b'2020 Post WPMAEXPOKeynote SessionPaul Ryandone, to have another great American century. The American idea is a really precious thing. Its this idea that the condition of your birth doesnt deter-mine the outcome of your life. Its this notion that ev- in politics state houses, or whether were ery generation of Americansbeing tested because totalitarian regimes sacrifices and struggles andwith 21st century technology are trying works and endures so that theirto undermine democracy with all their kids are better off. For the first time various attacks . underneath all of that is in polling history . more and morethe greatest country that has ever stood, Americans dont believe that. More and more Americans arebuilt upon the best idea ever conceived thinking that its less likely that their kids are going to be bet- to form a government, which is, we are a ter off than they are, than they did. And so, we do face a hugeself-determining country; we are a self-challenge in this country, and this challenge from within isgoverning nation. The only country built this polarization thats pulling us apart; thats making it a littleon an idea. Most countries are founded on more difficult for us to overcome these really big challenges.war, takeovers, kings, queens, land grabs. Like taking on our national debt and our healthcare situation,Not this one. Its an idea. Its an idea that which really is the biggest driver of our debt. has been maintained, and perpetuated, and I, for one, am betting on America. I am betting on the freestrengthened because of our self-governing world and society. Because there is nothing better than free- institutionsour constitution works. And dom. There is nothing better than self-determination. Thereso, I would never, ever bet against free is nothing better than the enormous creativity and energy thatpeople expressing themselves in a system, comes from free people seeking their own destiny, makingin a country like ours, where its institutions their lives better, and making it better for their kids. And that ishave always proven to be durable and to why, at the end of the day, we are going to survive these stresslast. I think Winston Churchill said it tests that are happening in democracy. These stress tests thatright. He said the Americans can are happening in Europe and in America. And so, when yoube counted upon to do the right boil it all down, and you watch TV tonight . just rememberthing. But only after theyve ex-one thingthe country is doing well. The system still works.hausted all the other possibilities.The antibodies that are there, that are organic, which is weOn Trumps twitter: He believes, get to decide who our leaders are, we get to decide where ourrightfully so, that if he has to be a country goes, that process works.traditional politician, and go through This election is going to be one whale of an election. Its goingthe media as his filter to connect with to be a contest of all contests. And its going to be one of thosethe American people, hell never get times when youre like . this is awful. Im sick of this. Imhis word out. They will distort him sick of the name calling, Im sick of the tweets, Im sick of theso much and he wont get a fair partisanship, Im sick of the polarization. Just remember thatshake. So he has always believed, underneath all of that is a very durable country with institu- and I think the facts kind of con-tions that have just recently proven very resilient. Whateverfirm this, hes going aroundyou thought about impeachment, forget about whether it wasthe media straight to people to right or wrong, or good or bad, or should have or shouldntcommunicate, and he feels that he have happened, the system itself worked. The majority ingets a better shake that way. the house did what majorities do, it passed what the major- And that is his strategy. That ity wanted to pass. And the super majority requirement in theis how he effectively does Senate did what it did, it decided not to pass that. The systemit. Which isI dont worked as the founders designed it to work.need the media, I can go Underneath this is a durable country with institutions, the straight to the people with bicameral, bipartisan, separate powers, constitutional republic,this new medium. Now that functions and works. And so while we are being stress- it brings us on a wild ride tested in our lives, in our democracy, in our relationshipssometimes . but you cant with people who dont agree with us or in our own families,deny its effectiveness.SWPMA News / Spring 20207'