One of the most troubling problems in the U.S. is an incessant need to put rules on top of rules to solve problems, but which instead stifles creativity, he said. This began long before Obama came to office but with his team there's "hyper activity in this field," Bush maintained.
What should the country do on the regulatory front? Bush called for an independent analysis of the benefits and costs are of any proposed rule. Congress ought to roll back rules that are no longer relevant, he added.
The fourth issue the country needs to face if it wants to grow is transforming its education system, Bush said. Only a third of U.S. children are college or career ready, Bush said, although the country spends more per student than any other country in the world, he added.
Bush advocated robust accountability, eliminating "social promotion" in third grade, making sure every third grader is literate, creating more school choice, rewarding great teachers and doing away with tenure so failing teachers can be fired.
"If we move to a system like that, there's some hope it can change," Bush said.
-Dorothy Hinchcliff