Spring Break
Collaborative think tank could be Bush's finest legacy
Issue date: 3/22/07 Section: Opinion
Campaigning for President, Bush promised to be a "uniter, not a divider." Here's a suggestion: where multitudes of collaborative think tanks co-exist. A safe place for debate and discussion of important public-policy issues: environmental issues, global warming, immigration, alternative energy, health-care issues, mental-health issues, etc.
The right hand and the left hand can cooperate in perpetuity in the Bush Institute. President George W. Bush's sunset years could then be associated with Bush's natural instinct and greatest political strength: bipartisan cooperation. In the famous Gettysburg Address, President Abraham Lincoln reminded of the "great task remaining before us that government (is) of the people, by the people, (and) for the people..."
Lincoln did not seek to represent just the few. Of his critics he said: "Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them?" Of endless disputing, he remarked: "Discourage litigation. Persuade your neighbors to compromise whenever you can. Point out to them how the nominal winner is often a real loser - in fees, expenses, and waste of time."
Bipartisan cooperation seems to be a growing trend. Former Presidents George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton in their legacy years have joined together to assist tsunami victims and promote altruistic causes. These are examples of America maturing past the selfishness and stubbornness associated with the era of "me," and moving forward by cooperation and altruism into the new era of "we."
Honest collaboration manifests the essence of democracy, education, thinking and altruism and could be personified within the Bush Institute.
About the writer:
Shannon C. Jacuzzi is an SMU Alumna (1988), Mediator. She can be reached at shannoncjacuzzi@aol.com.
The right hand and the left hand can cooperate in perpetuity in the Bush Institute. President George W. Bush's sunset years could then be associated with Bush's natural instinct and greatest political strength: bipartisan cooperation. In the famous Gettysburg Address, President Abraham Lincoln reminded of the "great task remaining before us that government (is) of the people, by the people, (and) for the people..."
Lincoln did not seek to represent just the few. Of his critics he said: "Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them?" Of endless disputing, he remarked: "Discourage litigation. Persuade your neighbors to compromise whenever you can. Point out to them how the nominal winner is often a real loser - in fees, expenses, and waste of time."
Bipartisan cooperation seems to be a growing trend. Former Presidents George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton in their legacy years have joined together to assist tsunami victims and promote altruistic causes. These are examples of America maturing past the selfishness and stubbornness associated with the era of "me," and moving forward by cooperation and altruism into the new era of "we."
Honest collaboration manifests the essence of democracy, education, thinking and altruism and could be personified within the Bush Institute.
About the writer:
Shannon C. Jacuzzi is an SMU Alumna (1988), Mediator. She can be reached at shannoncjacuzzi@aol.com.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Scott Rewak
posted 3/22/07 @ 5:00 PM EST
COULD....sure. Will? Not a chance. The "common perception" at SMU is not just wild rumor, it is the stated intention of the Bush Foundation. The think tank will exist to legitimize the Bush policies, and aside from Afghanistan, none of his body of work as president could be even remotely described as "bi-partisan. (Continued…)
laray polk
posted 3/22/07 @ 9:30 PM EST
"Honest collaboration manifests the essence of democracy, education, thinking and altruism and could be personified within the Bush Institute."
About the writer:
Shannon C. (Continued…)
Anthonyrio
Anthony Riordan
posted 3/28/07 @ 8:56 PM EST
I would be proud if it were Maine where he put his library. He only hung out here in the summers though. Plus we are cluttered with Democratic Liberals. (Continued…)
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