Re: What is your outlook?

Description: The new generation gives George hope.

Question:   Are you generally optimistic or pessimistic about the way the world is headed?

Transcript: Well I’m an optimist by nature, and I am always thinking we can make things better.  I would certainly think that the way things . . . the trends of the last five years would make one rather pessimistic.  Because the situation has worsened in almost every country of the world; and our relationships have of almost every country in the world from here in the U.S.  And so it’s hard to be optimistic; but I think that the power of the American spirit – and the power of American capitalism, entrepreneurship . . . And actually I think America’s rising up as global leaders.  I think we’ll see a new generation.  So I’m quite optimistic about the new generation, but we’re gonna have to go through this kind of generation transfer to move through.  And I think that’s gonna take a lot of hard work and leaders to bring people together

Question: How do think this age will this age be remembered?

Transcript:  Well the current age will certainly not be remembered well.  And so it depends on what bounds we want to put on “this age” and how we come out.  I think the story of the 21st century started off negatively.  How it will be written for the long term, it’s hard to tell.  Certainly in the United States, September 11th has had a huge impact on our psyche, just like in my generation the Vietnam War had a very negative impact on our safety.  And I think that’s why so many people are looking for leadership to kind of inspire us and bring us together rather than leadership that divides us, and separates us, and leads to further problems

Recorded on: 7/6/07