Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski: It's time for boldness
On Tuesday, we made history. Now it's time we change history.
When President-elect Barack Obama assumes office in January, he will inherit two wars, a stratospheric budget deficit, a global financial meltdown, a broken health care system and a bruised international reputation.
The challenges are daunting. But I know he is up to the task. In the Senate and on the campaign trail, Mr. Obama has displayed a steady hand and a clear vision. He has the ability to unify Americans of different ages, races and backgrounds in the call for change.
Here is some advice I would offer him as he begins the long, hard process of rebuilding our country, restoring Americans' faith in their government and our standing in the world:
Be bold. Break out of the box, and go in a new direction. That's what leadership is all about. After eight years of blunders and missteps and old trickle-down economic theories that only trickled down to the wealthy few, Americans are ready for change and new solutions. Most of all, they are ready for a government that is on their side.
Pay attention to the macro issues that affect our world, but even closer attention to the macaroni-and-cheese issues that affect families. We have the most talented work force in the world. But today, too many Americans are working harder only to see their pensions shrink and their wages stagnate, to feel stretched and strained as they face rising fuel costs and rising food prices and rising health care costs. We must restore people's faith in the American dream.
To put the world in order, first put the nation in order. That means bringing our troops home, bringing our jobs home, investing in new clean, green technology and investing in America's infrastructure. It means investing in public schools that we can count on, making higher education accessible and creating a health care system that is affordable at any age.
Barbara A. Mikulski is serving her fourth term as U.S. senator from Maryland.
Lawrence J. Korb: Leave Iraq, cut defense spending
President-elect Barack Obama will need a different approach to defense policy than his predecessor.
He should fulfill his promise to remove all 14 combat brigades from Iraq within 16 months. This will overcome the resistance of the Iraqi people to a status of forces agreement that does not have a fixed date for withdrawal; provide an incentive to the Iraqi government to undertake meaningful political reconciliation; allow him to send more troops to Afghanistan; relieve the strain on the troops; and reduce significantly the $10 billion a month being spent on Iraq.
