[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 10 (Thursday, February 3, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S967-S968]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            WORDS OF WISDOM

  Mr. REID. Our friend and colleague, Senator Ernest Hollings of South 
Carolina, left us last year to enjoy a well-earned retirement. However, 
he still has a few words of wisdom, and just a little vitriol, that he 
would like to share.
  Senator Hollings was one of the most fascinating speakers ever to 
take the Senate floor. His comments were sometimes controversial, but 
always thought-provoking and delivered in a way only Fritz Hollings 
could orate. We miss him.

[[Page S968]]

  I ask unanimous consent that the statement of Senator Hollings be 
printed in the Congressional Record. I may not agree with all his 
statements, but as usual I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I hope all 
Americans will enjoy it as well.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                           State of the Union

  On leaving the Senate after 38 years, I am constantly asked ``what is 
your legacy?'' Answer--a mess! While the country is going broke and 
jobs are hemorrhaging, G.I's are getting killed in an unwinnable war, 
and nobody cares. At least there is no sacrifice. In Washington 
Republicans and Democrats are in a Mexican standoff. Amid shouts that 
Social Security is ``flat broke'', the nation's security is being 
undermined.
  Our security rests as on a three legged stool. The first leg--
values--has always been the strongest. The United States has always 
been admired for its sacrifice for human rights and freedom. But our 
invasion of Iraq has created a training ground for terrorists and given 
Islamic television Al Jazeera a daily drumbeat of U.S. ``atrocities.'' 
The second leg--economic--enjoyed its strongest era in the 1990's with 
low inflation, record growth and a strong dollar. The budget was 
balanced in 2001 with the recession lasting less than 9 months. But the 
tax cuts of the last four years caused deficits of $141.1 billion, 
$428.5 billion, $562 billion, and $593 billion. These fiscal deficits 
together with a trade deficit of 600 billion have the dollar in a dive. 
With our outsourcing of jobs policy the United States is fast losing 
its productive capacity. Finally, the third leg--military--has us 
again, as in Vietnam, losing. For the first time regulars in the Army 
are suing against extended duty and Americans are refusing to join the 
Guard and Reserves.
  The need is to rebuild America. To get Congress to lead the 
rebuilding we must excise the cancer of money on the body politic and 
adopt a constitutional amendment: ``The Congress of the United States 
is hereby empowered to regulate and control spending in federal 
elections.'' This will immediately limit campaigns, and cut the time 
raising money. Next, limit each senator to two committees--no 
exceptions. Then cut the staffs. Now the Senators will have time to 
work on the people's business rather than the campaign.
  The first order of business is to get on top of health costs and 
provide healthcare for all of America. Next, instead of tax cuts enact 
a 2 percent VAT tax to pay for Iraq, Afghanistan and to eliminate the 
deficit. This will limit our disadvantage with global trade and 
strengthen the economy. Then resume Cordell Hull's reciprocal free 
trade policy by: instituting a Department of Trade and Commerce 
bringing the Special Trade Representative and other trade entities 
under one roof; abolishing the International Trade Commission 
transferring it's duties to the International Trade Administration; 
eliminating the tax benefit for jobs going offshore and giving the 
break to businesses producing onshore; appointing an Assistant U.S. 
Attorney General to enforce trade laws; employing the necessary customs 
agents to stop transshipments; enlarging rather than eliminating the 
Advanced Technology Program; and reviewing our membership in the World 
Trade Organization.

  Then provide the needs of air, rail and port security. Adopt an 
energy bill, a highway bill and begin to control the immigration and 
drug problem by adopting a Marshall plan for Mexico.
  Finally confront the terror that confronts us. It's not the terror of 
Northern Ireland or Spain. It's not because of who we are or our 
values. It's because of our Israel-Palestine policy that appears one-
sided. We confirmed this appearance with our invasion of Iraq. 
Terrorism got organized and spread. Now our problem is we are neither 
in nor out. It's too late to get in with the necessary troops so the 
best way to support the Iraq election is to remove ourselves as 
``occupiers.'' As former Senator George Aiken of Vermont said ``declare 
victory and withdraw.'' Then have the Commander in Chief go to the 
front line of terrorism and instead of proclaiming ``road maps'' on 
high, have him get down in the traffic for peace.
  None of this will happen unless the media gets out of politics. Of 
course they make more money taking polls and exciting controversy. But 
now the free press has abandoned its important role of maintaining a 
strong democracy. Thomas Jefferson signaled this responsibility when he 
observed; ``between a government without newspapers or newspapers with 
out a government'' he would chose the latter. The press used to report 
the truth to the American people and keep the Congress honest. Instead 
the press is downfield starting the fight instead of reporting the 
facts. The fact is that Social Security has a surplus of $1.7 trillion 
and is in good shape until 2042. The fact is that the states readily 
regulate tort reform. The fact is that while the IRS can always stand 
some reform we can't afford a tax cut at this time. Rather than playing 
politics with these issues the press should be reporting the State of 
the Union.

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