If Harold Ford Jr. was President of the United States for a day he would round up five of the richest Americans and present them with three challenges.
Ford would request they convene with the world's most able scientists and engineers to come up with the technology to prevent roadside bombs (the number one cause of casualties in Iraq), figure out a way to safely extract and use the coal the US sits on, and develop technology to track our country's war veterans to better provide for them after their service.
Harold Ford Jr. shared his insight as the current chairman of the Democratic Leadership Council and as a prior member of the US House of Representatives at UB's 32nd Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Event Thursday night.
These particular aims would be the right things for America to do, Ford explained during the lecture. The congressman emphasized themes of right and wrong, and unorthodox thinking during his discussion of the future of US.
"In the aftermath of celebrating the Dr. King holiday and as we move into Black History Month, I think the message is a pretty straight forward message that as America evolves, gets better and makes progress not only for African-Americans, for the country, and for us all," Ford said.
Ford explained that this presidential election, which may result in the first African-American or female president, gives us a chance to look at the optimum reality of what Martin Luther King Jr. firmly believed in.
"It is likely we will have a first something as president - a black or woman. On the other side, we have war veterans but we've never had a Baptist preacher's son. But the democratic nominee will be a first for the nation. If the generic polling is to be believed, it's probably a 50/50 chance," he said.
In this is point of our nation's history, people should get involved and engaged, Ford said. Our country has never been faced with the issues faced now, such as the War and global environmental concerns.
"It is consequential for us and people who will come behind us. This is the first time we've seen a war like we are dealing with now," Ford said.
The American economy and the country's global effect is an issue we as a people have never dealt with, Ford said of our current situation.
"No generation of Americans have experienced a time in which America's economy was not perceived and regarded as the most dominant, but the most consequential and impactful in terms of what happens around the globe," Ford said. "It was at one time 40 percent of the globe's global growth. Today that number rests at about 25 percent."
As chairman of the Democratic Leadership Council, Ford is remaining neutral in endorsing a presidential candidate, but expressed support for the Democratic Party.
"I want a democrat to win - I want a change in the White House. I think both Sens. Obama and Clinton would bring an obvious and needed change in the policy of national security policy, our energy policy, our education policy, our healthcare policy and equally important, help change how America is perceived around the globe to improve our standing and stature with our allies," Ford said.
Ford advises young voters to get involved in this year's presidential elections because the issues have never been so relevant to our generation.
"This election, I think, is probably more critical for young voters because the obvious issues have never been so alive, never been as impactful or long term to young people than they have now," Ford said.
Ford ensures there is a current increase in voter participation in this country because of the current state of our nation; people want a change in government.
"It is clear this election is drawing a lot of people to the campaign, a lot of people to the polls because of the excitement," Ford said. "We are fortunate to be able to vote in this country and support that person's policies and even help that person develop their policies."
His lecture, held weeks after Martin Luther King Jr. Day, still shed light on the holiday and King's ideas.
Ford shared his ideas about the current presidential elections and the future of America through stories of his own life. He shared that his grandmother is still the smartest woman he has known. She singularly taught him about the difference between right and wrong.
Ford also referred to King as a person whose whole life was dedicated to right and wrong many times throughout the lecture.
In this time of great debate and possibility, Ford prescribes unorthodox thinking and keeping what is right for this country. There is a need for Americans and the government to relieve the issues of today, he said.
"If we find ourselves continuing to educate kids the way we do today we will fall behind other countries, our whole hemisphere will continue to fall behind other countries and economies around the world," Ford said.
Throughout the lecture, Ford spoke about the challenges that the next President of this country will face. Ford states two main issues the president must tackle will be education and health care. Bigger issues will include redeeming the United States as a world ally and decreasing our nation's appetite for oil.
"I think the two big legacy issues will be restoring our respect around the globe. So we can persuade our allies again that we are not only friends but willing to work with them in partnership on things that are important to their security, our security, and the world's security," Ford said.
Ford described our need for oil as the main reason we are at war. The main issue is not climate change, it is national security, Ford argues. The next president will have to find new safe sources to sustain this country, he explained. This would keep future generations of Americans from going to war.
"There's a lot of talk about climate change, but the real issue is national security. Because I would hate to see a day when 13, 14 year old kids in America find themselves 4 to 5 years from now going to fight not only for oil, but for water in parts of the world because of the scarcity of that resource," he said.
In summary, Ford concluded by beseeching the audience to make decisions for one's country and to do what is right.
"If we do these things, Dr. King and my grandmother would be smiling. It's the right thing to do," he said.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
