The first thing I would do…

I really enjoy my association with Michigan State University. When I spend time at MSU I come away with fresh ideas, energized by my colleagues and the school itself.

This past week was no exception. I arrived on Friday in time to attend my mentor’s 50th wedding anniversary and his celebration of 30 years with the university. All of my colleagues were in attendance and a grand old time was had by all.

It took only seconds from the time of my arrival for the discussions to begin. From the everyday challenges of living and working in academia to the untold fears of newly discovered animal diseases, the conversation was dynamic and just downright interesting.

Now in my line of work we talk about things that polite company doesn’t talk about at the dinner table; the fight against bovine tuberculosis, the latest e. coli outbreak, human to human transfer of pandemic influenza and so on. So finding a topic suitable for the gentle readers of my column among this group isn’t easily discerned. After a wonderful evening, I had nothing.

Later in the weekend, over a very charming 14-year-old single malt scotch at my mentor’s home, I had a chance meeting with the local probate judge. Out of nowhere he asked “what is the first thing you would do if you were elected president?”

Great question!

Over the next few days I asked everyone I met. The answers came from Republicans, Democrats and Independents. Most were professors at MSU. The answers were diverse:

Fire everyone who can’t demonstrate a willingness to collaborate.

Press for election reform.

Address the income disparity.

Break up the military- industrial-congressional- Complex in Washington.

Pass a farm bill that has teeth

All of these are good ideas that need to be addressed. They give you a sample (albeit ran-dom) of the mood of the country.

But I wanted to hear something that would ignite the discussion. So I took it upon myself to stick my neck out, again. I have three “simple” things I would do.

First, listen. Listen to our citizens, our neighbors, our enemies and our friends. Just listen.

This administration has made a point of not listening to anyone but its own incestuous inner circle. The leader of the free world must be a listener. Listen.

Second, start writing checks. With our friends, we need to build or rebuild the infrastructures at home and abroad. You want to solve the immigration problem? Build economies in their home countries. Give them a reason to stay home. Build sustaining economies around the world. Imagine investing what we spend in a single month on Mr. Bush’s War on building the economy in Malawi. I guarantee, in the short run and long run it’s a cheaper deal than fending immigrants off at our borders or deploying 150,000 troops to quell the latest perceived threat.

Third, educate the world. From the Peace Corps to the most revered universities mobilize teams to train Third World educators and their people. With the technology available we can make an instant dramatic difference in our world. Just teach everyone to read and see what happens. Teach them to dig a well, build a road and manufacture bricks. Educate all that will listen.

Now this may all sound like “Mission Impossible,” a fairy tale. And I am sure the pundits would say that it sounds like the same old liberal giveaway programs, but I suggest that it has much more promise to support our economic growth and prosperity than giving the rich a permanent tax cut.

Our nation and our world are on the precipice of a brave new world with exciting and dangerous times ahead. Our course for the next four years will determine whether we will reach for the hand of peace or the fist of spoils.

The choice is yours to make in November.

Are you listening?

Gordon Meriwether is an independent columnist who lives in Culpeper. He appears every other Thursday in the Star-Exponent. E-mail