Let’s Sew America’s Pants Back Together
Last week, Jamie Metzl argued that America has been walking around with its metaphorical pants down, stumbling blindly, hurting itself both physically, and in the eyes of the rest of world. You don’t need to spend more then a few minutes reading a newspaper or watching cable TV to recognize the dramatically changing global dynamics. Yes, America is still the world’s sole superpower, but the rest of the world is catching up, and fast. In fact, in many key areas, the United States no longer leads the rest of the world. European and Asian countries are marching forward at a breakneck pace into the 21st century while Uncle Sam chokes on their dust.
So, what do we do about it? Is there anything we CAN do? Is the era of U.S. leadership, some might say hegemony, nearing its end? Is the future destined to be a world where the United States is no longer the leader and driving force in the development of new ideas and revolutionary technologies? Should we resign ourselves to the global version of a consolation prize?
Jamie didn’t think so, and I agree with him. The high value Americans place on individualism and the open and free exchange of ideas will always make it a place that is conducive to global leadership. The real question is not CAN we, but WILL we be able to take advantage of it.
Jamie’s solution was a call for better leadership, and he is dead on. The last eight years reads like a laundry list of embarrassing snafus, and there is no doubt that America’s standing in the global community has plummeted as a result. New leadership, whether you prefer “change you can believe in,” or simply putting “country first,” will certainly start the process of putting America back on track at home, and rebuilding its reputation abroad.
But before we get too excited, let’s remember that a new face in the White House will not be a panacea for what ails us, no matter how inspiring he might be. Congress is as partisan as ever, and the two parties are only growing farther apart. America’s pants are not just around its ankles, but are splitting at the seams. Unless we want to star in a political version of the “Emperor’s New Clothes,” congressional leaders will need to work with the other party, and not against them, to come up with solutions to the largest problems facing our nation.
It is often said that the sign of a good compromise is when both sides are still unhappy. Any bipartisan agreement will inevitably leave ideologues on both sides of the aisle fuming and railing against the smallest of concessions. What often gets lost in the partisan fighting is that NEITHER side is going to be 100 percent right 100 percent of the time. Both sides have valuable contributions to make, and insights to offer. The trick is finding the best from each side.
What we need is not just new leadership, but new bipartisan leadership. Both sides (mostly) agree that climate change and global warming are major challenges facing the world, and that action is necessary. Both sides can agree that our education system is not working as well as it could be. Both sides can agree that we need to find a way to keep weapons of mass destruction out of the hands of terrorists. Congressional leaders need to reach across the aisle and work with their counterparts from the opposite party to reach practical solutions to our largest problems. Compromise might not win votes with the party faithful, but it should definitely win support from the American people.
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