Room 5600 30 Rockefeller Plaza New York, N. Y. 10020 March 9th, 1976 Circle 7-3700 Dear Sir: Thank you for your March 3rd letter and the invitation to comment on the questions distilled from the Senate Government Operations Committee Symposium, "Our Third Century: Directions". In a word, I think these questions and particularly question 3's list of proposals are a better example of the problem than a suggestion as to its solution. The setting of National goals and the planning to reach them must be viewed as a process; organization, structure and specifics must support the process and can only be suggested after decision as to the process has been made. My views as to this process are expressed in the enclosed copy of my testimony before the Senate Public Works Committee on May 21, 1975. In general and in brief, the development of long term National Policy requires effective public, i.e. National and State legislative agreement as to: Because we The Principles to inform the policy: are talking about the United States of America, for an articulation of these principles we should begin by looking to the Declaration of Independence, the preamble to the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the other amendments and the body of interpretive "Land Mark" constitutional law decisions. The Policy which is an expression in working summary form of the Principles. The Goals which when realized will give tangible effect to the policy in the impact their realization has on the lives of the American people now and to come. The Programs to rationalize, coordinate and reconcile the goals. The Plans to implement the several programs And finally, the structures, organizations and budgets to support the plans. So long as we begin and stay with the principles of our national origin, we should not fall into the dangerous swamp of State Planning in the blue print or Soviet 5 year plan sense. My testimony does not suggest centralized national planning, to which I am strongly opposed. It reflects my belief, however, that the Federal level must initiate, coordinate and support a flexible national planning process; certain determinations must be made at the Federal level if the States are to function with that sovereignty consistent with their mutual needs and obligations as a part of one Nation which our founders intended. You will note too that I am dedicated to the principle that in a democratic, free-enterprise society, the great bulk of the "doing" must be by the private sector and not by the Government at whatever level. If you or anyone you might designate would like to discuss any of this further, please phone or write and I will suit your convenience. The Honorable John Glenn, Yours sincerely, Lindquist Statement of WARREN T. LINDQUIST Personal Assistant to David Rockefeller for Development and Public Affairs New York, N.Y. Before the Economic Development Subcommittee PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE UNITED STATES SENATE · Washington, D.C. May 21, 1975 Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My name is Warren T. Lindquist. I am on the personal staff of David Rockefeller in New York and have been working with him for more than 20 years in connection with various business matters and with respect to his interest in the citizenship role of business. I am testifying today as an individual and the views expressed are my own. Mr. Chairman, distinguished members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify before your committee, and thank you especially for permitting me to consider some of the more general and long term aspects of your committee's concern rather than the specific legislation which is the subject of your immediate consideration. My brief opening statement will be directed to a discussion of the need for a National Growth Policy as an essential pre-requisite for your development of a National Public Investment Policy which could inform your judgment with respect to such urgent rescue proposals as are before you now and, hopefully, lead to the kind of long range national growth and development which make the need for these crisis efforts less frequent. This short opening statement will attempt to lay out the ground for more specific discussion of your particular areas of interest in response to the questions and comments I hope it will cvokc. 69-838 - 76-27 As you know, I testified before the House Public Works Committee on this subject and I will repeat some of my remarks here, if I may. In the words of Congressman Blatnik: "Federal programs under the jurisdiction of the Public Works Committee form and direct growth patterns for the future even as they respond to present needs." Perhaps it would be well to note at the outset that my reference is to a growth policy; any contention that a zerogrowth policy merits consideration is foolish and to give it any consideration would be unworthy. If our nation is to accommodate the millions of additional citizens it will have by the end of the century; if it is to bring the millions of our present citizen: who are poor and living poorly to the living standard of humanity and dignity enjoyed by the majority; if it is to meet the rising aspirations of a free and dynamic society, the growth required will be enormous. To guide that growth so that it contributes to the accomplishment of our national goals is the purpose of a national growth policy. Having accepted the reality of growth, there are other realities which must be accepted; some of these are physical and Some are political. To mention some of the physical ones: There are limits to the availability of manpower, energy, raw materials and capital. The great bulk of our growth will occur in our existing metropolitan areas. |