For the list of the Top Ten Best Lifelong Public Servants, I nominate Robert Gates, former Secretary of Defense. Fresh out of college, he started with the CIA, eventually becoming the first head of the Agency to have worked his way up thorough the ranks and later the 22nd Secretary of Defense. A moderate Republican, he served seven different Presidents, both Republicans and Democrats.
I was fortunate to hear him speak today at a conference of financial advisors. He spoke at length about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was remarkably candid in saying that ten years is not enough time. While I understood and agreed with him that the Taliban will likely take control of Afghanistan if we leave too soon, it is nonetheless something we cannot afford to continue UNLESS we raise taxes AND/OR cut entitlements to pay for it. The "Sophie's Choice" facing us is between allowing radical Islamists to have their own nation and attacking us another day or bankrupting America and handing it over to the Chinese.
He also lamented that our nation has become ungovernable and wondered when the word "compromise" became a dirty word. He listed three causes making our government dysfunctional. The first one was redistricting. The only real elections to purge our system of extremists are the primaries, but they actually favor the extremists -- when the district voting lines are drawn to make districts safely Republican or safely Democrat, either very conservative or very liberal. There is no room for moderates, who don't think compromise is a dirty word.
Lastly, he apologized for being somewhat pessimistic today but then emphasized that he is as bullish on America long-term as ever. And, I believe him! He is a good man, and I appreciated his openness today.
I was fortunate to hear him speak today at a conference of financial advisors. He spoke at length about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was remarkably candid in saying that ten years is not enough time. While I understood and agreed with him that the Taliban will likely take control of Afghanistan if we leave too soon, it is nonetheless something we cannot afford to continue UNLESS we raise taxes AND/OR cut entitlements to pay for it. The "Sophie's Choice" facing us is between allowing radical Islamists to have their own nation and attacking us another day or bankrupting America and handing it over to the Chinese.
He also lamented that our nation has become ungovernable and wondered when the word "compromise" became a dirty word. He listed three causes making our government dysfunctional. The first one was redistricting. The only real elections to purge our system of extremists are the primaries, but they actually favor the extremists -- when the district voting lines are drawn to make districts safely Republican or safely Democrat, either very conservative or very liberal. There is no room for moderates, who don't think compromise is a dirty word.
Lastly, he apologized for being somewhat pessimistic today but then emphasized that he is as bullish on America long-term as ever. And, I believe him! He is a good man, and I appreciated his openness today.
