PBS host Tavis Smiley will lead a panel discussion at the George Washington University on Jan. 13 about how America can improve its future.
Panelists will discuss the U.S. economy, the struggling education system, the unemployment rate and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The nationally televised discussion, America’s Next Chapter, will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. at GW’s Lisner Auditorium. A limited number of free tickets for GW students will be available at the Lisner Box Office starting at 11am on Tuesday. Students may pick up one
ticket per person with their GWorld ID. GW faculty and staff can get free tickets at www.americasnextchapter.com. Advanced registration is required.
The event will be broadcast live on C-SPAN. The conversation will then rebroadcast on PBS’s Tavis Smiley, a weeknight talk show, on Jan. 18, 19 and 20. The conversation will also be able to be heard on Public Radio International’s The Tavis Smiley Show, a weekly news and opinion program, and Smiley & West, a weekly current affairs and political program.
Panelists include Cornel West, Princeton University professor and author; David Frum, speechwriter for President George W. Bush and founder of FrumForum; John S. Chen, chairman of Committee of 100; Maria Bartiromo, anchor of CNBC's Closing Bell with Maria Bartiromo; Arianna Huffington, founder of The Huffington Post; Dana Milbank, political columnist for The Washington Post; David Brody, CBN News White House correspondent and Maria Teresa Kumar, executive director and co-founder of Voto Latino.
Earlier this week, Mr. Smiley talked with GW Today about the upcoming panel discussion.
Q: What was your motivation behind creating the panel to discuss how America can return to its greatness?
A: We are approaching the halfway point of President Barack Obama’s first term. A new Republican controlled U.S. House of Representatives is about to be sworn in. And in a few months, people will begin declaring they are running for president. All this is happening politically in Washington right now, and we need to dialogue about this. And in a recent Rasmussen Report, nearly half of all Americans indicated that they believe our best days as a country are behind us. They fear the direction of our country. Therefore, we need to have a conversation that is multicultural, multiethnic and multi-ideological. We think it’s going to be a great conversation.
Q: What topics will be discussed?
A: A little bit of everything. The economy, the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, education, immigration, unemployment and the divided government in Washington. We have 3.5 hours to discuss all of these topics. No one is going to rush. There are no time cues to get off the air. Everyone will be really engaged. I think it’s going to be empowering for the audience and for people watching around the country.
Q: What do you think Americans are most worried about?
A: The economy has all Americans feeling a certain amount of angst. I think we’re concerned about the future and whether or not our children and grandchildren are going to do as well as we have done. The unemployment numbers for young people are through the roof. People are graduating and can’t find jobs and come back home to live with their parents. Becoming a homeowner or finding a job in your particular area of study is a real challenge now.
Q: How is America lagging behind?
A: In about every way. We’re lagging behind in manufacturing. Pick up any five products, and tell me how many of them say “Made in America.” We’re lagging behind in job creation. And we’re lagging behind in education. I don’t think we’re doomed nor do I think we’re damned to perdition. But we do have to get this country on the right track.
Q: How can America get on the right track?
A: There’s a role for the American public to play. There’s a role for the private sector to play, and there’s a role for the government to play. And just like a basketball team, each player has to play their role to the best of their ability. But I’m not sure each of us are playing our roles as best we can right now. The American people didn’t turn out in mass to vote. For whatever reason, people weren’t motivated enough, especially on the Democratic side. We’re not motivated enough to step up our game as the citizenry. Government has spent far too much time bailing out Wall Street and not enough time creating jobs for everyday people. The stimulus package in my mind wasn’t big enough in the first place. And while the private sector is beginning to recover, they aren’t pumping money back into the economy yet. Instead, they’re just sitting on their earnings because they’re not sure what’s going to happen in the next few months.
Q: How should American citizens take part in the recovery?
A: We have to be more active. While I don’t agree with the Tea Party’s agenda, they did get engaged. They rattled the cages, and they got people’s attention. And in some cases, they got people elected. Eventually the American people are going to have to wake up. We have to realize we are losing this country in so many ways. Many economists have already told us the recession is over. But while it technically might be over, we’re a long way from getting over this mess.