"How do you maintain creativity when you're bailing out everyone?"
So asked Penn alumnus and Utah Gov. Jon M. Huntsman, Jr. yesterday in light of the financial crisis. Huntsman led a town-hall style meeting with students from the Huntsman Program - which was named after his father - in Vance Hall during a visit to Penn.
The recently reelected governor, who holds an undergraduate degree from Wharton, opened the discussion with an assessment of the current state of the economy and how it affects state policy.
After stressing the importance of entrepreneurship in keeping American products competitive, he noted that current government policies threatened to hamper innovation.
Huntsman pointed out the difficulties state leaders today face in developing a balanced budget.
"You have to make decisions about who to cut," Huntsman said. "These are hard decisions, but they have to be made."
He then opened the floor to questions by asking students to identify the issues they think deserve top priority in the next administration's policies.
Upon hearing student concerns, Huntsman - who will meet today with President-elect Barack Obama and 40 other U.S. governors to discuss policy changes - responded with his own beliefs about the country's future.
Huntsman discussed his positions on free trade, immigration, education and foreign policy.
He said the U.S. needs to be willing to sit down with all countries, regardless of past relations.
"We need to exercise greater tolerance and compassion and bridge misunderstandings in various regions," he said. "There is so much we can do, but not in a compartmentalized world."
Huntsman also emphasized that the next generation needs to develop alternative energy resources.
The governor recently oversaw the writing of a position paper that dealt with energy affordability, sustainability and climate change.
"I converted my car to natural gas," he said, further demonstrating his commitment to the issue.
The politician's frankness did not go unnoticed by students.
"I liked that he talked about his own sentiments rather than [those of the Republican] party," said Wharton and College freshman Lulu Xiao.
Wharton and College sophomore J.J Fliegelman was similarly impressed.
"It's rare to have opportunities to speak to people who have an actual say in policy," he said. "It was good to hear the information one-on-one with no twists."
Wharton and College sophomore Brendan Forester agreed.
"The format was great. " he said. "There is no substitute for direct conversation."
