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When George H.W.
Bush took office
as President in
1989, he
inherited a
country that
stood atop the
world stage.
Economically,
the nation was
prosperous.
Globally, the
fall of the
Berlin Wall was
less than a year
away. Times
were good.
Yet there was
also an
undercurrent
that many in
America were
struggling to
get by.
Then-Vice
President Bush
identified this
sentiment in his
acceptance
speech at the
1988 Republican
National
Convention.
“There are
people who
haven't tasted
the fruits of
the [economic]
expansion,” he
stated. “And we
have to help
them.”
He laid out a
vision that
involved, among
other things,
people stepping
forward to help
those in need.
A “Thousand
Points of Light”
he called them.
Service and
volunteerism
became hallmarks
of his
Administration.
They remain part
of his legacy
today. Indeed,
volunteerism is
at or near an
all-time high,
and the issue of
national service
has widespread
support.
But a downside
emerged from all
of this. It
involved the
federal
government.
What started as
a modest
proposal that
encouraged
people to
volunteer
through the
Points of Light
program in the
first Bush
Administration
became a more
ambitious and
expensive
program under
President
Clinton. Called
AmeriCorps, it
was criticized
by many for
paying
volunteers to
work. While the
program has
changed
considerably
under the
current
administration,
concerns over
the government’s
role in
encouraging
service and
volunteership
remain.
We examine this
issue and take a
look at these
concerns in this
edition of the
Forum.
In that regard,
we are honored
to feature a
statement from
former President
Bush on his
continuing
support for
service to
America. We are
also very
pleased to
feature an essay
by former Senate
Majority Leader
Bob Dole about
our Nation’s
Veterans, whose
sacrifice will
be honored on
Memorial Day and
whose service is
beyond dispute.
Among other
topics, this
edition of the
Forum
also looks at
the risks of
reinstituting
the draft with
retired Major
General Bob
Scales. And
author/professor
Chester Pach
examines
President
Eisenhower’s
handling of the
Korean conflict
and whether any
lessons can be
learned with
regard to the
conflict in
Iraq.
We hope you
enjoy this
edition and, as
always,
encourage you to
write to
editor@riponsociety.org
with any
thoughts or
comments you may
have.
Bill Frenzel
Chairman
Emeritus
Ripon Society
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