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Gingrich presents his solutions to U.S. woes
Monday, September 26, 2005
Newt Gingrich's speech at the Michigan Chamber of Commerce's Future Forum conference in Traverse City was supposed to focus on revamping the nation's ailing, and extremely complex, health care system.

But offering prescriptions to fix health care was a little too limiting for the controversial former speaker of the U.S. House.

(You remember: Although he played a key role in returning control of the House to Republicans in 1994 for the first time in 40 years, he was later fined $300,000 for using tax-exempt foundations for political purposes. And, oh, yes, lying to a House ethics committee.)

Gingrich, who's thinking of running for president in 2008, offered solutions to just about every major problem ailing America in an hourlong speech. It was quite a performance.

Love him or loathe him - it was clear his chamber of commerce audience adored him - you've got to give Gingrich credit for offering provocative proposals for dealing with seemingly intractable problems. Here are a few:


Stopping illegal immigration. Sure, our borders are wide. But if Russia can control its borders, so can we, according to Gingrich.

That said, Gingrich favors legal immigration. He advocates a "blue card'' system that would allow immigrants to work here if they agree to follow U.S. laws. If they break the agreement, they could be deported, without appeal, in 48 hours.

What about businesses that routinely hire illegal immigrants? Gingrich would deter them with fines so large they would have to file for bankruptcy.

In the case of a company like Wal-Mart Stores Inc., which earlier this year paid an $11 million federal fine for contracting with janitorial services that used illegal immigrants, that would be a mighty big fine.


Improving public education. Michigan ought to implement a pilot program in the state's five poorest school districts to improve performance in math and science, Gingrich says.

Here's the deal: The state would pay students in grades seven through 12 a wage equal to what they could make working at McDonald's, if they take math and science and achieve at least a B average.

"You will overnight change the culture of the poorest neighborhoods in Michigan,'' he says. "You'll be competing head-to-head with basketball, football and being a rock star and a rap star.''

OK, maybe. But it might be worth trying if the state had the money.


Revamping health care. Many Republicans say Americans need to take more responsibility for their health. So does Newt, but he offers a suggestion that just might win him an award from the Sierra Club.

The government, he says, should build more sidewalks and bike paths to give citizens more opportunities to exercise.

And every U.S. citizen should have an electronic health record, which Gingrich says can save lives in health emergencies by speeding access to relevant information.

"Paper kills,'' he says.

What do you think? As they say on the Fox News Channel, where Gingrich regularly holds court: We report, you decide.