Build American on Private Individuals, Not Politicans

Cal Thomas | Syndicated Columnist | Updated: May 30, 2008

Build American on Private Individuals, Not Politicans


May 7, 2008

“Americans want nation building, but here at home.” So says New York Times columnist Tom Friedman. I think he’s right.

The next president should appoint a commission made up of learned people in various disciplines to tell the public what works and what doesn’t; what government programs are performing well and which are not and what can be done to solve problems, not perpetuate them with constant political bickering.

From energy to poverty, problems can be solved, or progress on them advanced, by the suggestions of private individuals over politicians and government bureaucrats. Government didn’t build America. Americans built America. And we can rebuild America again if we take our country back from those who have squandered our money and used it to help build political careers.

But we are going to have to care enough to do it. The politicians won’t give up the power easily. That’s why a commission with real teeth could embarrass them by exposing their failed programs and forcing them to go out of business, while replacing those programs with ideas that really work.


Cal Thomas is a nationally syndicated columnist based in Washington, D.C.

Build American on Private Individuals, Not Politicans