Former Navy Officer Decodes America’s Sinking Government

By Julia Barcello

James Lockhart III author of “America: Underwater and Sinking, Time to Surface Lessons Learned” held a book signing event at The Bruce Museum, May 31. Attendees were able to hear more about governmental issues he discussed in his book through a detailed presentation. Guests were also able to purchase a signed copy of the book and speak directly with Lockhart before and after his presentation. At the end of his presentation, Lockhart opened for questions regarding concerns people have about the issues that were presented.

Lockhart is a former United States Navy officer, and current Senior Fellow at the Bipartisan Policy Center (BCP) and co-chairs BPC’s Commission on Retirement Security and Personal Savings. Between 1989 and 1993, Lockhart served in the Bush administration as Executive Director of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

“America: Underwater and Sinking, Time to Surface Lessons Learned,” discusses issues with government agencies “sinking underwater,” and provides solutions on how to help solve these problems and resurface the overall American government. Issues include social security concerns, Medicare, and the ability of government agencies to collaborate.

In a one-on-one interview, Lockhart explained the meaning behind the title, “All the agencies were underwater in one way or another from the standpoint that if you would have looked at their long-term assets versus their liabilities, there was a hole. They were underwater.”

During his presentation, Lockhart discussed possible solutions to these issues referencing a pie chart which showed; ‘Health Care, Social Security, and Interest Explain 81% of Projected Spending Growth,’ “People just have to wake up and decide they’ve [Congress] got to trust the bigger parts of that pie. Look at Social Security and Medicare. They are over 50% of the pie. And if you do not touch them, and they are growing more rapidly than some of the other pieces [of the pie chart], we [Americans] are in trouble.”

Further, Lockhart expressed his concern behind the rising issues regarding social security and Medicare, “If you [Congress] do not fix them, we [America] are going to continue to sink.” He stated that resurfacing is possible, however it is up to the future generations and congress to accomplish.

“They [Congress] need better management. And that means management by the political appointees and the career appointees, but it also means Congress acting in a more timely fashion,” stated Lockhart. In his book he discusses how the biggest issue facing todays America is the claim that Congress is simply not doing their best.

In chapter one of his book he says, “The wishful thinking by Congress that everything will work out lasts much too long. Often, it takes a crisis to get remedial legislation. Too late!”

Answering one of the attendees’ questions, he stated the deep-rooted issue within Congress, “They [Congress] are really not out trying to actually fix the government agency they are supposedly running and that is a problem.”

Lockhart further explained this in his presentation by stating, “They [Congress] create a program and really do not think it through and then when problems arise. It’s too late to fix it… The normal way to fix it is just to throw more money at the problem, as taxpayers’ money.”

In the book Lockhart discusses the ‘American Dream’ as something all his jobs have supported; something that is supported by secure retirement and homeownership however, these are the agencies that are seemingly “underwater”. Lockhart stated his hopeful opinion on the future of the ‘American Dream’, “I think it will still be there, but we [government agencies] need to keep working.”

Lockhart expressed the benefits the younger generation can bring into politics and possibly resolve the issues the country is facing with political polarization, “We [America] need some fresh eyes and people that can have some, you know fresh ideas.”