Christopher J. Dodd

But we should not underestimate the value of what one average American--what the impression of one average American makes--can make on a first-time visitor to this country or a repeat visitor, for that matter.

You are not going to succeed in any one of these so-called stovepipes, unless you succeed in the other two.

As fewer and fewer people visit our great country, I think our economy is going to be hurt by that.

I think our strength as a country relies on us as being an attractive model, and that has been diminished.

So it is a very, very good point, and one that we should think about.

We need to, as a country, both parties, all of our leaders need to work together to try to reverse this image.

Well, without a doubt, last year's Intelligence Reform Legislation was an important milestone in beginning to implement the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission.

I do not think that was really smart to have Minnesota having fewer dots up there than Connecticut.

I think the high rate at one point in the Nixon Administration is we were spending something close to 6 percent of the Federal budget on secondary and elementary education in this country, the Federal Government was.

I think we should look at our choices.

Putting that together, have we seen the wealthy, who were given huge tax cuts over the past 3 years, turn around and spend their tax cuts on these luxury items, while average workers of course have seen their wages stagnate?

What are the implications? It worries me deeply. I think it does you as well.