Nothing like a helping hand

Let's See Who Gets Trimmed

By Rick Horowitz

Text of President Bush's commencement address at Fred's Barber College, Lavalamp, Michigan:

Thank you very much. Thank you. Please be seated. Thank you very much.

Distinguished guests, proud parents, ecstatic graduates of the Class of 2001: Thanks so much for that friendly welcome. It's a pleasure to be here today to share this special moment with all of you, and to receive an honorary degree from this illustrious institution.

This is my first Doctor of Tonsorial Arts and Letters degree, and it's certainly the first time I've ever worn a commencement gown with red and white stripes! My dad told me this job would be fun, but I had no idea...

For more than half a century now, Fred's has remained true to its founding purpose: "Grooming the Leaders of Tomorrow." And I salute you for that.

The world you're about to enter is an ever-changing one, filled with opportunities, but also fraught with perils. America's place in that world is a changing one, too, although we remain totally committed to fulfilling our responsibilities as this planet's only superpower. To do this, we must always be mindful of Abraham Lincoln's advice to "think anew and act anew," for only then will we be able to keep our footing in a universe constantly in flux.

During last year's campaign, I spoke often of the need to make sure America's military was ready to meet the new and difficult challenges of the 21st century. Since taking office, I've had Secretary Rumsfeld conducting a comprehensive reevaluation of our entire military structure -- its size and shape and, most important, its potential effectiveness against a range of emerging threats to world peace and stability.

In the days to come, I'll be speaking in more detail about many of these matters. For today, though, I want to share with you one fundamental conclusion I've reached, one central principle that will form the basis of all we do to keep America strong and safe:

Let the private sector handle it.

For far too long, our citizens have looked to the federal government for their national-security needs, and the federal government has responded to the best of its abilities. While there have certainly been successes along the way -- World War II, for instance, or winning the Cold War -- this approach has also had some unintended consequences: dependency, and an unhealthy reliance on government programs and policies.

It is time to walk a new path. It is time to let the private sector do it.

Not long ago, I spoke to the graduates of another fine Midwestern institution of higher learning, the University of Notre Dame. I told them how my administration intends to increase the private sector's role in helping our less fortunate citizens lift themselves out of poverty.

There are plenty of compassionate people out there, I told them, and compassionate corporations, too -- why shouldn't they carry a bigger share of the load?

Well, if we can do it for welfare mothers, shouldn't we do it for warheads? If we can let more and more of our anti-poverty programs be financed and organized and managed by well-meaning private citizens and organizations, shouldn't we try the same thing with our anti-terrorism programs? Our combat training? Our deployment strategies?

After all, when it comes to their commitment to American ideals, "faith-based" institutions have nothing on "defense-based" institutions. In fact, just ask yourself: What's more likely to attract a wealthy sponsor, a chain of homeless shelters or an aircraft carrier? You can see the corporate logo on the deck already, can't you?

Friends, we can make these changes in a changing world because our American spirit stays firm and vibrant. And when we've succeeded, when we've brought about this elemental shift in the relationship between our citizens and their government, then that government will be able to return once again to the essential duties our Founders surely envisioned for us more than two centuries ago: cutting taxes, and drilling for oil.

Thank you, and God bless.

Posted 5/22/01. No pomp, but plenty of circumstances -- try "Rick's" for the best in political satire!

Rick Horowitz is a syndicated columnist, TV commentator, writing coach and public speaker

Search the Web Search Rick's!

©2001 Rick Horowitz. All rights reserved.