Leading in Crisis -
Tools to Stay in the Zone

The MMA Li held its 3rd annual September kick-off breakfast event with a fireside chat with retired Senator Alfonse D’Amato.

After a robust morning of networking the event kicked off with an opening question from a very skilled moderator Jed Mori. The question was so profound in fact that the senator needed almost no other questions to cover a vest array of topics which started with the conversation around impeachment and also covered the cost of housing and education, the environment, school taxes, the famous phone call between President Trump and the president of the Ukraine as well as circumstances surrounding his good friend Joe Biden.

He opened with his belief that President Trump too often criticizes his opponents as well as his our friends around the world in the media, whether it be through tweets or other forms.  None of which is good for either him or our country or for our position as the leading democracy in the world. Particularly at this time when we are facing so many important International issues with Iran, North Korea, and other rogue nations throughout the world. He stressed the importance of a good and strong working relationship with the other leading democracies of the world like Great Britain, France and Germany.

He also went out on a limb criticizing both Republicans and Democrats for acting like fools, especially when they should be working together on common sense laws. He stated the obvious that there is no longer any camaraderie and, in fact, the controlling interests in both parties try to dissuade this and are singularly concerned about re-election. Instead of working together they promote avoiding working together like the plague so that they can assure themselves of re-election.

He stated his belief that this was all started by the right-wing of the Republican Party many, many years ago and that if he were in the Senate today he probably would be labeled a liberal by his fellow Republicans.

Similarly today the Democratic Party is faced with their own radical left-wing elements and he praised Speaker of the House Pelosi for her patients up until now in dealing with them but predicts that she will be more and more challenged by the left-wing of her own party as we get closer and closer to the national elections.  He stressed his belief that people in public office need to start thinking more about the people that they serve versus the left and right factions of their own political parties.

Senator D’Amato added to his comments about President Trump that he is his own worst enemy, in particular citing his constant attacks publicly on both anybody and everybody who disagrees with him. Heretofore these discussions would most likely have been held in private with our allies and bringing them to the public does no good for our relationship with our allies and the level of support which we will need from them in dealing with worldwide issues.

He did however praise the president for his restraint in dealing with Iran over recent attacks by that nation on oil tankers. Once again emphasizing the need now more than ever for democracies around the world to stick together in dealing with actions of Iran. He feels we as a nation suffered a great loss when Secretary of Defense Mathis resigned as he was very well respected by our allies and enemies alike.

Before moving on to domestic issues he weighed in on the Ukraine and impeachment topic by stating his belief that the impeachment process will be an embarrassment for the USA and ultimately will not be successful. However the USA will be hurt and Joe Biden will be hurt on the world stage. He expressed deep concern for his friend Joe Biden, whom he said had admitted publicly that his son had indeed benefitted from deals in the Ukraine and China. He believes this will cost him the nomination and that Senator Elizabeth Warren will be the Democratic nominee for President in all likelihood.

He praised the President for creating over 1 million new jobs which pay over $100,000 a year in the energy industry.  Citing that natural gas is 85% more efficient then the alternatives and will cost 7 times less than wind energy, he can’t understand why our political leaders, especially in New York, are blocking natural gas pipelines for the delivery of energy to Long Island and instead are pushing for offshore windmills.  He believes the windmills would be better served being built in Upstate New York where they would probably produce more energy and would be significantly less expensive to build.

Senator D’Amato warned the audience that religion seems to be the impetus for gaining power in our country at this time. Thus pointing to an even greater need for more sober leadership in our country.  He encouraged the audience to be engaged an outspoken and push the politicians to do the right thing for their constituencies rather than what’s going to get them re-elected.

He touched upon climate change inasmuch as if we took out all of the pollutants that we could ion our country it would equal a 4% Improvement in the climate.  Pointing to the need to put more pressure on other polluters worldwide such as Russia, China and India.  Again there is no easy answer, but this would certainly be helped if we could maintain good relationships and strong influence with our allies.

Turning his attention to Long Island he cited the high cost of housing and the high cost of education on middle income families and a lack of job opportunities to keep our youth here on Long Island.  The amount of student debt is choking students and families.  He called for college endowments to be used to reduce the cost of tuition rather than to pay for high salaried part-time professors and administrators and extravagant building projects on college campuses.

He also took aim at school taxes which he described as being out of control and in some instances equal 70% of local taxes. Superintendents being paid $500,000 to $600,000, the high cost of salaries, benefits and pensions and the fact that politicians are fearful statewide of taking on the teachers union as the cause for these high taxes.

He warned the audience about the reach of big government and in particular school districts. Pointing to recent attempts by school districts to limit residential developments and building projects within school districts Island wide.

In closing he again urged the audience to be more involved and vocal in local politics.  He quoted from a recent article in the Long Island Herald in which Winston Churchill was quoted as saying, “Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others.”