Maine Policy Review

Volume 19 | Issue 1

2010 Margaret Chase Smith Essay David Richards Margaret Chase Smith Library, [email protected]

Chelsea Bernard

Terrance H. Walsh

Stacy Sullivan

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on terror, leadership, civic engagement, competition well after the election. Introduction foreign affairs, civil rights, energy, and This was not intended as a student refer- women in politics. For the 2008–2009 endum on the Obama administration, contest, the presidential election and but for some essayists that was what it by David Richards incessant talk of change served as the became. Others approached the topic inspiration for the essay prompt. Tying more broadly, considering what reforms to a 1958 quote from Senator Smith not American society required, irrespective of very year since 1996, the Margaret to fear the inevitability of change, the who became president. Recently rereading EChase Smith Library has sponsored prompt asked: “What changes do you the essays a year after judging the contest an essay contest. The program started think the new administration will need and a year and a half after the election, in the wake of Senator Smith’s death in to make, and we the people embrace, to I am struck by how dated they already 1995, when donations in her honor began reform American society?” The question, sound. It seems as though the enthusiasm to arrive. The library decided to dedicate or more likely the enthusiasm generated of the historic moment has largely a portion of these gifts to establish an by the campaigns, produced the greatest waned and the idealism greatly dissipated. essay competition for graduating Maine number of entries to date. Soaring talk of hope and change has high school seniors. Today, cash prizes The three top entries in the 13th already metastasized into partisanship range from $25 for honorable mentions annual Margaret Chase Smith Essay and degenerated into gridlock. to $500 for first prize. contest follow. Interestingly, they represent In closing, the Margaret Chase Smith Initially, the contest asked partici- the continuum of responses. One essay Library thanks the editors of the Maine pants to address “issues relating to public advocates change through more govern- Policy Review for once again sharing the service and responsibilities of citizenship.” ment intervention. Once calls for greater views of Maine’s newest young voters with For the first three competitions, the theme individual responsibility. The third is a its readers. It is our hope that by valuing remained unchanged. Eventually tiring of blend of the two perspectives. their voices, we are affirming the rewards the sameness of the essays and with an The first prize winner is Chelsea of active citizenship for a rising generation important anniversary approaching, a new Bernard, a recent graduate of Dirigo High of future leaders. That is a legacy of which topic was selected in 1999. Because 2000 School in Dixfield. Placing second was Senator Smith would be pleased. marked 50 years since Senator Smith’s Terrence Walsh of Acadia Christian famous “Declaration of Conscience” School in Trenton. Third place went to denouncing the excesses of McCarthyism, Stacy Sullivan of Bonny Eagle High David Richards is the assistant director of the students were invited to write their own School in Standish. Margaret Chase Smith Library in Skowhegan, reflections on conscience.T he topic struck Before reading the essays, a note Maine. a chord and submissions soared. on the contest timeline is necessary. Since then, themes have continued to Although the essay prompt was formu- change, with the library staff picking a lated in the run up to the November new, timely topic annually. They have 2008 presidential vote, most students included science and technology, the war probably only became aware of the

 · Maine Policy Review · Winter/Spring 2010 View current & previous issues of MPR at: mcspolicycenter.umaine.edu/?q=MPR The Margaret Chase Smith Essay

F i r s t P l a c e E s s a y necessity for change grounded itself in an subjects—math and reading. Focusing on abundance of examples. I began to draw only two areas drains funding and energy parallels between the turbulent 1960s from worthy study of the humanities, What Needs and the current state of our country, a the sciences, and the arts—areas that country poised for new direction in the enrich humanity and society. Also, the midst of an approaching chaos. Just as punishments inflicted on school districts to Change, the 1960s uprooted the complacency that fail to meet their progress goals inherent in the era of poodle skirts and merely encourage schools with lower- and What jukeboxes, America now faces the chal- income and lower-performing students lenge of renewing promise after a period to set low standards for achievement of counterfeit ease. Curled up on my (www.nochildleftbehind.com/education- Will It Take? couch, I anticipated the changes that the articles/:(-Claims-Made-in-Opposition- new presidential administration would to-NCLB). By Chelsea Bernard need to initiate in matters of education, A more holistic approach would the economy, and the environment. encompass students of all incomes, abili- A common adage claims that “educa- ties, and interests. The severe need for ense with anticipation, I spent election tion is the great equalizer.” But does this competent educators can be remedied Tnight shirking homework in favor of assertion ring true when education itself by implementing performance-based pay, snagging a front-row seat to the unfolding isn’t equal? In theory, every American creating a national scholarship fund for of history. After spending more than child receives an education; that is, each aspiring teachers, and rewarding those a year closely monitoring the election is granted the opportunity to attend a who choose to tackle the most disadvan- process, faithfully following the months state-funded public school. Unfortunately, taged schools in need of quality instruction of speeches and scandals, America was many of these schools fail to provide (Leigh and Mead 2005). Alternative educa- about to announce its decision. adequate teaching and resources in order tion programs for students whose interests In these final moments, my thoughts for students to flourish, especially in the and abilities lie outside of the traditional skipped over decades past. I considered the depths of the inner cities, where income academic spectrum should be provided. history of reform: sweeping changes that and teacher performance tend to be low. This would give these students the oppor- revolutionized the rights of women and And every year, more than one million tunity to learn a trade or at a decelerated, minorities, implemented the public educa- students abandon their education. High hands-on pace. Education should not be tional system, prevented private business school drop-outs are twice as likely to approached as if “one size-fits-all.” from swallowing millions of average workers, fall below the poverty line (thereby However, school districts can only do and much more. I remembered Andrew stressing welfare resources) than high so much. Where the public school system Jackson’s crusade for the “common man,” school graduates and eight times as likely fails, parents need to rise to the occasion. expanding voting rights while protecting to be incarcerated as high school gradu- Parents must take an active role in their popular democracy and individual liberties. ates (AYPF n.d.; Bridgeland, Dilulio and children’s education. Enforcing home- I imagined Abraham Lincoln’s furrowed Morison 2006). work and resisting the technological lures brow as he signed the Emancipation These alarming statistics mandate ranging from video games to the Internet Proclamation, blazing the path to freedom government action. Though No Child are important for student success. And not for an oppressed people. I contemplated Left Behind attempted to remedy the a single government policy can replace the Theodore Roosevelt’s commitment to trust problem by enacting nationwide education love and support of a parental figure. busting, his dedication to dissolving standards, the program needs to be reeval- The education of today directly influ- monopolistic corporations after the perva- uated and reformed. As of now, the legisla- ences the economy of tomorrow. Our sive corruption of the “Gilded Age.” tion ignores individual needs of students, minds are our capital. But before educa- As 200 years worth of American basing the definition of success on the tion can affect the economy, our current history flooded my brain, the overarching results of standardized testing in only two crisis needs to be resolved. Although no

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easy solution exists, a number of political employment. One way to increase job On an individual level Americans steps can be taken in order to decrease availability lies in national, government- need to increase their eco-consciousness. subsequent damage. subsidized projects (such as repair of the We all have a civic duty to investigate the The deregulation enacted by the Interstate Highway System). Another wealth of information available online (or Bush administration must be reversed. involves rewarding businesses that employ elsewhere), and incorporate that informa- The wanton actions of business executives Americans with lower taxes rates than tion into our everyday lives, striving to exploited the economy in order to fill their those that outsource job opportunities to negatively affect the environment as little coffers: facilitating the mortgage/lending foreign countries. And renewable energy as possible. Recycling newspapers, biking crisis, allowing unlimited spending on offers a long-term solution to the unem- to work, and conserving power at home borrowed dollars, and abusing conflicted ployment rates along with benefiting the exemplify common tips for reducing envi- interests (basing executive bonuses on the environment. ronmental harm. Many actions yield other price of stocks that can be easily manipu- The prospects of our environ- benefits, such as increased fitness from lated by those who receive the bonuses, mental future loom menacingly. The increased exercise and decreased energy for example). Essential reforms will guar- U.S. is the number one source of bills from decreased consumption. antee regulation of financial institutions, pollution in the world, yet America’s But then, suddenly jolted from my limit speculation, and monitor potential congressmen have failed to pass a single train of thought, a booming announce- conflicts of interest (Kutner 2008). bill that combats global warming pollut- ment blares from my television set— Unfortunately, the economy does ants. The failure to act imperils not Barack Obama will be the next president require bailout money. In a case of “pay just the United States, but the planet. of the United States. My family erupted now, or pay more later” some key markets According to the Environmental Defense into a frenzy of excitement, tears glistening need government funding, especially Fund’s Web site (www.edf.org/article. on our cheeks. Though I recognized the housing. Although many deplore the idea cfm?contentID=4981), 15 to 34 percent magnitude of the journey ahead, I eagerly of handing out money to the same people of plants and animals could disappear by anticipated the change to come. Reflecting who created the situation, the cost of inac- 2050; the U.S. Geological Survey predicts on my wishes for the next administration, I tion is far too great. If the housing market that Glacier National Park will be devoid felt confident about the ability for America collapses, the nation will be under even of glaciers by 2030; and there has been a to achieve them. And I still do.  more financial strain than the bailout 100 percent increase in the intensity and required. Again, regulation needs to ensure duration of hurricanes. that stimulus money reaches the intended Investing in renewable energy prom- References destination—to be reinvested in the econ- ises many levels of employment in both American Youth Policy Forum (AYPF). n.d. omy, not put into the pockets of AIG exec- research and applied fields. Reliance on Every Nine Seconds in America a Student utives. Any company that desires bailout foreign oil would also proportionally Becomes a Dropout: The Dropout money should be required to sign a con- Problem in Numbers. AYPF, Washington, decrease with the popularity of “green” DC. http://www.aypf.org/publications/ tract stating the intended use of national power. The U.S. should tax businesses EveryNineSeconds.pdf funds and also be subject to investigation that produce excessive levels of pollutants [Accessed April 1, 2009] of use after the money has been given. and/or fail to dispose of them properly; Bridgeland, John M., John J. DiIulio Jr. and But once again, all responsibility prevent the drilling of oil and establish- Karen Burke Morison. 2006. The Silent cannot fall on the government’s shoulders. ment of falsely titled “clean coal;” and Epidemic: Perspectives of High School The American people need to get friend- encourage the development of an entirely Dropouts. A report by Civic Enterprises in lier with the concept of saving rather than association with Peter D. Hart Research new power grid that runs on renewable Associates for the Bill & Melinda Gates spending, of frugality rather than extrava- resources. Tax breaks for private use Foundation. http://www.gates gance, of pinching pennies rather than of alternative energy provide incentives foundation.org/united-states/Documents/ swiping credit cards. for everyday citizens to participate in TheSilentEpidemic3-06Final.pdf Understandably, careful spending the global effort (www.nrdc.org/ [Accessed March 7, 2010] can only go so far when faced with un- globalWarming/default.asp).

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Kutner, Robert. 2008. “Seven Deadly Sins S e c o n d P l a c e E s s a y Candidate Obama spoke often of of Deregulation—and Three Necessary radical change in America. He spoke Reforms.” American Prospect (Septemeber 27). http://www.prospect. of America turning to a new script and org/cs/articles?article=seven_deadly_sins_ A Call to throwing the old script away. His speeches of_deregulation_and_three_necessary_ sketched a vision for America, that reforms [Accessed April 1, 2009] Americans can find solutions for America’s Leigh, Andrew and Sara Mead. 2005. Lifting Change and the world’s biggest problems—poverty, Teacher Performance. Progressive Policy hunger, disease, and the environment. Institute, Washington, DC. http://www. By Terrence H. Walsh Obama’s vision of change has America ppionline.org/documents/teachqual_0419. shedding a warlike attitude around the pdf [Accessed April 1, 2009] world and focusing on diplomacy and he way we view change is like greater equality and freedoms. This Chelsea Tboiling water. Boiling water proceeds certainly excited American voters. Millions slowly and predictably. The water warms, of American voters, old and new, decided Bernard, a and then it boils. However, most change is that politics is important, and that they are recent graduate dramatic. It differs from what came before. part of the political process. These people of Dirigo High Consider a few analogies. Water can are strong proof of this movement’s energy School in be gradually lowered below its freezing and passion. These people believe that they Dixfield, has point, and it remains a liquid. But touch can cancel the forces of money and estab- matriculated this water with anything, and it instantly lished power that are fighting against those turns to ice. It is liquid one second and seeking change in America. at Emerson a solid the next second. Or consider two Change is not an impossible dream. College in chunks of uranium. Together they are The last 50 years of history have witnessed Boston. She intends to study communications, harmless. But rearrange the uranium great changes. For examples, there are the while pursuing her many creative talents in atoms, and you create a critical mass and civil rights movement, the environmental art, drama, and music. conceivably an atomic bomb. Life is not movement, and the movement to end always water coining to a boil. Sometimes the nuclear arms race. Ideas have changed it is a critical mass starting a radical change. America and the world, and change for Before the presidential campaign and the better is possible, but it requires during the campaign, Americans volun- commitment, hard work, and sacrifice. teered words like “confused,” “discour- Now, candidate Barack Obama has aged,” and “worried” about America. They become President Barack Obama, but he were concerned about the future, and must continue to listen to the voices of the no one uttered those famous American American people. The president is now the words, “Don’t worry—it (America) will head of a movement that believes deeply fix itself.” But Barack Obama’s campaign in the change that he claimed as the theme inspired a wave of enthusiasm that had not of his presidential campaign. But with this been seen in the United States in many, presidency, there have been some troubling many years. Really, there is no period in signs that Obama is moving away from history with which to compare this period. his commitment to change. At times, the The campaign brought the exhilarating president’s decisions seem too cautious. awareness that change is actually possible, People understand that compro- and things do not have to stay the same. mise is necessary and especially needed Ideally, a presidential campaign is a time in a democracy, and there are many of reassessing where we are as a people. pressures with America’s most important

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position of presidency. But the with- level. Politics will not fundamentally John F. Kennedy’s famous challenge to drawal from important principles change America or bring it back to a “ask not what your country can do for weakens the movement of change that position where it needs to be. If only it you, but what you can do for your country” the president has promised to deliver. were that simple. We should remember should still be our motto for today. To sustain the movement of change, abolitionist Fredrick Douglas’s admoni- More than 200 years ago, our President Barack Obama must continue to tion that “the life of the nation is secure, founding fathers wrestled with the idea support: only while the nation is honest, truthful, of federalism as they began what we call the “American Experiment.” Although • a withdrawal timetable for and virtuous.” they realized the need for local and even troops in Iraq. Just as medical researchers seek ways to build up the cells in the body to prevent national government, they also wanted • response to the economic crisis. infectious diseases from attacking the to create a system of government that valued individual rights and guaranteed • Jobs. body, so, too, must we rebuild America’s immune system. This means we must that government interference would be • healthcare. become a people of virtue. We need to minimized. But since President Kennedy’s challenge, most Americans have not • immigration. get out of our easy-chair recliners and love and discipline children, be involved considered what they could do for their • environmental policy. in schools, be faithful to God’s call in country besides supporting national defense efforts and paying taxes. Instead, • alternative energy sources. our lives, be ethical in business, and be involved in our communities. Doing these the federal government has told us over • america’s infrastructure. things is the only way to change America. and over again what it would do for us. When we look back on major changes Today, we must not surrender any These are changes that are needed. in American history, they were started by more of our responsibilities to the federal On other positions, I will work to sup- one person or a small group of people. government. Despite the best intentions port the president when I agree with him Even the birth of our great nation had its of those in government who created and challenge him when I do not. But beginnings with a small band of patriots these policies, the government can not still my prayer and hope is that he may who believed in the principles of freedom. do everything. The government cannot succeed in making America the country Actually, throughout almost all of history, be parents, cannot teach character and he has encouraged Americans to believe people who have proposed change have responsibility, and cannot regulate indi- is possible. been a minority who have met hostility, vidual behavior. We must continue to be America and Americans can no longer death, or persecution, or at best neglect as watchful in our homes and communities. live a worldview that life is just made up of a reward for their efforts. Yet the changes We must continue to support and work routines. We can no longer take so much that have been made in human life have for candidates who share our values, we for granted. We are traveling along a road depended, and must always depend, on must state our opinions, and we must our country has not traveled before and some person or group. vote. All of these things are necessary to probably would not choose. Now America The effort to change is not for the change America. is responding to change with fear. Fear weak or timid. Real change can only come But this is only in the political realm. claims our hearts when we think of change, from the transformed hearts and souls of We must not wait for government. We but change is necessary for life and growth. individuals. Time changes nothing—only must renew individual obligations for And the change can not be in parts, and it people change things. Today, there is a American society. A change in the indi- can not be cosmetic. With “true change,” great danger that Americans will once vidual will be a change in society. For comfort, security, and familiarity will again be lulled into thinking that our example, Americans, not the government, be left behind so America can begin its only part is voting for the right people, must take care of our neighbors. We must greatest adventure and truest direction. and now we can sit back and watch these give of our time and money. We must take However, it would be wrong to say people write new laws and find solutions full responsibility for our actions and not that change should only be on a political for all of America’s problems. President surrender to the weakness of transferring

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blame to others. As Tuskegee Institute T h i r d P l a c e E s s a y of the United States would make the right founder Booker T. Washington stated, decisions, now its citizens almost expect “It is important and right that all privileges it to fail. Partisanship and bickering have of the law be ours, but it is vastly more A Restoration become the hallmarks of Congress instead important that we be prepared for the of progress and unity. Now, with a change exercise of these privileges.” It is time that in leadership and the country unusually we embrace freedom and the responsible of Faith united after the election of Barack Obama, behavior it demands. Change is never it is time to “pick ourselves up, dust quickly or easily achieved. Sometimes it By Stacy Sullivan ourselves off, and begin again the work can only be measured in generations. But of remaking America.” it must begin today. While the cost is high, n the time leading up to and immedi- That enormous task includes not the result will be real change in America. Iately after the inauguration of Barack only correcting past mistakes, but leading As Franklin Roosevelt said at an Obama, the new president and his staff America into the future, while restoring earlier Democratic national convention emphasized the importance of moving the public’s faith in government. Such a in Philadelphia, “This generation of forward, rather than looking back and gigantic task requires a gigantic federal Americans has a rendezvous with destiny.” becoming preoccupied with the errors program. Just as Roosevelt, Kennedy, and Maybe that rendezvous is today.  of the past. This was a difficult task in Johnson created all-encompassing federal and of itself. With the majority of the programs to effect the change that they American public still angry over the wished to see in domestic and interna- Terrence blunders of the past eight years, using tional issues, so should Obama to set the H. Walsh the early period of his presidency as an country to rights. With such an intricate graduated indictment of the previous administration series of problems plaguing America from Acadia would have been tempting with the allure right now, ranging from the economy of public approval. While a multitude to flagrant abuses of human rights like Christian School of problems face America, forming an the situation in the Sudan, only a great in Trenton. almost perfect storm just as Obama government initiative to tackle the hard He currently assumed the leadership of the nation, he issues and make the difficult choices can attends Grace chose not to lay blame on anyone, but see Americans through this crisis. It is now, Evangelical to look to the future. While this was an in this time of crisis, that Americans need College and Seminary in Bangor, where he is admirable decision, there is no denying their government to solve the fundamental that mistakes have been made that need problems and to prove to its people that it studying to become a pastor. correction and bridges have been burned can be trusted. that need to be rebuilt. As America faced the Great America is in rough shape; our Depression with Roosevelt’s New Deal economy, like economies all over the and the civil rights era with Kennedy’s world, is faltering; we are engaged in not New Frontier and Johnson’s Great Society, one, but two overseas wars; our population so should we face our current issues with is deeply divided along ideological lines as Obama’s unifying restoration. While the last few national elections have shown; national crises are horrible things, they and among the international community, afford the president the possibility to do America has slowly lost respect and ground progressive things he would otherwise not as the leader of the world. Over the past have the opportunity to do. Now, just decade or so a distinct lack of faith in the when the American public is looking for government developed. Whereas once it a break from the past and actual progress was expected that the federal government from our government, the opportunity

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presents itself to make the changes that the companies receiving the loans spend the United Kingdom, and France, would politicians often discuss but rarely make. the money wisely and pay the money back. eliminate the discrepancies in health care Obama, the perfect man to exact those In this time of economic hardship, between the haves and the have nots. The changes with his talent for bringing people average Americans feel the strain just lack of a universal health care system more together and great oratory skill, can bring as much as multinational corporations. or less amounts to discrimination based on the sweeping change of progress to the Federal grassroots programs are necessary class; denying a life-saving treatment for early twenty-first century that Roosevelt to help to create jobs for Americans, as the the lack of health insurance is the same as brought to the early twentieth and unemployment rate stands at an incred- denying life, one of the “inalienable rights” Johnson and Kennedy brought to the ibly high 8.1 percent as of February 2009 cited in the Declaration of Independence. mid-twentieth century. [9.7 percent as of February 2010, Editor’s The federal government has a responsi- The American public demands, note]. Programs are also needed to allow bility to provide equal access to all neces- first and foremost, that the economy people and to stay in their homes until the sary health care. Approximately 50 million be fixed.T he current fiasco is the result current recession passes. A possibility for Americans go without health insurance, of a period of deregulation, just as the creating jobs would be finally completing and according to the Institute of Medicine Great Depression was the result of the the needed reworking of America’s infra- of the National Academy of Sciences, wild financial innovation of the 1920s. structure system. As it currently stands, the United States “is the only wealthy, The Glass-Steagall Act, a legacy of the not only is it run down, but it places industrialized nation that does not ensure New Deal that regulated the banking heavy emphasis on car and air transporta- that all citizens have coverage” (Institute industry and separated the securities and tion, thus increasing America’s dependence of Medicine 2004). Although then First commercial banking industries, was gradu- on oil. America lags significantly behind Lady Hillary Clinton attempted to enact ally repealed by Republican‑controlled many other countries in terms of modern, universal health care in 1993 and failed, Congresses through the 1980s and 1990s. environmentally friendly transportation. a universal health care bill needs to be Large financial corporations grew more According to the Energy Information introduced again to Congress. The United and more irresponsible, with no federal Administration’s Web site (www.eia.doe. States cannot expect to lead the world into regulations to stop them. Eventually, the gov/emeu/cabs/topworldtables1_2.htm), the future if it does not even provide basic implausibility of their schemes caught up America consumes more oil than any other health coverage for all of its citizens. with them and dragged the rest of the nation, at 20 million barrels a day, and As part of the change Obama’s new economy, along with the life savings of oil is a commodity that we can no longer administration should initiate, our foreign average Americans, down with them. afford to use recklessly. A regeneration policy should be reevaluated. For the past Obama and Congress are now in the of America’s infrastructure and modes of eight years the U.S. has been more of a position to re-regulate Wall Street and to transportation would not only create blue- bully on the international stage than a ensure that banks will not give out loans collar construction jobs, but also high-tech good neighbor. The U.S. has continually to people who cannot repay them and that engineering jobs that would encourage bent the rules of the Geneva Convention allow people to purchase homes they really higher education. regarding the humanitarian treatment of cannot afford. Those firms that are “too While the economy is in dire need of prisoners. The American treatment of so- big to fail,” like American International reform and repair, so, too is the American called enemy combatants from the War on Group, are only in a position to threaten health care system. As it currently stands, Terror has drawn fire from various human the entire American financial system Americans must obtain their own health rights watchdog groups. Obama has taken with their demise because of the repeal insurance, whether through job benefits or steps in the right direction by pledging to of regulations such as the Glass-Steagall independently. Those who cannot afford close down the American detention facility Act. A New Deal-like re-regulation of the health insurance are left out in the cold at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba where enemy economy would simultaneously repair and because they often are denied the needed combatants were held without any legal reform the economy. treatments for their maladies because of representation and without being charged, Government organizations in charge their uninsured status. A universal health and ending the practice of water boarding of the federal bailout need to ensure that care system, such as those in Canada, on his first day in office.

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However, there is still more the American’s faith in our own government U.S. can do for human rights abroad. would be restored.  In Sudan’s Darfur region, an ethnic geno- cide has been going on for six years, the worst mass killing the world has seen since REFERENCES Rwanda, and perhaps even the Holocaust, Institute of Medicine of the National and no one has stepped in to stop it. Academies of Sciences. 2004. Insuring America, as a world leader, has a respon- America’s Health: Principles and sibility to act as a protector of human Recommendations. Institute of Medicine, Washington, DC. rights around the globe. Part of that would be making the tough decisions about Wallechinsky, David. 2009. “The World’s 10 Worst Dictators.” Parade (March 22): 4–5. American involvement with the foreign countries with less than clean records on human rights. The United States imported Stacy Sullivan $340 billion worth of goods from China graduated from in 2008 and conveniently ignores that China has almost no freedom of speech Bonny Eagle and religion, represses the Tibetans, and High School in sends dissidents to labor camps without Standish. She a trial. Saudi Arabia, too, has a question- is a student able human rights record, often cited for at Skidmore its oppression of women, but the U.S. still College in imported $50 billion dollars worth of oil in 2008 from Saudi Arabia (Wallechinsky Saratoga Photography © Demers 2009). Because of our reliance on Saudi Springs, New York, where she is a history/ oil and Chinese goods, the U.S. effectively English double major, and is on the ski team. condones human rights abuses. She aspires to break into the publishing field Now, at a time when America is after graduation. in desperate need of change, President Obama has the opportunity to create that change and alter not only America but the world for the better with government initiatives. By repairing and reforming the economy, creating jobs, providing equal health care for all, and taking a strong stand for human rights, Obama would rescue America from its current low point and reestablish it at the pinnacle of the world. Once America starts making the tough, right decisions again, it will restore its glory and remove some of the tarnish. And making those tough decisions, ones that perhaps not everyone will like at first, will legitimatize the American government, make it something to be respected again.

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