Ripple Effects

Life could be very different.

September 11, 2001. It was my sophmore year of college, and I was coming off of a great summer in which my band and I had recorded an album in a home studio I had built. I was taking classes at Kingwood Community College, and working on finishing up a record for my friend Billy's band, Skamakozi. Billy and I were taking an 8 am Sociology class, and the teacher looked strikingly like Walter Matthau, so we called him "Mr. Wilson."

At any rate, that morning started out pretty uneventful. Mr. Wilson rambled on, and Billy didn't show up for class. Typically, we would go to the bagel place on Kingwood Drive after Sociology before going to play golf, so I got in my car and gave him a call to ask him if he was still up for doing that. When he picked up the phone, all he said was "We've been bombed." I said, "Excuse me?". He said "New York City and Washington. You need to come over and see this." I turned on my radio and people were talking about smoke coming out of the World Trade Center, but it was still unclear to me what was going on. I got to Billy's house and the moment I walked in to his living room, the second tower fell live on tv. Over the next half-hour I saw replay after replay of everything, and I just couldn't believe it.

I remember the chilling sense of uncertainty in the hours and days that followed. I was suddenly very aware of the gravity of the times I found myself living in, and couldn't help but think that as a nation we were now on a radically different trajectory than we had been before. I also recall feelings of conviction that perhaps there were more important things I should be doing with my life than playing guitar in a band and being a record producer.

I transfered to Texas A&M University, went on to attain a JD from Baylor Law School, and now am putting the finishing touches on a Master of Public Service and Administration at the Bush School after spending the summer working on Capitol Hill. I can't help but wonder if I would be doing what I'm doing now if not for what happened that morning, and the impact it had on me. I do know that prior to 9/11, I was not at all interested in public service and affairs, but that immediately changed.

So, on the 9th anniversary of that terrible morning, it is interesting to pause and reflect on what has happened since, how much has changed, and where we want to go as a nation. For sure, there are challenges and dangers ahead, and we will need our best and brightest to meet them. I am certain, however, that the future is bright, and will rest largely on the shoulders of those of us who were young when that tragedy happened, but grew up and found our identities in its shadow.

Law & Politics

Joined at the hip.

My experience in Washington this summer was fascinating. I had a different look at an internship usually taken by college-aged students, and correspondingly had a much deeper appreciation for what I was participating in. Indeed, being a Baylor Lawyer, I was very much impressed by the fact that I was a part of the process of making laws. I played a small role, but am very grateful for the staff in my office giving me strong projects to work on and learn as much as I could by seeing and doing.

As it turned out, Baylor Law School and the Bush School of Government and Public Service were a fantastic background combination to take to the Hill. My trial-lawyer side loved the day to day battles between the Democrats and the Republicans, and the steady advocacy process that everyone is engaged in. Taking positions on issues, and fighting for those positions so that they will become the law of the land. I live for that kind of stuff. On the other hand, my policy-wonk background at the Bush School was essential when I needed to quickly get up to speed on issues like organizational coordination in U.S. foreign assistance programs for spreading Democracy and human rights, an extension on a cancer treatment/prevention program for minority medicare patients, or a bill that would significantly help the US Postal Service save money year to year and have more financial flexibility.

Policy, Politics, and Laws. Some would argue that politics is an impediment between good policy and good laws. I would argue, however, that we are all human and life is political. As we learned in our leadership course last year, there is a political frame to society that must be appreciated and understood if anything involving a group of people is going to be accomplished. Politics is necessary to the makeup of an orderly society because it is truly the only way for the people to have a voice in their government. I'm not going to stand here and say that our government is perfect by any means, and that there aren't things we could do better, but I do believe that we still have the greatest and most responsive government the world has ever seen.

It was an interesting time to be on the Hill. The Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and the moratorium on offshore-drilling were issues that we were very involved with at the Energy and Commerce Committee. The House had passed unemployment benefit extension, but the Senate was holding it hostage, and many honest Americans who were actively trying to find work were feeling squeezed. The Capitol was somber the week Sen. Robert Byrd passed away, as we had lost a great man and public servant; yet buzzing with excitement the week Elena Kagan faced the Senate Judiciary Commitee for her Supreme Court confirmation hearing. Wall Street Reform passed, BP's CEO was confronted by the angry voice of the American public, and Rep. Anthony Weiner showed up and kicked ass on the House floor when Republicans were trying to block health care benefits for Sept. 11th first responders who had been exposed to asbestos and other hazardous conditions while meeting one of the great challenges our nation has ever faced.

As I ease back into the grad student life for what will be my final year in school, I can't help but look at the courses I'm taking through a Congressional lense. I certainly appreciate the policy and law-making process a lot more. As far as politics getting in the way of good policy becoming good law, it is more appropriate to say that good policy in the hands of good advocates does become good law. That is our charge as public servants in the legislative branch: to recognize good policy, and be able to fight for it.

Back in the Saddle

And we're back.

It's opening week for the Fall 2010 semester at the Bush School. It feels a bit strange to be back in school after working on the Hill, but it has been great to see everybody and hear what they did this summer. I want to welcome the first year SA and IA students, I hope you all are ready to work.

For us second year students, the buzz is all about Capstone. It's no secret that I am very excited to be part of the Bush School's first Legislative Capstone, in which we will be covering issues facing state legislatures this fall, and then going to Austin in the spring to work at the Texas Legislature. I like the fact that we're doing something that hasn't been done at the Bush School before, adapting and figuring things out along the way. I believe that we will have the opportunity in Austin not only to advance our individual career interests, but also to give the Bush School a good name in legislative circles and open doors for future students with similar career aspirations. That is my personal goal, at least.

Props to the SGA social crew for this week's "welcome back" events. In the interest of SA representation...well, honestly I just wanted to play pool, I crashed the IA party prior to heading to the piano bar with the SA's. It was a good time, and I want to take a moment to thank the always gracious Ms. Doll for not kicking me out. The piano man delivered as he always does, and it was likewise great to catch up with my SA crew. Be sure to go to midnight yell and the Corner on Friday night. I won't be able to make it as I will be out of town, but if you are new to A&M it is something you need to do at least once.

Which leads me to the real question facing Texas A&M right now: Will the Aggies play defense for the first time since the R.C. Slocum era this season? If they can do that, they have a shot at being pretty good this year. I'm waiting, Sherman...