I believe we need to attract a new generation of the best and

The soft glow of the café’s lights gave the room a sense of warmth, contrasting with the cool, gray world outside where the rain continued to fall. Jack sat at the corner of the table, his eyes tracing the rhythmic fall of raindrops on the window, while Jeeny sat opposite him, her fingers wrapped around her coffee cup, thoughtful. There was a stillness between them, a quiet weight of unspoken thoughts.

Host: The world outside moved in its usual rhythm, but within this small corner of the café, time seemed to slow. Finally, Jeeny spoke, her voice gentle, yet carrying an undeniable sense of purpose.

Jeeny: “I came across a quote by Andrew Cuomo today, and it made me think of the way we look at government. He said, ‘I believe we need to attract a new generation of the best and brightest to public service and I believe that government can be a source of inspiration, not degradation.’ Do you think that’s possible? Can government still be a source of inspiration?”

Jack: He shifted slightly in his seat, the faintest smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “Inspiration from government? That sounds like a stretch. I mean, it’s hard to see anything inspiring when you look at the state of things right now. All we see is corruption, gridlock, and a system that’s more interested in power than service. Inspiration feels like something that belongs in the past, not today.”

Jeeny: Her gaze softened, but there was an underlying conviction in her voice. “But isn’t that the challenge? It’s easy to get cynical and believe that it’s all hopeless. But maybe the problem is that we’ve stopped expecting government to be inspiring, stopped expecting it to truly serve people. If we want it to be a source of inspiration, we have to change what we expect from it. Maybe the way forward is to invest in a new generation of leaders who genuinely care, who want to make a difference.”

Host: The soft murmur of conversations around them faded as the weight of her words filled the space between them. Jack looked at her, his fingers resting on the edge of his coffee cup, his eyes thoughtful.

Jack: “I get what you’re saying. But change doesn’t happen just by wanting it, does it? You can’t just wish for better leaders. It takes real, deep change in the way things work. The system is built in a way that often doesn’t reward integrity or genuine service. It rewards power, influence, and staying in the game. So how do you make government inspiring when the very system is designed to tear down those who try to do the right thing?”

Jeeny: “Maybe it’s not about waiting for the system to change all at once. Maybe it’s about bringing in the right people, the ones who won’t just play the same old game. What if we focused on inspiring a new generation to get involved, to see public service as a way to make real change—not just a way to climb the ladder? If we get the best and brightest, who care more about making a difference than about power, maybe we can start to shift the narrative.”

Host: There was a shift in the air, as if Jeeny’s words had planted a seed that was beginning to take root in Jack’s mind. He sat back, his fingers still on the cup, but his expression had softened, the edge of skepticism giving way to curiosity.

Jack: “Maybe... maybe it’s about finding those people—leaders who actually want to serve. I guess it’s hard to imagine it happening in the current climate, but if the right people stepped up, if we started demanding that from our leaders, maybe it could shift. Maybe the government could actually be something worth believing in.”

Jeeny: “Exactly. We’ve got to believe in the possibility of change. It’s not about ignoring the flaws or pretending everything’s fine. It’s about finding the people who can inspire a sense of hope again, who can show us what real leadership looks like—leadership that’s about service, not power. If we change what we expect, we can change what we get.”

Host: The conversation between them had settled into a quiet understanding. The café seemed to glow a little brighter now, the soft rhythm of the rain outside mingling with their shared realization that change could come from new leadership—leaders who genuinely wanted to make the world a better place, not for their own benefit, but for the good of all. Jack met Jeeny’s gaze, a quiet spark of agreement flickering between them.

Jack: “I suppose we all have a part to play in that, don’t we? It’s not just about waiting for someone else to fix it—it’s about being part of that change ourselves.”

Jeeny: “Exactly. It starts with us. And once we have the right people in place, the ones who truly care, maybe we’ll begin to see that inspiration come back into government, and the system can start working for us again.”

Host: Outside, the world continued its busy rhythm, the rain now softening into a gentle mist. Inside the café, there was a sense of quiet optimism—a shared understanding that real change could happen if we stopped waiting for it and started demanding the leadership we needed. The evening continued on, filled with the unspoken hope that, with the right people, government could once again become a source of inspiration rather than frustration.