by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright July 3, 2000
All Rights Reserved.

e choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy but because they are hard . . . ," said a spirited President Kennedy to an electrified audience at Rice University in 1962. Challenging Americans to put a man on the moon by the end of the decade, Kennedy set the human bar high, but at least he set the bar. At a time when color TV was still a novelty and Sony was introducing its first transistor radios, Kennedy’s audience was inspired by the new frontier of science and technology. With electronic wizardry all too common, today’s generation is far more jaded than their hopeful counterparts back in the early '60s. "We have it within our power to reduce global warming," said Vice President Al Gore, trying to stir up some enthusiasm about his ecologically-minded campaign. Somehow tightening controls on smokestacks doesn’t inspire people to new heights. Today’s Americans seem more focused on 401Ks and SUVs than landing a man on Mars or curing dreaded diseases.

       Mapping the human genome certainly ranks among the World’s most impressive achievements, but average people still have trouble translating its real significance—other than how it affects investors’ biotech portfolios. "Without a doubt this is the most important, most wondrous map [since Lewis and Clark mapped the continent] ever produced by humankind," said President Clinton, congratulating the competitive pioneers, J. Craig Venter, president of publicly traded Celera Corporation, and Francis Collins, head of the government’s Human Genome Project, at a White House ceremony. Explaining the secret of life has always been one of science’s greatest challenges. Exploring the inner-world of the human cell parallels the far-reaching mysteries of outer-space. Cracking the genetic code to eradicate disease, or even more unthinkable, to reverse aging and the inevitability of death, has people dreaming again.

       Extending the life of Social Security pales in comparison to the genetic engineering necessary to one day extend human life and even conquer death. Paralleling the Human Genome, are startling new photos from the Mars Global Surveyor showing evidence of water—a sign that there might be life on the Red Planet. "I think it’s the smoking gun that says there’s liquid water and Mars meets all the requirements for life," remarked Bruce Jakosky, who heads the Astrobiology Institute at the University of Colorado. With dramatic discoveries like these, human beings find boundless motivation to push the envelope. Banning abortion, dismantling Confederate flags or legislating gun control, doesn’t galvanize mass movements or inspire people to greatness. Even well-intentioned plans to overhaul the nation’s educational system can’t get the masses’ juices flowing. Sure everyone’s looking for better schools, safer neighborhoods and new entitlements, but mundane issues rarely inspire people to abandon self-interest. Only reaching beyond one’s ego—or outside a selfish orbit—can stimulate individuals to reach new heights.

       With campaign 2000 in full swing, both major party candidates are looking for the 'magic bullet' to inspire the mass movement propelling them into the White House. So far neither candidate has raised expectations beyond immediate personal gain. Yes, George W. Bush has talked about compassionate conservatism, but has he challenged voters to reclaim their mission of pushing the American agenda—at home and abroad? Resuscitating Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative comes a little closer by driving American ingenuity to new limits. Al Gore’s emphasis on conservation and protecting the environment sounds more like strategic retreat than boldly covering new ground. Pat Buchanan’s populist message—while detouring into xenophobic diatribes—reminds voters that American greatness can’t be freely given away to the world community. Despite the World Trade Organization and movement toward globalization, American interests and values still deserve national protection. Warnings about immigrants stealing the show are of much less concern than American corporations losing contracts to foreign competitors.

       While the economy’s rolling along, America—not the global community—must continue to assert its superiority in vital industries like aerospace, telecommunications and computer technology. When government attacks its own industries, how can it expect American business to set world standards? "Government must stand by our side, not ride on our back," said Ronald Reagan, reminding all Americans that government mustn’t get too big for its own britches. It’s shameful for American aerospace to lose ground to its European competitors. America must reclaim its global leadership by insisting upon uncompromising technology and standards. America shouldn’t be catching up to European and Japanese industries—it should be leading the way. Settling for anything short of superiority doesn’t fit the American profile. Anything less shouldn’t be tolerated. Reminding voters about the American way helps galvanize the kind of nationalistic pride leading to victory at the polls. With all the partisan rhetoric, who’s going to finally sound the American gong?

       So far campaign 2000 is replete with partisan platitudes, turning off voters and driving them to disenfranchised third-parties, offering little substance for fixing America’s great national goals. Both mainstream parties still remain much closer to the American pulse than fringe parties obsessed with extraneous issues. Trashing American business by sloganizing about corporate greed offers no constructive solution other than failed attempts at socialization. How well did that approach work for Fidel Castro? Equally counterproductive are paranoid messages about America’s immigrant population, whose proving ground and hard work fuel American business. Where’s all the patriotism when candidates are more focused on manufacturing scandal than constructive solutions to real problems? With the 4th of July already here and conventions around the corner, all parties would make a lot more hay by showing voters how they plan to return America to unqualified greatness.

About the Author

John M. Curtis is editor of OnlineColumnist.com and columnist for The Los Angeles Daily Journal. He’s director of a Los Angeles think tank specializing in human behavior, health care, political research and media consultation. He’s the author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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