us about the war deserve special acknowledgement too.
Teresa
tcallies@Hotmail.com
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