By Greg Hazley
Politicians must reflect courage, ingenuity and resolve to bring back more than 17M U.S. jobs lost over the last decade, PR counselor Robert Dilenschneider told PRSA’s Westchester/Fairfield County Chapter May 19.
Dilenschneider, right, with PRSA/Fairfield board member Bob Petrausch. |
Dilenschneider, the former chief of Hill & Knowlton, said he sees the potential for a "renaissance" in the U.S. and the recreation of a middle class with a new emphasis on quality and craftsmanship if urgently needed tax dollars will fund projects through the country.
"Business needs tax incentives, support from Wall Street, which will surely criticize them, and the best possible advice they can get to plan competitively for their own operations to make this happen," he said at the Hyatt Regency Hotel event.
Dilenschneider said the country first has to get its "budget in order," which will take a "substantial revisiting" of entitlement programs like Medicare and Social Security.
"There has to be some shock to the system," he said, noting the debt ceiling "will require serious debate" in Congress. "We should all applaud public officials with the courage to present us with some pretty unappetizing choices."
Dilenschneider sees hope that 64% of Americans are saving more and spending less and 61% say they’ve re-thought their priorities in life.
"Our nation is very much the magnet to which others look for freedom and opportunity," he added.
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L-R: Yvonne Bokhour of Kovak-Likely Communications; Jim Liolin, Lion Associates/Media Relations; Christina Rae, Buzz Creators, and Diana Costello, Co-Communications. |
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Dilenschneider signs a book for PRSA board member Stephanie Harwood. |
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More than 40 attended the event. |
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PR Pro (5/23):
Here are some shockers: Forbid U.S. corporations from hiding profits in off shore tax havens. Raise taxes on the wealthiest Americans. Cut the defense budget by 25%. Penalize (don't incent) corporations that send jobs to China. Incent corporations that bring jobs back from China.
Courage and ingenuity on the Hill? That will take term limits.
Joe Honick GMA International Ltd (5/23):
Mr. D is a nice but fairly naive person when it comes to government and politics no matter how brilliant he may have been in the PR field. His suggestions remind me of my first employers at the US Chamber of Commerce. |