Also in Bratislava, Bush called for expanding democracy to Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, and all the former Soviet states. It was a Reaganesque moment: Tear down those old dictatorships. ?Eventually, the call of liberty comes to every mind and every soul,? Bush told the cheering throngs in Slovakia. ?And one day, freedom?s promise will reach every people and every nation.? Soon after, Bush told Russian president Vladimir Putin that ?democracies have certain things in common; they have a rule of law and protection of minorities, a free press, and a viable political opposition.?
But back to Brussels. Bush next showed his hand on global climate change -- and it wasn?t the Kyoto hand, which would punish economic growth and drive up unemployment. Instead, the president said that ?Emerging technologies, such as hydrogen-powered vehicles, electricity from renewable energy sources, clean coal technology, will encourage economic growth that is environmentally responsible.?
We even heard a clear reference to the eminent economist Joseph Schumpeter, who created a model of economic growth centered on entrepreneurs in search of technological advances and applications that launch new long cycles of economic growth. Bush said, ?All of us can use the power of human ingenuity to improve the environment for generations to come.? He then added, ?By researching, by developing, by promoting new technologies across the world, all nations, including the developing countries, can advance economically while slowing the growth in global greenhouse gases and avoid pollutants that undermine public health.?
Implicit here is the Schumpeterian concept of invention and innovation through technology to foster growth and better serve humankind. The power of human ingenuity is itself a powerful idea. It takes a free-market economy with appropriate tax incentives and open trade to set the framework necessary for non-polluting prosperity. (Bush also implicitly suggested the use of nuclear power.)
Bush concluded his comments in Brussels with the grand vision of the ?principles of democracy, individual liberty, and the rule of law.? This was a good speech, full of big thoughts. It was characteristic of this president. Cynical intellectuals and media pundits in Europe and the U.S. may scoff at Bush, but once again the Texan revealed himself to be a man of ideas.
Very good ideas, at that.