October 2009 Volume V Issue 2

“Here.” by Sarah Gore Lee Exclusively Drawn for PPR

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS Hon. Bob Rae Former Premier of Ontario, Liberal Party Foreign Affairs Critic Dr. Amy Gutmann President of UPenn Hon. Marjorie Margolies Former Pennsylvanian Congresswoman Arlen Specter Senior U.S. Senator Arne Duncan U.S. Secretary of Education Sarah Gore Lee Al Gore’s Youngest Daughter Executive Board Bob Ma (W’10)...... Editor-in-Chief Letter From the Editor Ned Shell (C’12)...... Senior Managing Editor Greg Rollman (W’11)....Ed Board Managing Editore Politics. This word means different things to different people. For Rachel Thomas (C’11)...... Managing Editor Bob Rae, the former Premier of Canada’s most populous province, poli- Maya Perl-Kot (C’10)...... Managing Editor tics was about connecting with the common people. This held personal Patrick Stedman (C’10)...... Treasurer Hugh Ma (C’11)...... Publisher significance for him as he suffered from 18 months of depression after Anne-Garland Berry (C’10)...... Interview Editor graduating as a Rhodes Scholar. Our own university’s President, Dr. John Gee (C’12)...... The Soapbox Blog Editor Amy Gutmann, got hooked by politics while she was an undergradu- Lucas Blanchard (W’12)...... Chief of Staff ate because she found it more interesting than mathematics. For Sarah Gore Lee, Al Gore’s youngest daughter, politics meant trips with the Editorial Board Vice President to Russia, China, Japan and Korea. But it also meant a Senior Editors complete lack of privacy from constant Secret Service protection. For Bill Shotzbarger (C’10), Greg Rollman (W’11), Marjorie Margolies, a former Congresswoman from Pennsylvania, poli- Nantina Vgontzas (C’11) tics meant being able to say to her children that she did the right thing. Editors You have to discover your own meaning of the word, politics. How- Sarah Heinz (C’12), Ariela Rosenberg (C’12), ever, I am confident that this issue of PPR will stimulate your thinking, or Stephen Fritz (C’13), Neal Gupta (C’13), enrich the meaning that you already have. Nick Yu (C’13) Copy Editors Sincerely, Alisan Oliver-Li (C’10), Carolina O’Neill (C’10), Sarah Heinz (C’12), Jess Mayer (C’12), Nick Stergiopoulous (C’12) Writing Bob Ma Senior Writers Editor-in-Chief Patrick Stedman (C’10), Josh Rittenberg (C’11), Gideon Spitzer (C’11), Rachel Thomas (C’11) I welcome your feedback or letter: [email protected] Staff Writers Patrick Bradley (C’10), Bill Shotzbarger (C’10), John Gee (C’12), Wenceslao Guerrero (C’12), Ned Shell (C’12) Advertise with PPR. Associate Writers Follow The Soapbox Blog. Olivia Clement (C’10), Neel Lalchadani (C’10), Write, Edit, Draw. Carolina O’Neill (C’10), Hugh Ma (C’11), www.dolphin.upenn.edu/ppr Neal Gupta (C’13), Luke Hassall (C’13), Emily Kim (C’13), Amit Patel (C’13), Michael Soyfer (C’13) The Soapbox Blog Anne-Garland Berry (C’10), Sarah Boice (C’10), Josh Rittenberg(C’11), John Gee (C’12) Art, Photography & Design Bob Ma (W’10), Neil Verma (C’10), Siede Coleman (C’11), Janice Dow (C’11), Chiyel Hayles (C’11), Rachel Thomas (C’11), Laura Paragano (C’12), Allison Zuckerman (C’12), Sarah Gore Lee Business & Public Relations Sarah Boice (C’10), Patrick Stedman (C’10), Hugh Ma (C’11), Rachel Thomas (C’11) Penn Political Review is an independent student publication of the Univer- sity of Pennsylvania. We strive to provide a balanced and non-partisan publi- cation that critically examines relevant social, economic, and political issues. All articles are chosen by the Editorial Board based on argumentative merit Copyright 2009 Penn Political Review. It is forbidden to and relevance. All opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author(s) make any reproductions, in whole or in part, without the and do not in anyway reflect the opinions or the endorsement of the Editors. express consent of the PPR.

2 Penn Political Review, October 2009 National 4 What is it like in Al Gore’s House? Interview: Sarah Gore Lee Ned Shell & Bob Ma 5 Drama in Washington Emily Kim 6 A Prescription for Health Care Reform Neal Gupta @Nytimes Sry Grey Lady, Ur Old News 7 Hugh Ma Politics, Penn, President 8 Interview: Dr. Amy Gutmann Anne-Garland Berry & Bob Ma 9 The Forgotten Reform Wenceslao Guerrero Health Care Quagmire: Reform or Reason 10 Michael Soyfer 11 Washington to Women’s Advocate Interview: Hon. Marjorie Margolies Rachel Thomas PPR Interviews Senior U.S. Senator Arlen Specter Left to Right: Anne-Garland Berry, Ned Shell, Greg Rollman, and John Gee Global The Most Dangerous 12 Place in the World Amit Patel Defrosting our 13 Northern Backyard Patrick Stedman The Ghosts of Weimar Luke Hassall 14 Al Qaeda and the Media 15 Carolina O’Neill Drones: The Future of American Strategy in Afghanistan? 16 Gideon Spitzer The Summer Coup d’État 17 John Gee Activism and Depression Interview: Hon. Bob Rae 18 Bob Ma Loudest from The Soapbox “Attack of the Drones” Interview: U.S. Senator Arlen Specter 19 By Allison Zuckerman Interview: U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan

Penn Political Review, October 2009 3 National National What is it like in Al Gore’s House?

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW debates, etc. I was always on high alert. And By Ned Shell and Bob Ma the way that campaign came to an end was particularly hard. With the recount and pro- enn Political Review recently had the testers outside our residence hurling per- Pchance to interview Sarah Gore Lee, sonal attacks, the Supreme Court case and daughter of former Vice President and Bush ending up as president - it was sad, a Nobel Laureate Al Gore. She discusses what little scary, and ultimately numbing for me. it was like growing up in a political family While my family enjoyed a new-found sense and how her father’s career has influenced of ownership over our lives and our time, her personal life and development. Sarah is which was liberating, for years there was a an accomplished artist and posts her collec- lot of grieving mixed in. I remember when tion on www.sarahgorelee.com. Bush was reelected in 2004, it was devas- tating to contemplate another four years Did you take advantage of any like the four that had just passed. I felt that hurt my dad, right? I made friends who are extraordinary opportunities while way on a personal level but also as a regular politically conservative, and tried my hand growing up? citizen. at journalism. For me, the biggest upside of life with my dad in office was the privilege of being in- The filming and subsequent success of An My most comfortable relationships have the-know, so to speak, feeling like I was on Inconvenient Truth was a saving grace and been with people who aren’t rabidly parti- the inside of a lot of momentous events and an amazing experience. I think the movie san one way or the other, people who aren’t rubbing shoulders with a lot of smart, ide- marked a turning point for my family, interested in the gaming side of politics. But alistic people in the Clinton/Gore adminis- because it was something big and positive as I get older, I appreciate the warriors too. tration who were driven by a strong sense that helped supplant the bad memories Because sometimes, life is a battle, and I of purpose. International travel during that and trauma of 2000. The whole experience understand better now why people fight as period was also really great: I joined my dad made me very, very happy and proud of my hard as they do. on trips to Russia, China, Japan, Korea, and father. After that, his receiving the Nobel went with my mom to Haiti. That said, while Peace Prize was just surreal. What was your relationship to the I enjoyed those things, I was a bit of a sour- Clinton family? puss about the situation when I was young. Would your career path have been I really like Chelsea. She’s strong and smart I disliked aspects of living with Secret Ser- different if your father had not been and nice, and I admire her. Our relationship vice protection in the Vice President’s Resi- such an important political actor? consisted mostly of official campaign stage- dence and wished our family life could have I didn’t like the combative, partisan feel sharing moments where we’d smile to the been more normal, more private. of politics and wanted to connect with cameras and crowds and whisper to each people who thrived outside of that world. other about all the craziness going on. Any lessons you learned from grow- Art and music and the communities sur- ing up in a political household? rounding them were attractive to me. Sci- Did people treat you differently in On a practical level, I learned some speech- ence and medicine were also intriguing. I college? writing or rather, speech-editing skills. used to think a career in art wasn’t impor- I think so. I’m sure I was treated better by My siblings and I would act as editors and tant enough or perhaps serious enough to some people who gave me the benefit of the sounding boards for my dad, and I think pursue, but I don’t think that any more. I doubt because they admired my father. At that was a unique education for us. think it’s as impactful and valuable to create the time though, I thought the main effect art as it is to try and improve the world was students seeming extra eager to assess Did your experiences reflect Mr. through political activism or policy change. and judge me. I often sensed people had Gore’s career changes? Also, how did preconceived notions that I was spoiled or your family react to his career mile- How did being part of such a politi- entitled, and I tried hard to prove that I stones? cal family affect your personal life in was not those things - that I was down-to- It was definitely not static throughout. terms of friends, relationships, etc.? earth and smart enough to hold my own. I Those developments made a huge differ- This may seem silly, but in college I wanted also tried to protect myself from people who ence in my family’s experience. The presi- desperately to discover that republicans might use me because they were interested dential campaign leading up to 2000 was and journalists were good people, because in my dad on some level. Looking back, I intense and brutal and bitter. I’d have vio- as a child, I came to regard both with fear, realize that overall, people were probably lent nightmares from all the attacks against trepidation, and a sense that they were Continued on next page... my dad at events, in print and TV news, at up to no good. They were always trying to 4 Penn Political Review, October 2009 Penn Political Review, October 2009 National more aware of, interested in and excited about me because of my dad’s work, and that’s kind of natural. Most of the time, it was nothing all that sinister.

Who would be invited to an average family dinner? Family dinners tend to be family only. We’re kind of insular that way. But when my dad is visiting California, where I live, he’ll eat out with a variety of different friends: people who helped film An Inconvenient Truth, friends he’s made doing business in San Francisco, Senator Dianne Feinstein and her husband... Will.I.Am, Sean Penn - those are some interesting buddies of his. Drama in

Washington pelling stories that unequivocally support Congress on September 9, 2009, President Anecdotes have turned our nation’s specific viewpoints. For instance, while Obama introduced the problem by saying, most pressing issues into tearjerkers. addressing the House on July 16, 2003, con- “One man from Illinois lost his coverage gressman Tom Tancredo (R-CO) proposed in the middle of chemotherapy because his By Emily Kim a Day of Remembrance for the victims of insurer found that he hadn’t reported gall- Art by Chiyel Hayles crimes committed by illegal immigrants. stones that he didn’t even know about. They He told a story of a man named Kris Eggle, delayed his treatment, and he died because n October 26, 2007, John McCain “a valedictorian and an Eagle Scout who of it.” The flaw in telling stories in the O(R-AZ) delivered a speech on immi- joined the National Park Service because health care debate is that there is no viable gration reform to the Aspen Institute. In an he loved the outdoors,” who was “cut down policy that will satisfy all people entirely. attempt to evoke pity and empathy, he cited in his prime, killed by an illegal alien who The number of heart-wrenching anecdotes examples of people dying in the Arizona crossed the border for the purpose of is infinite because someone will always be desert, saying “one was a three-year-old evading the law in Mexico after they [sic] in circumstances that merit additional ben- child; another one was an eighteen-year-old had committed several murders there in efits. Government policies, especially in a girl with a rosary around her neck.” McCain some sort of drug-related deal.” Tancredo large and diverse nation like the US, strive turned a complex issue into a matter of emphasized that “The Eggle family is deter- to help as many people as possible with saving the lives of the innocent and the mined that the death will not be forgotten minimal costs. In our imperfect society, we pious, a deceptive but effective political by working for real border control.” Tan- cannot solve every individual grievance and tactic. In trying to pass legislation and gain credo turned masses of nameless, faceless every specific tragedy. Therefore, the anec- prestige as legitimate champions of the illegal aliens into a swarm of robbers and dote diverts our attention away from our masses, politicians like McCain use anec- murderers. He evoked fear in the American larger goals and towards sympathies for a dotes to connect on a personal level with a people by recounting the unjust death of an few. wide range of people. However, anecdotes upstanding citizen and oversimplified the Though anecdotes forge emotional divert attention away from the big picture, broad issue into a matter of mourning Kris connections with the American people in such as the elements of an issue, how they Eggle. This gross misrepresentation of the a way that lists of statistics simply cannot, connect, and the overall costs and benefits. issue causes people to see illegal immigra- they mislead the public by framing more By “introducing” the public to these indi- tion in a vacuum and possibly form irratio- complex issues using tragic stories. If politi- viduals, politicians turn large and complex nal viewpoints as a result. cians and concerned citizens were to detach issues into political soap operas that prog- The inherent flaw in using anecdotes themselves from a few individuals and try ress over the course of years with charac- is that they are always available. No matter to do what’s best for most individuals, we ters we can relate to and storylines we can what, someone always feels he or she is would move in a direction of politics that is follow. Though anecdotes forge an emo- being snubbed by a piece of legislation. In sensible, not sentimental. The lives of mil- tional connection with the public, they are this way, the use of the anecdote is a slip- lions of people are at stake when we pass an illogical basis for political decisions. pery slope. For example, the debate over legislation. Therefore, it is critical that Anecdotes mislead the public by turn- health care is full of anecdotes about people political rhetoric pander to logic and good ing convoluted issues into tragic tales. They fighting two-front wars against disease and decision-making, and not to our emotional allow politicians to manipulatively tell com- the insurance industry. In his address to side. Penn Political Review, October 2009 5 National National A Prescription for Health Care Reform New medical technologies may present an insurmountable obstacle in the drive for universal health care.

By Neal Gupta ally the intensive, hospital-based services) who are utilizing the latest developed drugs. Art by Neil Verma towards outpatient services, such as pre- From cholesterol-lowering drugs to scription drugs and expeditious procedures. anti-depressants, Medicaid beneficiaries eaders along the political spectrum gen- Technological change has meant Americans now have access to drugs that were not Lerally agree that America spends too now spend fewer days in the hospital bed. In in the health market ten years ago. While much on health care. To reverse the trend this private health insurance market, which these drugs may have provided enrollees of rising health care spending, which out- covers most Americans, these changes have with better quality health care, it remains paces inflation and GDP growth, they have been viewed as a positive outcome of new unclear whether states will continue to suggested a host of measures, including a medical technology. Hence for most Ameri- finance these expensive new drugs. Indeed, public health insurance plan, investment cans, rises in medical spending are not nec- Medicaid spending now accounts for the in electronic medical records and employee essarily a negative outcome. Indeed, most largest portion of most state budgets. health benefits tax code reform. It is prom- seem willing to pay higher insurance pre- Rather than increase taxes on their citizens, ised that these changes will yield a better miums in exchange for access to the latest most states have responded by providing health care system, one that provides every technology. However, this situation does less generous coverage to their Medicaid American with generous insurance cover- not hold true for public health insurance beneficiaries. This suggests that politicians age and access to the wonders of modern plans because they are funded by the tax- will eventually decide to limit access, not medicine. payer. increase taxes. Indeed most Medicaid state What remains absent from this debate programs have already limited prescrip- however, is discussing what really tion drug access by requiring benefi- drives health care spending – new ciaries to pay for their drugs or by medical technology. About fifty reviewing doctors’ orders. The tools percent of annual increases in to limit access already exist, such as medical spending have been dropping coverage for certain pro- attributed to technological cedures, requiring patients to share advances (Panel on the Medicare in their costs or developing panels Trustees Reports). Therefore, the that assess the effectiveness of new real question politicians should technologies. be asking is: Can all Americans It seems likely that govern- have generous access to these tech- ment-sponsored programs to nological advances? And more spe- increase insurance coverage will face cifically, can government-funded similar problems. The effect of prescrip- programs, such as Medicaid and tion drug coverage under Medicare, for Medicare, continue to offer insur- example, has already raised concern about ance coverage of potentially costly, “Nurse, are results from the EVERYTHING test in yet?” future efforts to finance the public insur- new medical therapies? As it seems, ance program. Ultimately, it seems likely few politicians wish to raise these difficult that public health insurance programs will questions, precisely because the possible While the average American might not be able to continue to finance the tech- solutions reveal an uncomfortable truth be willing to pay more for his or her own nological changes presented by the health about medical spending. Little can be done health care, it is less clear that the average care market. Public health insurance pro- to limit rising medical spending, leaving taxpayer will be willing to pay for his or her grams will, as Medicaid already does, even- public health insurance programs with only elderly neighbor’s care. tually seek ways to limit spending on these two possibilities: Will society accept the Prescription drugs provide an illustra- advances. Therefore, the rosy vision of a continuous rises in public health insurance tion of the challenge of providing public healthcare system that delivers the latest spending, especially because they require health insurance coverage in the context of advances to all Americans seems to be just tax increases? Or will we limit access to rapid technological change in the healthcare an optimistic dream. A more likely scenario technology by the poor and elderly? market. The relatively generous insurance is that certain Americans will face limita- From blockbuster prescription drugs to coverage of prescription drugs under states’ tions, in some measure, when making their the latest medical imaging devices, Ameri- Medicaid programs has been a significant healthcare decisions. This seems especially cans demand the newest innovations. For feature of rising public health insurance certain for the large (and growing) group of the most part, these advances have been a programs, accounting for a disproportion- Americans that receive their health insur- positive development for middle and upper ately high portion of increased spending. ance from the government. Unfortunately, class Americans. Indeed, this is supported These increases in public health insurance this reality seems to be too uncomfortable by shifts in the composition of health care programs have been largely attributed to for political leaders to acknowledge. spending away from inpatient care (gener- the demands of the Medicaid beneficiaries 6 Penn Political Review, October 2009 Penn Political Review, October 2009 National @Nytimes Sry Grey Lady, Ur Old News Twitter has changed how celebrities communicate to the public; Will it do the same to our news? By Hugh Ma Art by Laura Paragano

he so-called experts agree – Twitter is Tchanging your life. The micro-blogging service is the darling of Web 2.0; its sweet- and-simple “tweets” have changed the com- munication habits of people everywhere. But exactly how far can it go? Can the news be boiled down to 140-character posts? It’s unlikely – but certainly possible. The arrival of Web 2.0 presented a new the particular issues and anchors respond news. Through a series of tweets and re- phase in internet design, characterized by to their questions directly. Perhaps the tweets, a single user instantly has an audi- user-friendly sharing and collaboration. network’s most prominent application of ence that can grow exponentially – a feat This development gave life to a genera- Twitter was its role in the 2008 presiden- that cannot be replicated by newspapers tion of blogs which, as new and respectable tial debates, when the gubernatorial hope- or cable news channels. For example, ABC news sources, have played a central role in fuls fielded questions that regular citizens reporter Terry Moran broke the news that the “death of journalism.” Many people, tweeted from home. Obama had called Kanye West a “jackass” from celebrity-twitterer Ashton Kutcher to Nevertheless, CNN is far from the only by tweeting the off-the-record comment tech-guru David Pogue, see the social net- news outlet employing Twitter’s services. to over a million of his Twitter followers. working site as the next step in the evolu- Mainstream media has embraced Twit- CNBC quickly removed Moran’s tweet and tion of online journalism. If blogs signaled ter in one form or another: The New York issued an apology to the White House. the beginning of the slow demise of old Times actively uses a Twitter account, as do Still, even more compelling than Twit- journalism, some believe Twitter could be MSNBC and The Washington Post. In fact, ter’s ability to break the news is its ability the axe to its head. according to a recent Future to become it. Twitter’s role at the center of Twitter is of a different “If blogs signaled of Journalism Conference, the strife following Iran’s tumultuous post- breed from the blogosphere, the beginning of 91% of the leading US news election controversy was well-documented simply because it gives any the slow demise organizations have a Twitter by all media. As the Iranian government user an instant platform to of old journalism, account—but 98.7% of their shut out traditional media, Iranian citi- share and receive informa- some believe Twit- tweets merely link users to zens turned to Twitter, where news of tion. Gone is the need to ter could be the axe information found on their widespread protests trickled out in short engineer, market and main- to its head” websites. The vast majority messages. Moreover, protestors utilized tain a domain – the “Twitter of legacy news outlets are not Twitter as a platform for organizing when Revolution” lies in connectivity and acces- using Twitter’s unique advantages to their cell phone networks were disabled. While sibility. Regular consumers are “becoming benefit. traditional news in the US reported the the creators of the media and the editors Many in the field remain skeptical of event with Twitter as its key source, it also of the media,” said Kutcher at a technology Twitter’s role in journalism. According noted how such a simple social media net- conference earlier this year, “through that to New York Times Op-Ed writer Roger work could play such an integral part in a collaboration that is existing on the web, Cohen, Twitter journalism, or “microjour- movement. that has and will forever change media.” nalism,” is the antithesis of the “deluge As for Twitter itself, its remarkable Kutcher’s enthusiasm may stem from the of raw material that new social media” growth will continue into the year - an esti- fact that he is one of the service’s most vocal can deliver. Even Biz Stone, co-founder mated 18 million US users, up from 6 mil- users. He ended a well-publicized feud with of Twitter, has expressed his doubts. In a lion in 2008, will use the site in 2009 alone. CNN by beating the news outlet to being recent interview, Stone said that although With its latest round of venture funding, the first account with one million followers; the service may be adept at certain aspects the start-up is now valued at over a billion only in this new era of Web 2.0 can a single of news reporting, the media still needs dollars. Twitter has potential, but whether user command an audience larger than that reporters and newsmen to “provide con- or not it will become a formidable force of a decades-old cable news channel. text.” 140-character messages offer subtle in journalism is yet to be seen. Maureen Even so, no other news service has advantages, but can’t substitute traditional Dowd, columnist for the New York Times, embraced Twitter quite like CNN. The net- news reporting. has an opinion. According to Dowd, Twitter work vigorously promotes Twitter by incor- While it may not replace the news, is nothing more than a “toy for bored celeb- porating it in its regular programming. It Twitter’s impact can already be felt in news rities and high-school girls.” Clearly, not all serves as a platform for viewer interaction; today. Through its accessibility and reach, of the media will be embracing Twitter just users watching at home can weigh in on Twitter has become a force in breaking yet. Penn Political Review, October 2009 7 National National Politics, Penn, President be interested in politics, at least as citizens, Park. In two years’ time, we will revitalize EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW because politics is part of what governs a section of the Schuylkill River’s western By Anne-Garland Berry & Bob Ma their lives. banks by replacing surface parking lots with 24 acres of verdant community space. How is Penn’s relationship with Washington? How has the stimulus As a follow up, do you feel that Penn money affected the University? is connected to the community of The relationship between Penn and Wash- West Philadelphia? ington has never been better. Almost four Penn students from each of our schools years ago, we established a new office in are engaging with the widest array of local Washington, D.C., headed by Bill Andersen, institutions to support civic life, such as the former Chief of Staff to Senator Lieber- through our Fox Leadership Program, Civic man. The Office of Federal Relations moni- Scholars Program, Civic House, and the tors and promotes general and targeted Netter Center for Community Partnerships. opportunities on which Penn depends, One of my personal favorites, The West while providing policy support, analysis, Philadelphia Community History Project, research and counsel to the University. built an online heritage museum for West Philadelphia community members. r. Amy Gutmann is the President of the In total, Penn submitted more than 850 DUniversity of Pennsylvania, and the grant applications and requested more than Penn just kicked off a new environ- Christopher H. Browne Distinguished Pro- $550 million in funding from institutions mental sustainability campaign. How fessor of Political Science. Prior to coming such as the National Institutes of Health is that progressing? to Penn, Dr. Gutmann was the Provost of and the National Science Foundation. Our new Climate Action Plan contains Princeton University. She received her a comprehensive approach to reducing master’s degree from the London School of As of the date of this interview, we’ve our carbon footprint. A plan, of course, is Economics and her doctorate from Harvard received 296 American Recovery and Rein- only as effective as the people implement- University, both in Political Science. vestment Act Awards for a total of just over ing it. The biggest challenge is motivating $163 million, and we expect more good even more individuals to do their part. First of all, congratulations on five news as the semester continues. The grants Doing some simple things such as apply- years here at Penn! will help Penn advance scientific knowl- ing energy-saving computer settings and Thank you for inviting me to reflect on the edge in areas critical to the improvement drinking from a reusable mug make a dif- most exciting and memorable years of my of human health such as neurodegenerative ference over time. life so far. disease and cancer. What would you like to see happen at What led you to political science? Do you think Penn’s increasing land Penn in the next five years? I encourage all Penn students to take acquisition in West Philadelphia is We will attract the most talented and courses and pursue experiences that excite displacing low-income residents? diverse students with by far the best finan- them, which is also how I discovered my Penn’s success and West Philadelphia’s cial aid policy in Penn’s 250-plus year his- passion for political science. When I gradu- success are closely linked. Each year, Penn tory, conclude our record-breaking $3.5 ated from high school, I wanted to become generates an estimated $6.5 billion in eco- billion [fundraising] campaign, Making a mathematician, but a series of college nomic impact on our city, a large part of History, and open our beautiful new Penn courses kindled my interest in political phi- that in West Philadelphia. We hire locally; Park—and that’s just a small sample of losophy and political science. While I was we give opportunities to local merchants, what’s in store for Penn. still an undergraduate, John Rawls admit- and we set participation goals for minority- ted me into his graduate seminar, which owned and women-owned contractors and Of course, the election of a Penn gradu- meant that I was present for the creation businesses. ate as President of the United States also of A Theory of Justice, one of the seminal would be wonderful, but I can be patient. works of 20th century political philoso- We also purchased the Postal Lands, which phy. Though I still love numbers and solv- are contiguous to our campus on the east, ing puzzles, I am happy to have developed and we are moving full steam ahead with a broad knowledge and understanding of our new campus development plan. We politics. call the plan “Penn Connects” because it will physically connect a great community Politics is the art and science of human gov- of communities. This fall, we are breaking ernance. People would be well-advised to ground on the centerpiece of the plan, Penn 8 Penn Political Review, October 2009 Penn Political Review, October 2009 National The Forgotten Reform Are we wasting an opportunity to overhaul U.S. financial regulations?

By Wenceslao Guerrero ernment agencies, the Art by Neil Verma adjudication of sys- temic risk oversight ou never want a serious crisis to go responsibilities to the “Yto waste…” These words, spoken by Federal Reserve and the White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, increased scrutiny and are an attitude towards reform. During supervision of financial his first nine months in office, President derivatives. The first Obama has attempted both to pull the part of the proposal country out of a recession, as well as to seems to be the most rapidly solve what he perceives as crises problematic, as it is in areas such as healthcare and foreign important that the Consumer policy. However, while he has spent a sig- Financial Protection Agency limits nificant part of his energy and political itself to fostering transparency and condi- capital elsewhere, President Obama has competition among financial insti- tion will yet to make major efforts to address one tutions. This would be preferable to progres- of the underlying causes of the current setting arbitrary regulations and providing s i v e l y improve. This will make the recession: the inadequate regulation of the mandatory benefits to otherwise undeserv- overall health of the sector appear to be financial system. Thus contrary to what Mr. ing clients (such as sub-prime borrowers), sound, even when based on the same inad- Emanuel suggests, President Obama and which in the past caused distortions in equate regulation that brought about the the Democratic-controlled Congress might market incentives and added to the specu- current crisis. Furthermore, as the banks be wasting an opportunity to overhaul U.S. lative bubble before the current recession. and other financial institutions become sol- financial regulations. Nonetheless, if properly implemented, the vent again, they will be able to spend more The current financial and economic reform would reduce systemic risk and energy and money lobbying against poten- crisis leaves no question that the financial avoid the same government-sponsored tial legislative initiatives that include unat- system needs to be reformed as soon as problems the U.S. tractive terms, making possible in order to avoid future systemic experienced in the it more difficult for breakdowns. While the proximate cause of past, while increas- “With its intricate system the administration the financial meltdown was the arguably ing the availability of of checks and balances, the to introduce painful inevitable burst of the sub-prime mortgage information and trans- American political system yet necessary change. bubble, the lack of an appropriate regula- parency of the financial is biased towards inaction” The last threat would tory framework served as its catalyst as markets (a prerequisite come from the govern- well as the fuel adding to the crisis’ size for their efficiency). ment itself, as the lack and scope. A patchwork of regulatory agen- Nevertheless, as obvious as this need of a determined, specific proposal put for- cies, mostly put in place during the Great for a financial reform may seem, it is hard to ward by President Obama would only fuel Depression, were unable to keep up with build political consensus for change unless the turf wars that traditionally break out the innovation of financial institutions and major problems or concerns exist with the between different government agencies provide the transparency necessary for status quo. With its intricate system of whenever their responsibilities are brought a well-functioning market. The difficulty checks and balances, the American political into question. financial regulators initially had with both system is biased towards inaction. There- The Obama administration has both identifying the looming problems as well fore, in order to guarantee a speedy and the tools and the opportunity to solve the as developing the policies to mitigate them thorough legislative effort there must be underlying problems of the U.S. financial serve as a testament to the current system’s both widespread popular support for the system. After years of not recognizing the insufficient regulations. policies in question as well as a sense of problem, both the political establishment To this end, the Treasury Department urgency for their adoption. and the voters understand the need for an has already announced the guiding prin- However by concentrating on other ini- overhaul of the sector. It is important there- ciples of what the Obama administration tiatives (such as health care reform) before fore that the President takes the initiative in would like on a final proposal to reform the overhauling the financial system, the White submitting and seeing through the passage financial system. The Obama administra- House and Congress have allowed that of a reform bill, before the favorable condi- tion’s proposal centers on the creation of sense of urgency necessary for legislative tions he now enjoys disappear. Unless Pres- a Consumer Financial Protection Agency consensus to fade, making the status quo of ident Obama acts swiftly and decisively to to regulate how the products and services the financial world acceptable again. At the reform the nation’s financial system, it may are offered to the public, the consolidation same time, as the end of the real economy’s well be that he will waste the most serious of supervisory authority under fewer gov- recession draws near, the financial system’s financial crisis since the Great Depression. Penn Political Review, October 2009 Penn Political Review, October 2009 9 National National The Health Care Quagmire: Reform or Reason What do the problems with Medicare teach us about health care reform? By Michael Soyfer With the country in mid-recession and the Council for Comparative Effectiveness Art by Neil Verma with an ever-increasing deficit, the price is Research – charged with helping doctors simply too high, and the tactics to reduce designate the best practices – is modeled he current struggle to churn out some costs simply will not do so. If “hundreds of on the NICE commission in Britain, which Tform of health care reform has brought billions…in waste and fraud” could be elim- once denied patients expensive anti-blind- forth countless suggestions for reduc- inated from the already failing Medicare ness medication until they had gone blind ing costs, expanding coverage, and doing system, as President Obama claimed in his in one eye. But before a patient even consid- so without stacking another penny onto September 9th address to Congress, why ers an expensive drug or procedure, Medi- our deficit. Medicare is often hailed asa not trim this fat before expanding it? The care incentivizes end-of-life counseling, successful example of government-run CBO answered that the whether asked for healthcare and a precursor to universal pro-expansion rhetoric or not. Congress has government coverage – a sort of Medicare could not produce real “This isn’t a death panel” even stipulated that for all. One might wonder: Since senior citi- cost-reduction. in such counseling, zens receiving Medicare benefits seem to As every route doctors are to encour- like the system, why don’t we simply offer it seems to lead to deficit inflation, the presi- age patients to quietly let go rather than to everyone? It would, however, behoove us dent has reaffirmed that he will only sign a discuss procedures that might prolong their to closely examine the current incarnation revenue-neutral bill - one that expands cov- life. This isn’t a death panel, but incentiviz- of the Medicare system before expanding it. erage without increasing the deficit or plac- ing doctors to nudge their patients towards The primary problem with Medicare ing too great a burden on the middle and the end rations care, if not explicitly. It isn’t expansion is that Medicare is a Congress’s place to point the way sinking boat. Many gasp at the out to an emotionally vulnerable windfall profits made by health and ailing person. That is a deci- insurance companies, but such sion for that person to make, of his profits ensure that these com- or her own accord, without incen- panies will continue to obtain tivized interference. investors and credit and avoid Staggering expenses and bankruptcy. Government enti- rationing certainly make universal ties, such as Medicare, are not coverage seem like hemlock. In the limited in the same way, able to end, though, universal healthcare operate as essentially benevolent, coverage is something we should but ultimately endless, money strive for as a society, but now pits. Medicare currently pays is not the right time. We need to out more than it collects and its reform Medicare and the health- trustees expect it to be insolvent care industry and see whether by 2017, two years sooner than that works before we risk trying it last year’s prediction. Both the all at once. What is needed now is single-payer system and the pub- legislation that addresses insur- lic-option will serve to expand Medicare, as lower classes. Unfortunately, this future ance concerns and lowers health care costs. they will expand the number of people who bill’s revenue neutrality lies largely in the Insurance companies should have to cover qualify for government-provided health- promise that it will contain a clause that preexisting conditions, should not be able care coverage. And expanding a soon-to- will require future spending cuts. Such a to set lifetime limits, and should have to be insolvent government agency certainly bill already exists, and Congress, despite limit co-pays. This might run insurance seems to be an imprudent choice. looming Medicare insolvency, has waived companies into the same iceberg as Medi- The non-partisan Congressional supposedly automatic Medicare cuts every care, but, as corporations, they can, and Budget Office (CBO) has made three asser- year since 2003. So how will all of these are obligated to, find ways to survive in tions which have helped to stymie support cuts eventually materialize? Well, in two the marketplace. As far as lowering health for Medicare expansion. First, the ten-year rather painful ways: Medicare will continue care costs, that is more difficult, but digitiz- cost of such an initiative would be 1.6 trillion underpaying doctors and will begin ration- ing hospital records can save a great deal dollars, a sum that our government simply ing. of money, as can tort reform, which would cannot afford. Second, the commission cre- The truth is that medical care is an lower doctors’ overhead costs significantly. ated to reduce Medicare costs would at best expensive resource, and, as money becomes These might not be radical, but they can do cut costs by 0.2 percent. Third, rather than scarce, Medicare will become stingier. Cur- a lot of good, and, at the end of the battle, stabilize the deficit, the program would pro- rently, only the possible beginnings of they will hopefully constitute at least part of duce greater deficits in its second decade. rationing are apparent. Some suspect that our healthcare reform of 2009.

10 Penn Political Review, October 2009 National Washington to Women’s Advocate larger than life. I think that it’s the small EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW things that count, period. It’s the accumula- By Rachel Thomas tion of the small things. But it’s the things that we have to step back from and pass the he Penn Political Review sat down with baton to [the people we help] for it to work. Tformer Congresswoman and founder of Women’s Campaign International, Mar- Recently coming from the Clinton jorie Margolies. With the current health Global Initiative, clearly you are care debate reminiscent of Margolies’ 1993 inspired, but how do you come away vote in favor of President Clinton’s budget, from that and translate it into tangi- which caused her to lose her seat in Con- ble action and results? gress the following year, Margolies looks It’s more tenaciousness than anything else, back on her fateful vote. She also discusses understanding that the baby steps are the the future of Women’s Campaign Inter- only things that work. Most of the people national, and how she is optimistic about who work with this are learning, they have women’s empowerment across the globe. life-altering experiences. It’s really not fancy at all but it’s an incredible experience What misconceptions about poli- and that’s what makes it all worthwhile for tics, both good and bad, did you have us, trying to make this work. But the peaks before you ran, and when did these and troughs are huge. realizations come to light? I had done a lot of stories on the hill and in What do you think is the biggest prob- Washington and so I had a misconception What motivated you to start Wom- lem and the biggest gain for women? of what it looked like behind closed doors. en’s Campaign International and I think the biggest problem is that people I was stunned by the partisanship and the what was the most difficult aspect of don’t understand how incredibly important unnecessary sniping that went on between shifting across sectors? it is that women are at the table. It’s chang- the Republicans and Democrats. On the Women’s Campaign International came ing, [but] for the most part we are at home, night of [the 1993 budget] vote, I was really about because I was the head of the United having babies and making the house run, surprised they had to come to me—chairs of States Delegation for the Fourth World so women start to get to the tables of power committees—Democrats, were not voting Conference. One of the things we knew much later in life. for the [bill]. And I was just very surprised when we came back was that we had to get at the fear that a lot of these members had. more women to the table. I think the thing I think the biggest gain is that it used to be I can remember [Republican] Bob Walker, that has surprised me the most is how much that one was typically more comfortable who was a Member of Congress in my del- women and women’s issues are marginal- walking into the voting booth and voting egation. He was jumping up and down ized. It’s the unmeasured part of society. I for a white male, but that’s changing. I saying “Bye, bye Marjorie” on the floor of think there’s a flurry of interest now, which still think people expect something that’s the House. He was a fabulous jumper, but is very encouraging. It’s good news, but it’s different from women, and that’s tough. I this is the House of Representatives! And I still pushing that rock up the hill. think Hilary [Clinton] is amazing, but she think it’s just gotten worse by the partisan- becomes polarizing, because it’s hard for ship. I am also surprised at how much the Often you realize it’s the small things some people to accept her bluntness, her public is willing to swallow. that are the most important. What strength, her smartness. I think we’re being was the smallest thing you have done more accepting, but I think it’s everybody’s Do you regret your vote? with WCI that has made the biggest work. When you have your children, make There are all different kinds of layers to it. I difference? sure that what we expect of little girls is would have liked to have stayed longer. But I’m not so sure it was small, but it was a sug- what we expect of our little boys. no, I think it was the right thing to do, and gestion. We at the time thought it was big, I think it’s very rare in life that you get to but it was a conversation. That was when we do “the right thing.” I kind of learned that went to Malawi to do an HIV/AIDS training doing the right thing has to be that you session with women we had gotten elected. Advertise with PPR. make sure that it’s done correctly, and my We went back and the Minister of Health Follow The Soapbox Blog. sense was that that was what it was even said to me, “How can we make this thing Write, Edit, Draw. though I knew that it was going to be really live?” And I said, “Get tested.” So it was a www.dolphin.upenn.edu/ppr hard to win. But it’s rare in life that you get very small suggestion. One that I thought to say to your children, I think I did the would never happen, and it became huge. right thing. So it was a very small thing that became

Penn Political Review, October 2009 Penn Political Review, October 2009 11 Global Global The Most Dangerous Place in the World How can the 60-year-old conflict in Kashmir be resolved?

By Amit Patel The conflict originated after British cate their needs and wants and implement Art by Janice Dow rule ended in India. This now free coun- them into policy. This grassroots outreach try faced the problem of alleviating the must be implemented with global support; mid the bitter gusts of eastern Kash- upheaval between the ardently combative the international community must encour- Amir, a man who arrived in this region Hindus and Muslims. Seeking a solution, age increased political and economic inte- on a peace-making mission was brutally Mohandas Gandhi implemented a plan of gration in the region. This can effectively murdered because of his Ahmedi faith. The partitioning India to form a new country, promote higher education, provide a voice extremist group targeted him because the Pakistan, where Muslims could peacefully for the formerly oppressed citizens through Ahmedi faith, a minority sect in Islam, is an practice their religion. However, parts of political and civic engagement, and bring obstacle to the group’s goal of establishing Kashmir were left disputed in the midst of economic opportunity through trade and a culturally and religiously homogeneous this divide. economic interdependence between the Kashmir. Today, because of the uncertainty, region and the international community. Such is the terrible pain experienced Kashmir is plagued with violence from by millions in a once harmonious and insurgent groups that sadistically strive “[Stability in Kashmir] must be diverse region, marked by the merger of to pave their own way for the region. achieved through globalization” three countries, religions, and cultures. Most militant groups terrorize civilians Nestled in the northwest corner of the in an attempt to implement their agenda On the international level, this must Indian sub-continent, Kashmir offers its of Islamic rule over Kashmir. Even more be achieved through globalization, which residents the unrivaled beauty of breathtak- disturbingly, in a 1994 report, the Human can diminish arbitrary national barri- ing views of its snow-covered mountains. Rights Watch presented “compelling evi- ers in order to promote trade and enable Placed in stark contrast to this, however, dence that elements of the Pakistani gov- free movement of ideas and technology. is the gruesome violence and hostility that ernment sponsored a significant flow of This approach must include the use of soft has subdued this renowned scenic gran- arms to Kashmiri militants, as well as an power to influence people through the invo- deur. Former U.S. president Bill Clinton extensive training program.” Endorsed by cation of cultural unity and shared values even called the ceasefire line that divides the Pakistani government, these violent and beliefs. The sole use of hard power Kashmir “the most dangerous place in the groups have instilled a permanent sense of has blatantly failed. The hope for Kashmir world.” Every day, residents experience fear in the minds of the Kashmiri people. lies in the cooperative construction of an ghastly human rights abuses. Daily violence This fear has caused even press and human accountable and transparent government and hostilities threaten domestic develop- rights leaders to abandon the region. In that does not control the people, but rather ment and international trade. However, turn, fear has bred isolationism, which that listens to and serves as an advocate for cooperation between India, Pakistan and leads to an ensuing decline in education, them. In the era of globalization, not only the global community can create prosperity literacy and economic growth. This peril- is this goal achievable and sustainable, it is in all spheres of life and rouse a grassroots ous downturn must be reversed; Now is the the single most effective course to pursue movement that can represent the repressed time to return Kashmir to the harmony and in order to allow Kashmir to once again sentiment of the Kashmiri people. diversity of its not-so distant past. prosper. Through global participation, the To ensure stability in Kashmir, it is Indian and Pakistani governments can imperative for both the Indian and Paki- commit to maintaining an open exchange stani governments to forbid human rights of trade, culture, and innovation with the crimes and to cooperate with the global international community. Moreover, global community to forge a multilateral awareness may even compel these coun- solution. In past years, recon- tries to sign multilateral nonaggression ciliation has been unsuccessful pacts and arms limitation treaties to ensure because of historical animosity, lasting peace and prosperity. and Kashmir has become largely With this commitment and coopera- militarily occupied. It is appar- tion, the family of the man who was mur- ent that military rule alone is dered, like millions of others, will have hope. ineffective in curbing violence The man’s dream of peace and harmony in and solving problems in Kash- Kashmir will surely live on. His dream can mir. The circumstances in motivate international communities and Kashmir merit a grassroots become the crucial impetus needed to man- approach aimed at stimulat- ifest the dream that the Kashmiri people ing the minds of the Kashmiri hold so deeply for the future of their region. people. Citizens must partake in a united movement to advo- 11 12 Penn Political Review, October 2009 Penn Political Review, October 2009 Global Defrosting Our Northern Backyard Why the U.S. should build up its presence in the Arctic.

By Patrick Stedman Arctic command in the next five years, and to the coastline. In addition, the US claims Art by Laura Paragano the latter is buying hundreds of Joint Strike the Northwest Passage is international Fighters that are able to perform Arctic sor- waters, while Canada claims it as its own. n the summer of 2007, for the first time ties. Likewise, Canada is planning to build Most importantly, however, the U. refuses Iin modern history, the Northwest Pas- its first Arctic deep-sea port, a new military to sign the UN Convention of the Law of sage was completely free of ice. Yes, global base, and more icebreakers, and is also warming is bad and yes, I did see Al Gore’s expanding its armed forces by 10,000 men movie. But let’s look at this global warming in the next decade. “When it comes to projecting situation differently for a second. Assum- Indeed, when it comes to projecting power in the Arctic, the United ing we don’t turn into a giant ball of ice, power in the Arctic, the United States seems States seems to be the only this resource-filled region once sought after to be the only country behind the curve. country behind the curve” by early explorers for its speedy passage to Russia has four nuclear icebreakers and at Asia would be open for use. least ten smaller icebreakers, some of them The implications would be huge. Cur- armed. Canada, meanwhile, has two all- the Sea, putting it at odds with every Arctic rently, the biggest corridor of shipping traf- season icebreakers and four summer ones nation. This convention gives every country fic is from Western Europe to Asia through (although it is in the process of building six 10 years after they ratify it to claim up to the Panama Canal. The Northwest Passage more). In comparison, the US only has two, 200 miles from their shore (if the country would shave 5,000 nautical miles off of one of which is 30 years old while the other can prove that the seabed is part of their this typical supply route, and supertank- is predominantly a science vessel. Although continental shelf, they can claim up to 150 ers, which are now forced to go around the US navy as a whole is quite large, in the more). Even among the signatories, how- Cape Horn in South America due to their Arctic it is largely useless due to its ships’ ever, there are issues about who owns what; size, would gain considerable advantages in thin hulls, putting the US at a huge disad- Canada, Denmark, and Russia all claim the distance and speed. World shipping costs vantage. North Pole itself. could decline by more than a third. Just as Diplomatic conflicts, even among This has more than just the implica- the Suez and Panama Canals transformed allies, are already occurring. In 2002 and tions of pride. Many of these countries want international trade over a century ago, so 2003, the Danes sent two expeditions to control over the resources that are believed too would the Northwest Passage in the 21st Hans Island, a tiny rock disputed between to be found in the region. The Arctic Ocean is century. Canada and Denmark, and dropped troops estimated to contain a fourth of the world’s Still, opening up petroleum and natural gas reserves, as the Arctic is fraught well as methyl hydrates (hydrocar- with difficulties. Envi- bons only found in mineable ronmental concerns quantities in the Arctic which aside, the political issues have 30 times the energy regarding the region have per unit as natural gas). already become quite heated. Fishing is another indus- Russia has recently begun try that could benefit from flying bombers over the an ice-free ocean, and while Arctic and just last year metal and mineral reserves sent a submarine to the have not yet been estimated, North Pole to plant a flag they are thought to be quite on the seabed. It has high. Indeed, Russia has stated made plans to create that it expects the Arctic to be its new icebreak- major resource base by 2020. ers, air bases and So why hasn’t the U.S. border forces, all become involved? As Russia the while mod- expands its control over the Arctic, ernizing its fleet the American position is becoming and expanding increasingly weaker, and from a long-term its Special Forces by on it, raising the Danish flag perspective, untenable. It’s time for the US 2020. Russia has also put consider- and leaving plaques claiming sovereignty. to resolve its petty disputes with its allies, able pressure on Finland, another north- Similarly, the US and Canada are still dis- build up its presence in the Arctic and start ern nation, to reject NATO membership. puting the maritime border between Alaska looking to the future of the north. After all, Even Denmark and Norway are getting in and the Yukon, debating whether it follows it’s our backyard too. on the game: the former is creating a new the 141st meridian or if it is perpendicular Penn Political Review, October 2009 13 Global Global The Ghosts of Weimar Lessons from Pre-Nazi Germany for dealing with extremists. By Luke Hassall expose the movement to the practicali- Art by Chiyel Hayles ties of domestic governance, the need for coalition formation and the judgment ot so long ago, in a country not of voting. Just look at the way the needs Nso far away, a liberal democratic of government turned one-time staunch republic found itself beset by social leftist President Lula of Brazil into a and economic crises. As the institu- model of pragmatism. While engagement tions of state bled legitimacy onto the may result in some distasteful policies, streets and public disorder mounted, perhaps even the loss of certain free- the gatekeepers of that society turned doms, liberties are meaningless without to a man they did not fully under- a political order to enforce them. While stand. Mostly conservative, wealthy an electoral Taliban may try to take girls and of aristocratic descent, this cabal back out of school in the short run, a of powerbrokers sought to pursue paramilitary Taliban is a constant threat their own goals and protect their own to the entirety of civilian life for all. positions by enlisting the help of the Furthermore, engagement can also country’s most popular nationalist help bolster the institutions of democ- politician. That politician was Adolf racy itself. Many developing democracies Hitler. see their politics dominated by hege- The ghosts of Weimar haunt any monic establishment coalitions, often discussion of the role of extremist linked to independence struggles, which political forces in democratic politics. impede political development. The cre- Today it is generally accepted that ation of a real opposition to the Congress there are certain movements that should may be legal, the way Germany restricts Party in India would not have been possible not be allowed to play a meaningful part in the political activities of Neo-Nazis; or it without the inclusion of Hindu nationalists, democratic politics. Usually there is great may even be military, with violent clashes just as the Islamist PAS is vital to the ongo- justification for this exclusion. Such move- between state and movement. ing opposition effort to end dominant-party ments may be openly hostile to the state The rationale for repression is compel- rule in Malaysia. In poor countries where and express a public opposition to democ- ling. In the aftermath of the First World the middle and upper classes are usually racy. Some have organized violent wings War, traditional conservative elites thought too small to sustain a traditional right-wing, and are responsible for horrible crimes. they could contain and co-opt fascists, first the ideological issues these movements typ- However, this exclusionist approach is ulti- in Italy and then in Germany. This strategy ically mobilize around may provide the only mately counterproductive. Exclusion and proved an abject failure. Instead of being means to develop competitive politics. repression may damage organizations, but ‘disciplined’ by involvement in government, However, while engagement is essen- they cannot erase the public constituency the fascists quickly sidelined the conserva- tial, remembering the lessons of history is behind them or undo the political/social tives and solidified power. They did away always necessary. Anti-democratic move- pressures motivating their existences. with democracy, their opponents and even- ments have used engagement as a pretext Instead, the only way to truly deal with such tually the whole constitutional order. Tens for the capture of the state and the institu- movements is to force them into open dem- of millions died as a result. tion of autocracy many times. That is why it ocratic space, where they and their support- However, extreme anti-establishment is essential to ensure that they cannot use ers can be metabolized into normal politics. ideological movements do not arise with- newfound respectability as currency to take These movements are varied, including out the backing of a significant segment over institutions. not only the world’s surviving Fascists but of the population. They respond to the Ultimately, it was the oligarchs, not the also Afghanistan’s Taliban, Nepal’s Maoists, belief among portions of society that the ballot box, who handed power to Hitler - he Middle Eastern Islamists, and the new crop mainstream political order is illegitimate. never won even 40% of the vote in a free of anti-immigrant nationalist parties that Because they are typically repressed, these election. So engagement must involve the have won significant electoral followings in movements are able to operate anaerobi- international community and other domes- many European countries. Yet they are all cally and nocturnally, in the dark margins tic political forces guarding very closely the political movements that, while supported of political discourse and away from the institutions of democracy. If compromises by significant segments of the population, oxygen of real debate. So engagement, if it must be made, make them on social and are excluded from the political mainstream. can be achieved, would have two profound economic policy. As we seek practical solu- The exclusion may be merely de facto, the impacts on such groups. First it would help tions to political problems, we ought never way Norway’s mainstream Right tries to convince their supporters that democracy to forget that eternal vigilance is the price of ignore the conservative Progress Party; it can represent their views. Second, it would liberty.

14 Penn Political Review, October 2009 Penn Political Review, October 2009 Global Al Qaeda and the Media What to think when the world’s craziest organization becomes a bona fide sellout. ence and language specific, so it can serve dom only seem to achieve meaning by By Carolina O’Neill as a recruiter of talent for Al Qaeda’s cause. being witnessed in the mass media. In his Art by Janice Dow Look at Al Qaeda’s modern makeup: Its book, Landscapes of the Jihad: Militancy, members and associates come from all over Morality, Modernity, author Faisal Devji l Qaeda conjures up many images for the world and often never even meet. They describes one video obtained by Time Amost Americans. The Twin Towers do not have a shared history or geography, magazine, which shows martyrs reading burning. Bushmen draped in rags holding nor do they share a clear political outlook their last testaments and bidding farewell AK-47s. The Qur’an. Osama bin Laden. Historically, the organization has been very primitive, and their existence only “Al Qaeda’s attacks are aimed at making global headlines” reinforces that image. Pious to a strict interpretation of Islamic Shari’a law called Wahhabism, members are required to live or vision for the future. The once organic to their families before blowing themselves within moderate means and avoid over- constituency of Al Qaeda has disappeared. up in various parts of Iraq, as “the closest expression in public, such as laughing too Now, anyone can effectively become a the jihad has come to creating its own form loudly. Music and art are forbidden, and member by visiting one of its websites. of a reality television show.” He argues that women must answer only to their husbands The scope of Al Qaeda’s media opera- the video is “replete with scenes straight and refrain from any form of work or from Hollywood.” For example, one martyr public self-expression. Osama bin Laden dramatically kisses his beloved through lives by these principles. Though he has her veil, which is “hardly an acceptable always been a wealthy man, he is frugal. public spectacle for any Muslim tradition.” American materialism and over-consump- The show Al Qaeda is putting on reeks of tion disgust him. He forbids music in his the ostentation that their values so plainly home and avoids American media, such reject. Things simply aren’t enough any- as movies and television. Why then is bin more. Its religious acts now need to be Laden using the very thing he sees as poi- recorded and overplayed in the press. sonous to Western society to promote and This is not the only way in which Al grow Al Qaeda globally? To push its vio- Qaeda seems to operate in opposition to lent agenda, Al Qaeda is compromising its itself. A woman named Malika El Aroud has core values. transformed herself into one of the most To start, Al Qaeda’s physical image prominent Internet jihadists in Europe. benefits from the disguising techniques Calling herself a female holy warrior for of modern media. The Arab TV station Al Al Qaeda, she encourages Muslim men to Jazeera has played tape recordings of bin tions was highlighted during a raid on one go and fight and rallies women to join the Laden’s speeches. These broadcasts are of its media offices in Iraq in June 2007. cause. But El Aroud’s call to women, and then picked up and spread around the Inter- The cell “produced CDs, DVDs, posters, ironic success, come against the backdrop net, offering virtual proof that bin Laden is pamphlets, and web-related propaganda of sexism that has permeated radical Islam. alive. Even if bin Laden had been seriously products and contained documents clearly Indeed, Mohamed Atta, a 9/11 hijacker, injured, his image could still be manipu- identifying… intent to use media as a wrote in his will that “women must not be lated through radio or Internet broadcasts weapon,” said General Kevin Bergner, a present at my funeral or go to my grave at so that he appears confident, even healthy. spokesman for Multinational Forces Iraq. any later date.” Ayman al-Zawahiri, Al Qae- Terrorists who have likely never set “The building contained 65 hard drives, 18 da’s second in command, said decisively in foot in the United States use the Internet to thumb drives, over 500 CDs and 12 stand- an online question-and-answer session that construct a profile of the security measures alone computers... and had a fully func- women could not join the organization. designed to counter potential actions. For tioning film studio.” US forces also found As Al Qaeda grows globally, its reli- example, recent articles have reported on instructions on how to use the media to gious adherence seems to be weakening. attempts to slip contraband items through get out the Al Qaeda message most effec- It is making sacrifices to push its terrorist security checkpoints. One report noted that tively, a propaganda poster that encour- agenda and is doing so by moving full-force at Cincinnati’s airport, contraband slipped ages filming and distributing video showing into the technology age. Just as women through over 50 percent of the time. A Al Qaeda attacks on coalition forces, and a can occupy the mutually exclusive roles of simple search by a terrorist would uncover pamphlet and CD cover advertising their jihadist and silent, obedient wife, Al Qaeda this shortcoming, and offer him a point sniper school. can somehow doctrinally shun modern of embarkation to consider for his next Al Qaeda’s attacks are aimed at making media and at the same time publicly exploit operation. The Internet can also be audi- global headlines. Their acts of martyr- it. Penn Political Review, October 2009 15 Global Global Drones: The Future of American Strategy in Afghanistan? What will be the role of UAV drones if the President orders more troops to Afghanistan?

By Gideon Spitzer The “clear, hold, and build” counterin- capabilities. UAVs are controlled remotely Art by Allison Zuckerman surgency strategy promulgated by US Cen- by the Army, Air Force and CIA, with tral Commander General David Petraeus many of the actual vehicles serviced on the n an August 1940 speech to the British could not have attained its level of success ground at remote bases operated by con- IHouse of Commons, Winston Churchill without the contribution of UAVs. These tractors from Xe (Blackwater’s successor remarked, “all hearts go out to the… aircraft provide US troops with an omni- company). The CIA drones operate heavily pilots who…night after night, month after present aerial security umbrella that per- in Pakistan (often with the private approval month…travel far into Germany, find their mits more mingling with civilians, often of Pakistani officials) as “the only game in targets in the darkness…[and] aim their leading to increased levels of mutual trust town…trying to disrupt the Al Qaeda lead- attacks…with careful discrimination…” The between occupiers and occupied, a key ele- ership,” according to CIA director Leon image of the valiant fighter pilot trekking ment in the implementation of General Panetta. Furthermore, the increased use deep into enemy territory at great personal Petraeus’ counterinsurgency strategy. The of drones epitomizes seismic shifts occur- risk, popularized during the epochal air success of the “dual surge” strategy is a for- ring at the Pentagon, where Secretary Gates raids of WWII, remains fixed in the Ameri- mula that General McChrystal surely hopes has fought bureaucratic resistance to focus can imagination as the archetypal image of to duplicate with his request to President Pentagon war planners and purchasers on an air warrior. But since the US-led inva- Obama for additional troops in Afghani- equipping soldiers in the field today rather sion of Afghanistan in 2001 and of Iraq in stan. than dreaming up equipment for tomor- 2003, the Air Force has a new poster boy: General McChrystal faces an unfortu- row’s wars. Without question, with their the joystick controlling, intelligence gath- nate wrinkle in his request for an infantry vital position in US intelligence gathering, ering and Hellfire missile dropping drone surge in Afghanistan. The foundation of his counterinsurgency strategy and offensive pilot who has proven indispensable to the counterinsurgency strategy rests upon the capability, the UAV program should be destruction of terrorist and insurgent net- protection of the Afghan population, in part watched as an indicator of any important works around the world. from drone attacks which have proven vital trends developing within the US military or Although the primary aspect of the for striking insurgents in Iraq and Pakistan, intelligence community. Bush Administration’s 2007 “surge” strat- but have also resulted in unacceptable num- egy in Iraq consisted of thousands of addi- bers of civilian casualties. McChrystal seeks tional US troops joining the fight, there in to place more small groups of American fact occurred a “double surge” beyond the servicemen “outside the wire” (primarily augmented infantry force. In the summer in urban areas) among the civilian popula- of 2006, about 700 unmanned aircraft tion. In order to counter Taliban influence, were operating in Iraq; one year later, at the a strategy that requires the use of UAVs for height of the surge strategy, that number intelligence gathering to protect troops on increased to 1,250, with drones accruing the ground. It does seem, however, that more than 14,000 flying hours per month. in certain respects the increase of ground These UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehi- troops should balance out the correspond- cles) provide battlefield-monitoring capa- ing escalation in the use of drones; infantry- bilities, enabling strikes against insurgents men will likely be able to recruit informants that would otherwise elude troops on the and gather other intelligence that will allow ground. In many ways the surge in aerial UAVs to carry out their aerial strikes with drone capacity drove the infantry surge better accuracy. The connection between strategy to success; the drones gave troops drone targeting and human intelligence is real-time images of battlefields, including rumored to be quite strong: in April, NBC areas that were considered too dangerous News reported that the Taliban had exe- for coalition troops to enter without up-to- cuted a 19-year-old accused of spying for date intelligence. In a 2007 presentation to the US by dropping cigarette-sized chips in Associated Press journalist Lolita Baldor, Taliban facilities that communicated target Army Aviation Directory Brigadier Gen- coordinates to CIA drones flying above. eral Stephen Mundt showed a video taken Beyond the advantages which UAVs by a UAV in the Iraq theater of two armed provide troops in the field, they also embody men who appeared to be planting road- key developments within the US military side bombs. Within 16 minutes an attack and intelligence communities. The drones helicopter team arrived on the scene and operate at a fascinating nexus of counter- neutralized the insurgents, preventing a intelligence and military need, in that they probable attack on coalition forces. provide both reconnaissance and offensive

16 Penn Political Review, October 2009 Penn Political Review, October 2009 Global The Summer Coup d’État How should democracy be restored in Honduras following the ouster of President Zelaya?

By John Gee The second legal issue is whether relations. Both Hugo Chávez, the left-wing Art by Allison Zuckerman Zelaya was removed properly. That he was Venezuelan president, and Álvaro Uribe, removed should not concern the interna- the right-wing Colombian president, have he Honduran governmental crisis, tional community. The concerning part is amended their countries’ constitutions to Talong with the Iranian presidential that, for example, the army detained Zelaya run for reelection. Several Latin American election, grabbed much of our foreign at gunpoint in his pajamas and expatri- countries have rewritten their constitu- policy attention this summer, and contin- ated him to Costa Rica. The Supreme Court tions entirely, and the new documents have ues to intermittently find the spotlight. did order his arrest, but not his expatria- more often than not relaxed term limits. While the coverage of Iran has been good, tion, which should have been illegal and The Micheletti government accused Zelaya even admirable, in part because of the situ- is currently under investigation. More of following in that tradition. Among other ation’s relative simplicity, the coverage importantly, it is unclear which branch of reasons for suspicion, Zelaya attempted to of Honduras has been almost uniformly government had the constitutional author- hold his referendum using ballots printed horrendous. The case of Manuel Zelaya ity to try Zelaya, especially since both by the Venezuelan government because his involves questions not only of his- own would not supply them. On the torical geopolitics, but also of law other hand, not only has the de facto and legal theory. Yet journalists government been accused of signifi- have largely avoided these ques- cant human rights violations in sup- tions in favor of a simplistic nar- pressing opposition and attempting rative about the region, one that to maintain order, but it recently ignores recent history and much suspended civil liberties for several of the distant past. Unless we days. It is hardly clear which player answer them, we cannot decide represents a more grave danger to how best to respond to the crisis. Honduran democracy: they both Should Zelaya be reinstated or echo past failures. Honduras, in should the Micheletti government short, needs new faces. be recognized? There is no ideal The solution that will most solution, so we should seek the quickly and surely restore democ- best alternative outcome. Demo- racy to Honduras is the one that cratic governance will be hard moves the country the furthest away to restore, but at this point only from the present. As of October 8th, credible elections offer hope for Manuel Zelaya resides in the Brazil- the future. Getting new people into power branches had processes underway. By out- ian embassy, where he is engaged in slowly- legitimately should be the goal. lawing “indirect measures, the constitution progressing talks with regional diplomats Legally, the first question is whether goes beyond mere actions and speaks of and representatives of the interim govern- Zelaya deserved removal from office. Article intentions. Here it must strive for complete ment. Armed soldiers surround him outside 374 of the Honduran constitution prohibits clarity. The lack of a clearly defined proce- the embassy, and the Brazilian government any attempt, direct or indirect, to change the dure for judging the president’s behavior refuses Honduran demands to grant him length of the presidential term on penalty of has fundamentally undermined the rule of asylum or to make him leave. To return removal or disqualification from office. Ref- democracy. him to his former office would be a ter- erenda do have a place in the constitution, With such murky legal waters, we must rible reward for Zelaya’s conduct, but the but their intention cannot be to amend Arti- ask what would be the best outcome, not Micheletti government cannot be allowed cle 374. Zelaya, in defiance of Congress and what would be the proper one. What course to stand. the Supreme Court, attempted to hold an of action will restore democratic gover- The United Nations has withdrawn advisory referendum on whether to vote on nance in Honduras? all support for the scheduled November nonspecific constitutional changes. Those The historical context of the region elections, believing that the political atmo- bodies then judged that Zelaya had made sheds light on this question. One of the sphere is too charged. Perhaps they are an indirect attempt to illegally alter the reasons the response to Zelaya’s ouster has right – but time is running out. In pressur- constitution, thereby immediately ceasing been so negative is that Latin America has ing the de facto government and Manuel to be the president. Were they right? You a history of military coups overthrowing Zelaya, the international community should could argue it both ways. Nonetheless, the democratically elected governments. On the focus not on reinstating Zelaya or on keep- uncertainty surrounding the question, and other hand, Latin America has also had its ing him out of office, nor on reviewing the respect for Honduran sovereignty, should fair share of authoritarian leaders extend- coup or upholding its legality, but on cre- prejudice us in favor of the government’s ing their rule by amending the constitu- ating a stable environment for free and fair decision. tion, governing through puppets or family elections. Penn Political Review, October 2009 Penn Political Review, October 2009 17 Global Global Activism and Depression Speaking with the former Premier of Ontario, Canada’s most populous province.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW By Bob Ma Did your depression in your early 20’s have anything to do with trying ob Rae is one of the most promi- to decide whether to become a social Bnent Canadian politicians of the baby activist? boomer generation. In 1990, he became No, I think it was just a kind of… you can the second person in Canadian history to never explain it. It was situational, you can lead a non-Liberal or Conservative Party go back and understand depression, and provincial government in Eastern Canada, understand it is fueled by things that you outside of French-speaking Quebec. How- have repressed for a long time. And then ever, he resigned from politics after one some of it is driven by the situation itself. term because he was unable to curb Ontar- I do think in my own case, remaining con- io’s recession. In 2006, he surprised the nected with people and politics has been country by running for the leadership of a good way of getting out of myself and the federal Liberal Party, and was a close taking in a wider context, and connecting runner-up. Currently, as Foreign Affairs more with people. If you become too inward Critic, Bob Rae is widely regarded as the looking or too isolated, it becomes hard to most influential Liberal Member of Parlia- engage with people, so you have to try to ment after the Party Leader. engage. What I learned about depression is that it is different than just being lonely, I asked Bob Rae about youth activism it is something that happens to your brain, because he first became interested in poli- and you have to figure out how to make it tics through Vietnam-era student protests. better. Sometimes it is chemistry, some- To understand the psychology of someone times it is situations changing, sometimes who has truly tried to change society, I also it is people, sometimes it is medication, and asked about his depression while studying Editor-in-Chief Bob Ma with Bob Rae you just don’t know what will work. at Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar. Do you think politics is the best Can you describe the sense of convic- method towards social change, and Continued on next page... tion that first brought you into social do you believe, realistically, young activism? activists can change society? It was an exciting political time. And it The answer to both questions is yes. came pretty natural to me. I was interested Although I’ve learned there are a lot of dif- Interesting Facts in politics, and just kept going. I liked the ferent ways in which people can engage and Bob Rae Lived in Washington issues around the University, in Vietnam, make change, I think the reality is that I’ve D.C. as a boy, where he deliv- and a lot of issues in Canada. I got involved been impressed by people who are not polit- ered newspapers to Richard in housing issues and working with workers ically hardened, but are personally involved Nixon’s and Estes Kefauver’s groups and unions. in a political cause. Like Jean Vanier, and his movement. In some sense it’s not a houses. He became more sym- You wanted to create some sort of political movement but it is dealing with pathetic to the Democrats change in the world right? the needs of the most vulnerable citizens, so when, one Christmas, Pat It requires a generation of people who want it is a very important way of engaging with Nixon tipped him a quarter, to make change happen. I think our genera- the world. We are trying to act in a way that while Kefauver tipped him tion, the baby boomer generation, are quite doesn’t conform to a moral set of convic- $20. politically conscious and engaged. This tions, so I become less dogmatic about how Changed a bit in the 70’s, but that has kept you perform duties. that idealism alive. His senior year college room- For me, politics has been the most reward- mate was Michael Ignatieff, Do you still have that idealism? ing. It combines—the kind of politics I now Leader of the Liberal I think so. Obviously it’s been tempered a practice—it combines working with people, Party, and the Official bit by experience and by the realities of life, with ordinary folks and connecting with Opposition in parliament. but I don’t think my ideas have changed ordinary people, and also engaging more very much. directly with the wider world.

18 Penn Political Review, October 2009 Global Loudest from The Soapbox http://pennpoliticalreview.blogspot.com/ What things were coming together at Twitter: PennPR once? Partly coming to terms with my own uncer- By Josh Rittenberg By Anne-Garland Berry tainties with what I want to do. I had every Contributing: Nantina Vgontzas Contributing: Bob Ma, John Gee high expectations of myself, and I drove [Visit The Soapbox for Full Article] had the opportunity today to ask Secre- myself into not being able to satisfy those tary of Education Duncan and a panel of enn Political Review had the chance to expectations, but I learned how to lower I congressman a question about the Student Pspeak with Penn Alum (C’51) Senator my expectations. I think for a while, I lost Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009 Arlen Specter after a town hall meeting in my sense of humor. I lost my sense of com- that Congress will most likely be pass- Houston Hall on Friday, October 9, 2009. passion, but I had to regain those things. ing into law in the coming weeks. Let’s be Senator Specter, a Phi Beta Kappa graduate I think it was all of those things coming honest here: there is no real legitimate criti- and international relations major, recalled together that drove my depression. cism of this bill, it saves immense amounts his time at Penn, commented on President of money, expands federal aid programs, Obama, and offered a little bit of political and helps to further improve the shabby advice. What were your expectations? state of education in this country. Well I think I was personally driven to be When the time came for my question I Senator Specter, what were some of perfect in everything I do. Learning how to tossed the secretary a softball. I asked him your fondest memories from your abandon your perfection is a very impor- how he and the administration respond to time as an undergraduate at Penn? tant way of protecting against [depression]. the “Drug Addicts and Drug Deterrence” Winning the Boston National Invitational claims being made from opponents to the Debate Tournament. When young activists run into issues bill. Unfortunately the secretary and con- gressmen responded in the same timid that can’t seem to be changed, should Awesome! non-committal way that is slowly becoming That was a good feeling. And getting an “A” the activists just move on? a trademark of the current administration. from Professor Chase in English History. I think the important thing to remember is The Secretary basically told me that He only gave three in a class of a couple of that things take time. If you have a sense there was opposition congress action to hundred. of history, I think you learn there have keep the old provisions and that it would all been young people trying to make change be worked out in Congress with the admin- How do you think President Obama is happen. Going back to every revolution istration waiting to see how things worked doing in terms of economic goals cur- known to mankind, you have had younger out. rently? How can that be the answer?! The Well, I think we’ve made some beginning people trying to make a difference. But it all democratic leadership supported removing steps. There are some good indicators but takes time. the harsh punishments for a reason. You only about 40% of the stimulus money is cannot strip a student of their right to an out yet, so I’m looking forward to the next If you hadn’t gone into politics, what education if they are caught smoking a joint several months. would you have done? in the name of drug deterrence. What is a Part of me would’ve liked to become a musi- student going to do when he or she can no What advice do you have to Penn stu- cian, but I realized I wasn’t skilled enough longer go to school because the government dents interested in getting involved stopped paying for his college because of to do that. You learn your limits. But I enjoy in politics? drug use? More drugs seem to be the obvi- Come to meetings like this; become active music a lot, and I get a lot of pleasure out ous answer. Also the punishments were in the political party. Become a committee- of it. completely disproportionate to the crime. A man: I did! I was a Democratic committee- student caught using drugs needs help and man downtown. Get people out to register, What was your highlight or favorite support, not to have their life flushed down out to vote. Then, run for political office! moment as a youth activist? the toilet extinguishing any hope of an edu- Most rewarding was the work I did on cation. student governance at the University of But the truth of the matter is that it isn’t just this particular issue that irks me. The Soapbox blog allows PPR Toronto, trying to make student govern- It’s how easy the Obama administration staff to post their thoughts ment more responsible to students. That seems to give up and concede points to the on the pressing political and was a very rewarding experience. I got opposition when faced with bumps in the social issues of the day as they involved in the issue, and helped to make a road. Sometimes it’s over small matters like happen. We are the only dedi- difference. Very rewarding experience. the clause concerning drug use in the Stu- cated student political blog at dent Aid Act, but other times the conces- Penn. sions are far larger, like a public health care Advertise with PPR. option in the health car reform bill. The continued concessions and hesi- We want you to join our The Soapbox Follow Blog. tancy of the Obama administration is very conversation. Please contact Write, Edit, Draw. troubling. It’s a trend that, if continued, John Gee, Soapbox Editor, at www.dolphin.upenn.edu/ppr could spell disaster for the Obama admin- [email protected] istration.

Penn Political Review, October 2009 Penn Political Review, October 2009 19 Penn Political Review is the premier student-run political publication in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. To get involved or to inquire about advertising, please visit:

www.dolphin.upenn.edu/ppr PP Anne-Garland Berry, Ned Shell, Greg Rollman, and Lucas Blanchard Left to Right: Bob Ma, John Gee, Hugh Ma, Arlen Specter, R Staff with Senior U.S. Senator Arlen Specter (D-PA)

Penn Political Review, September 2009 20 Penn Political Review, September 2009