USA: The New President Will Need Elder Counsel, Says Dr. Bill Thomas

CHANGING AGING Dr. Bill Thomas Power Up Friday November 21, 2008 President-elect Obama is facing some challenges that are unprecedented in recent decades. As he prepares his transition and selects his advisers, he will need two things to help the US through the very tough days ahead. The first thing he will need is leadership - the kind that calls everyone to work together toward a higher goal, even if the personal rewards are not evident. The kind of leadership that Roosevelt had, the kind that Churchill had. The second thing he needs is elder counsel. No one under 75 has any real memory of the Great Depression, and few people under 70 have any recollection of World War II. As we look forward toward a time when the world needs shared sacrifice to survive and thrive, we would do well to hear the voices of those who have lived through such times before. What worked and what didn't? What got people through from day to day? It's not all in the history books. Elders don't need to run the country, but they need a formal advisory voice. Their wisdom and perspective has been sadly lacking in our government, and many others as well. They need to be volunteers, not those seeking political office or lobbying for contracts. Leadership and elder counsel. Obama has one. He needs the other. AP Source: http://www.umbc.edu/blogs/changingaging/