Lectures - April 2008

Election 2008: “The Best of Times, the Worst of Times”

In April 2008, Wayne was a keynote speaker for the Learning First Alliance annual meeting, along with politico Doug Sosnick. Election 2008: “The Best of Times, the Worst of Times”, is an examination of our country’s current political hardships, socio-economic trends, and educational system. In his analysis, Wayne discusses the recent decline of the Republican Party, stating

“The Republican Party is in the tank. It’s bad; worse than Herbert Hoover; worse than Richard Nixon. George W. Bush has the lowest favorable ratings ever. Americans are very unhappy: the economy, the war; high gas and food prices; housing values, declines and foreclosures; and worst of all: falling confidence and falling hope. If the Republican Party was a brand of dog food it would be pulled off the shelf.

A Grinch stole much of America’s international reputation. Our country is the equivalent of a bad country western song – and the jukebox seems to be stuck on repeat.

He believes that the Republican “brand” will cause a significant reallocation of power in favor of the Democrats, saying

“In the US Senate, Republicans will take either a very cold shower or a very unpleasant deep bath. They will lose at least two seats and possibly as many as 6. Below the magic number of forty-five Republican Senators, the GOP will be unable to filibuster, and Democrats will finally control the Senate. Really control it. Harry Reid will be Majority Leader in actuality for the first time. The depth of GOP losses will depend partly on the presidential contest (more to follow).

US House of Representatives. Republicans will lose seats: either a light trim; or a full shave and buzz cut or a bic-it shave and wax job. Even more then the Senate, these House results will depend on the presidential race.

Democrats will gain Governorships, and seats in the State Legislatures. Thus is pretty depressing stuff. Thank God I am not now, nor have ever been, a Republican. It’s also good that I’m 6’3”; 180 pounds; clean-shaven, thirty yeas old, and dark haired. Reg, John and Doug: do any of you know any cool, Democratic election night parties where I can watch the returns. Can I bring my lovely wife, Angela, and my young, hip co-workers, Virginia and Kara?

He believes that education will be one of the forefront issues of political debate and a determining factor of the 2008 Presidential elections. Educational reform is now understood to be one of the most crucial pieces in revitalizing and maintaining America’s competitiveness in our increasingly global village.

“ New York Times columnist, Tom Friedman’s great insight is that today we live in a “flat world”, where every worker and student is in competition with others in every country on earth. Your emphasis on a great public education for every child has won. American business understands that both public and private education must be radically improved. American prosperity and growth depend on a well educated labor force. Therefore, companies now want to do all they can to help public education. Here is your great opportunity. You, the leaders in the Learning First Alliance, now have a golden opportunity to make new, untraditional allies, especially with the business world. And these can be the most effective forms of coalition.”

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