LABJ FORUM: Tips for the President

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LABJ FORUM:

Tips for the President

The possibility of war in Iraq, the ongoing threat of terrorism and the dwindling economy are weighing on many Americans these days. Almost everyone has an opinion on how these crises should be handled, so the Business Journal asks:

If you could get President Bush on the phone for 30 seconds, what would you say?

Harvey Miller

Founding Partner

R204 Design

Work on relations with the U.N. more closely. Don’t isolate us, don’t set up the U.S. as the police dog of the world. Bush is saying, “We don’t care what you think we’re going it alone.” But we need these other countries on our side. We’re setting a bad precedent for the future, putting the U.S. in a bad position for years to come. As for war, part of me says it’s completely wrong, but I know we have to deal with Saddam. He’s a serious threat and so is North Korea. The possibility of war is also impacting business. We do a lot of projects in the Mideast, in Kuwait and India. Half of them are on hold. There’s a lot of money in Kuwait, and they were spending money left and right before all this started.

Marshall McNott

President and Chief Executive

Los Angeles Mission

President Bush, as many, I am praying for you and our country. I would not want your job. I know there must be much you can’t tell us right now. As with those many deep theological questions, I’m sure we’ll know when we need to know. May God guide you every step of the way as you balance the needs of our country’s security with the needs of the poor and the homeless and all those challenges facing so many in this country today.

Jonathan Kotler

Associate Professor of Journalism

Annenberg School for Communication, USC

I would urge him to consider the accumulated wisdom of those we count as friends, and to remember that even this nation, in all its greatness, does not exist on this planet alone. Among friends, there is room for differing opinions as well as the need to respect those who hold them. I would remind him that as president, he represents all the people of the United States, not just his partisans and their views. And finally, I would plead with him immediately to sack Attorney General John Ashcroft before he does even more damage to both the letter and the spirit of the Constitution than he has managed to do at this point.

Angela Robinson

Associate

Pircher, Nichols & Meeks

I would let him know that, while war may be inevitable, rushing into war is not the answer. While commending his goal to disarm, I would point out that a seven-day period to achieve this goal is extremely short and quite unrealistic. Finally, I would request that he work with the U.N., not against it, and that he take the potentially adverse impact on our economy and the lives that will be lost into serious consideration.

Louis Perry

Co-Owner

Mainland Best Security

I would say that we are spending millions keeping our troops over there waiting to go to war. However, if I were to get in my car right now and drive down to Wilshire by the Veterans Center, I would see about 30 veterans who fought for our country, in need of food, shelter and medical attention. That money could be used to help them and homeless people around the country. But instead, we’re choosing to use it for war.

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