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David Walker is my hero
I’ve blogged about David Walker before. He’s the outspoken comptroller general of the United States. Here are some excerpts from his latest interview with the Financial Times:
Drawing parallels with the end of the Roman empire, Mr Walker warned there were “striking similarities†between America’s current situation and the factors that brought down Rome, including “declining moral values and political civility at home, an over-confident and over-extended military in foreign lands and fiscal irresponsibility by the central governmentâ€.
“Sound familiar?†Mr Walker said. “In my view, it’s time to learn from history and take steps to ensure the American Republic is the first to stand the test of time.â€
“I’m trying to sound an alarm and issue a wake-up call,†he said. “As comptroller general I’ve got an ability to look longer-range and take on issues that others may be hesitant, and in many cases may not be in a position, to take on.
“With the looming retirement of baby boomers, spiralling healthcare costs, plummeting savings rates and increasing reliance on foreign lenders, we face unprecedented fiscal risks,†said Mr Walker, a former senior executive at PwC auditing firm.
Mr Walker said he would offer to brief the would-be presidential candidates next spring.
“They need to make fiscal responsibility and inter-generational equity one of their top priorities. If they do, I think we have a chance to turn this around but if they don’t, I think the risk of a serious crisis rises considerablyâ€.
David Walker is a un-bureaucrat and he knows what he’s talking about. I hope the presidential candidates will listen to him since the current administration and Congress have not.
This guy is the man. Glad to hear somebody in government telling it like it is…
Left by Connor on 08/13/2007