Volume 1, Issue 3 - Spring 2009 TheVanderbilt Political Review
Featuring: Matt Orton, Dr. Stephen Buckles, Kenneth Colonel, Cedric Koraoglan, Aniket Rali, Andrea Clabough, Bob Youngerman, Dr. Klint Alexander, Matthew Sen, Jesse Jones, and Catherine Spaulding Spring 2009 Thank You! VPRStaff A Letter from the VPR Staff
President This third issue of The Vanderbilt Political Review was funded Jadzia Butler by donations of $25 or less from our family and friends. Without their love, support, and encouragement, the continuation of VPR would not have been possible, at a time when political discourse and civic engagement are more crucial than ever. We thank them Vice President all profusely, and promise to use this journal to encourage all mem- Sean Tierney bers of the Vanderbilt Community to collaboratively discuss and analyze the global issues we are now facing. During these difficult times, our efforts may not lead to actual solutions. However, in- Director of Affairs creased political awareness on this campus will most certainly lead Elizabeth Lopez to progress. Thus, all of their small contributions are making a big difference, and we could not be more grateful.
Sincerely, Treasurer The VPR Staff Matthew Orton On the Cover Director of Promotions Angelica Ibezim Naveed Nanjee
Director of Layout Matthew Taylor
Editors Dan de Wit Alanna Dillon Mike Guberman Brittany Jen Dean Mengaziol Spencer Montalvo Emily Morgenstern Political cartoon designed by Guy Kopsumbut, Computer Engineering, Michelle Peck Class of 2010. Lauren Ashley Rollins Opinions expressed in the Vanderbilt Political Review are those of the au- Casey Simmons thors and do not reflect the opinion of the Vanderbilt Political Review staff as a whole. This includes any letters from the board, articles, or cartoons contained Paul Yeh in this publication.
2 VanderbiltPoliticalReview.com | Spring 2009 ContentsVanderbilt Political Review
Page 4 Page 8 Page 12
From the Board Healthcare Payment Ten Billion Dollars, Free Trade has not past Reform a necessity Zero Results: its Expiration Date Aniket Rali Pakistan in Danger of Be- coming a Failed State Matt Orton Page 9 Matthew Sen Tibet, China, and Page 4 American Foreign Policy in the Eco- Page 13 A Professor’s nomic Crisis Perspective Andrea Clabough No Compromise with The State of the Economy the Taliban Professor Stephen Buckles Jesse Jones Page 10
Page 6 Effectiveness, Rel- Page 14 evance of UN is Open Will the Stimulus Act to Debate A Hand Out is Not a Change What You Be- Bob Youngerman Hand Up lieve In? Catherine Spaulding Kenneth Colonel Page 11
Page 7 CLOSING AMERICA’S GULAG: THE AFTERMATH OF In Defense of Fiscal THE GUANTANAMO DE- Conservativism TENTION CASES AND THE A look at the Reagan LIMITS OF THE CONSTI- Economic Record TUTION’S REACH TO PRO- Cedric Karaoglan TECT HUMAN RIGHTS Dr. Klint Alexander
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The Vanderbilt Political Review 3 We have learned lessons from the past one cause.” I like to think of it as more From the Board on the consequences of closing our ports of a “perfect storm.” We had a boom in Free Trade has not during times of global economic tur- the late-1990s in the stock market. The past its Expiration moil. The recessionary consequences of stock market collapsed, we went into a the Smoot-Hawley tariff, though a more recession in 2001, and then 9/11 hap- Date radical example, certainly highlight the pened right at the end of that recession. Matt Orton potential problems we could face. So the Federal Reserve stimulated the Treasurer, The Vanderbilt Political The importance of free trade in our economy with very low interest rates Review current economy cannot be overstated. and rapid growth of the money supply. Free trade is about beating poverty and People turned to buying houses instead s we approach the midpoint of expanding economic opportunity. Today, of stocks. The low interest rates contrib- 2009, much in American trade poli- the $12 trillion U.S. economy is bolstered uted to a housing boom. The rest of the ticsA has that old, familiar ring. The trade by free trade, a pillar of America’s vital- world was experiencing a savings glut. A deficit has reached new heights: US buy- ity. While working through policy legis- safe place to put that money was in the ers import, incredibly, more than $9 in lation this year, Congress will have the US. When it came here, much went into goods for every $5 they sell overseas. opportunity to advocate free trade and to mortgages. It made it even easier to buy Members of both parties were targeting help America and the world reap the re- houses. China, whose unprecedented bilateral wards that accrue from such policies. In the late 1980’s, early 1990’s, the imbalance with the United States was fu- Free trade is clearly an important is- way we made mortgages changed. Now, eled by a relatively low currency value, sue, but it is not alone. The United States mortgage brokers make them and then until credit markets seized, spreading and the entire global community will sell them to somebody else. So the in- panic throughout the world. Meanwhile, face many other important issues re- centives aren’t there for the mortgage our commitment to free trade is falter- lating to foreign policy. The problems brokers to care as much as a bank mak- ing as “Buy American” clauses are be- caused by the current economic crisis are ing the loan about whether you, as a bor- ing surreptitiously added to economic real, Vanderbilt, including VPR, has had rower, are going to be able to make your stimulus legislation. to start scaling back (we didn’t choose mortgage payments. So we made more Yet what strikes me is not continu- this black & white paper for no reason). mortgages to people who couldn’t nec- ity but change. In the 15 years since However, we cannot overlook other essarily make the payments. Congress approved the Uruguay Round important issues. The essays contained Those mortgages were packaged to- agreements that established the World within this publication all discuss ex- gether with other mortgages and then Trade Organization, business protec- tremely polarizing and issues facing our sold to foreigners who were saving more tionism has faded, social concerns over nation and the world. Whether you agree and to people in the US who were search- globalization have grown, and partisan- or disagree with the views of these tal- ing for ways to earn a bit more on their ship on Capitol Hill has become ever ented writers, I hope at the very least you financial investments. Ratings agencies more rancorous. In January, we ushered will learn something new and keep these gave quality ratings for bonds for these in a new President that campaigned on issues in mind during class, at work, and mortgages that weren’t necessarily well the promise of change – but what sort of into the future. Enjoy! examined or well understood. Some of change can we expect to see as the eco- them were risky, but they still got high nomic crisis continues to unfold across Matt Orton ratings so people were willing to buy the world? Economics & Political Science them. People on Wall Street and invest- President Obama has not deviated Class of 2009 ment firms were looking around for from past policies on free trade. Rob- ways to increase their returns because ert Kagan wrote in the Washington Post they had just gone through this boom, March 9, 2009, that Obama’s foreign interest rates were really low, and they policy was “Bushian” because it has A Professor’s knew stocks weren’t going to go back up changed so little from George W’s time. Perspective quickly. They couldn’t earn a lot from Anthony Faiola writes in the Washing- The State of the Economy just normal interest rates so they tried ton Post on March 10 that Obama’s trade Dr. Stephen Buckles to package these loans to reduce the risk policy will emphasize global warming and earn a bit more. Just a little bit of and displacement of American workers, VPR: Can you try to explain what caused extra income meant a big difference in using social issues as a reason to promote this economic crisis? their own incomes so they purchased the or slow trade during a global economy new instruments and actually added ex- that Obama has called a “catastrophe.” It’s a challenge to say, “This is the tra risk by doing so. All of that combined
4 VanderbiltPoliticalReview.com | Spring 2009 to bid up the price of housing. Way up. recession, tax cuts are going to have a to them, they couldn’t make loans to In essence, it doubled it from the late smaller effect than an increase in gov- other people, and they couldn’t insure all 1990’s until 2001. It reached its peak in ernment spending. kinds of different activities. That, along 2006 and 2007. Then, we had the start of with other companies’ finances, put a a recession. And the story goes on. VPR: You say the stimulus needs to be lot of pressure on our whole financial bigger. Is that politically possible? system. That’s why we’re trying to help VPR: Do the prescriptions of both Demo- them out. Yes, the politics are messy and crats and Republicans have merit, or is one I don’t know if it’s politically pos- it’s not whether you’re Republican or plan more detrimental than the other? sible right now. It is eventually possible Democrat. The idea of using tax money if things don’t get better. Increasing to help corporations survive, and then it They both have merit. Look, we have spending over what we’re already doing looks like the tax money is going to pay to have a stimulus. There are some people right now or even decreasing taxes fast- bonuses of millions of dollars to people who think we should do nothing and let er would help. About 25% of the total who helped get us into this mess…that’s the economy cure itself. The vast majori- package occurs this year. The rest occurs hard to sell politically. But I think that, ty of mainstream economists, Democrats in the future years – primarily 2010 and if this were a Republican administration, and Republicans alike, say that if we do 11. We can’t wait that long. That’s what we would be doing very much the same that, the chances of our suffering a very people are really talking about when thing we’re doing right now. The people long, serious recession are quite good. they say we need a bigger stimulus now. in the Republican Congress don’t say We’ve used monetary policy. It seems I hope that people who say that it needs that, but I don’t see it. I think we would to be working, but we need fiscal stimu- to be bigger, myself included, are wrong. be doing something very close to what lus also, particularly since interest rates I hope this stimulus works. we’re doing. are low and monetary policy may have Eventually we do have a federal bud- limited further options. That’s where the get deficit problem and eventually we VPR: Is there an end in sight? political difference comes from. If you will have to cut federal spending and use fiscal policy do you spend (primarily raise taxes. That’s sometime in the fu- We’re already on the road. Econo- the Democrats) or do you cut taxes (pri- ture. We don’t have to worry about that mists are really bad forecasters. Partic- marily the Republicans)? The stimulus now in the middle of a serious recession. ularly in this crisis, we’ve been wrong package has a large part of both. There’s That’s a future problem that’s coming. many times. There have been a lot of a part that goes to state governments so new things happening. But I think we’re they don’t have to cut their spending be- VPR: Are people right when they say that doing basically the right things with the cause of falls in revenues. There’s a part we shouldn’t be helping the ones who got stimulus package and with monetary pol- of it that goes directly into spending on us into this crisis in the first place, or is it icy. The financial crisis is not anywhere the part of the federal government, and a a necessary evil? close to as bad as it was, and if we can large part of tax cuts. So it’s a real com- get businesses and consumers confident promise. Apparently it didn’t satisfy the It’s a necessary evil. We’re not bailing about the future I think we could begin Republicans enough. I don’t know that AIG out because we really care about to see the end. It could easily last for the it satisfied the Democrats fully, either. I AIG or AIG employees. We’re really rest of this year, but I would hope that by think most economists, again indepen- worried about the small businesses in the end of the summer or fall at least we dently of politics, would say it may be the Midwest who can’t borrow very eas- will be able to say that we’ve reached the somewhat small, at least now. It’s a huge ily and therefore have to layoff their em- bottom. Then the decline will slow down package, but it’s spread out over sev- ployees and cut back production. We’re and we will slowly start to come out of eral years. Ideally we want an increase worried about the effects of the financial this. The stimulus package will get us in spending in the economy this year. crisis and the recession on the rest of the out slowly. Again, the best news would The immediate effects of an increase in economy. be reaching the bottom this summer or spending are going to be greater than I don’t think the US would be bail- fall. However, it could go on beyond a decrease in taxes. And I don’t think ing out AIG or Merrill Lynch/Bank of that point. there’s much difference among Republi- America, or Citibank if they were hav- can and Democratic economists on that. ing financial problems and the problems Professor Stephen Buckles The cut in taxes will not have a very were only with those corporations. AIG Vanderbilt University quick, very large affect on the reces- is one of the largest, if not the largest, Ph.D., Economics, 1976 sion. Lower taxes may be good for the insurance companies in the world. The Senior Lecturer of Economics long run, but they are unlikely to have a fact that they were having financial very large effect on consumption spend- problems connected with all these events ing now. In the short run, that is, in this meant that people wouldn’t make loans The Vanderbilt Political Review 5 form and change reflected in the -stim positive results to make America safer ulus bill fund solutions to alternative and stronger financially. Will the Stimu- energy research, expanding health care Excessive spending inhibits long-term lus Act Change coverage, and improving education. The economic growth, but the grim outlook short-term benefits from economic stim- of the financial crisis indicates cannot What you Believe ulus derive primarily from its tax cuts. be addressed hastily or lightly. Many of Obama’s tax plan that repeals the Bush President Obama’s actions, like his re- In? tax cuts and awards middle class tax re- fusal to veto either the stimulus act or the Kenneth Colonel bates are a more progressive tax. A lack omnibus spending bill, were justified as of consumer confidence delays the “un- an effort to not delay government action he American Recovery and Rein- freezing” of liquidity through borrowing in response to the receding economy. Tvestment Act of 2009, also known because the majority of consumers are In the words of former President John as the economic stimulus package, is a hesitant to spend money. In the fourth Fitzgerald Kennedy, “There are risks and bill passed through Congress and signed quarter of 2008, Gross Domestic Product costs to a program of action. But they by the President in February 2009. The decreased by a stark 6.2%11. Distributing are far less than the long-range risks and legislation spent $787 billion on tax tax rebates to the middle class will allow costs of comfortable inaction.” cuts, healthcare, education, unemploy- them to pay off debt, increase consum- The lack of responsibility and ac- ment relief, infrastructure investment, er spending, and help banks recuperate countability within the legislative branch housing, scientific research, and no ear- with more financial activity. approving the insurmountable spending 1,2,10 marks . Earmarks written by legisla- Pessimism is justified by the bleak out- can be addressed once the economy has tors, all across the aisle from Senator look of economic indicators like the the stabilized. For now, New-New Deal lev- 3 Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to Represen- Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA). el of spending is necessary to address the 4 tative John Murtha (D-MA) , have been The DJIA has lost half its value over worst economic crisis since the Great De- included in many pieces of legislation, the last year. Plummeting indexes halted pression. Sacrificing federal dollars for like the omnibus spending bill, but not in mid-March with an atypical week of domestic investment will yield external in this stimulus bill. To the emphasis positive growth5. While this trend cannot benefits much greater in value than the of Democratic Congressional leaders be expected to continue, good signs like amount spent. This package of domestic Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senator Harry Citigroup reporting a profit for the first spending will create jobs, improve the Reid, the Stimulus Act was partisan and two months of 2009 should be met with public education and opportunities for directly followed suit with expenditures optimism6. higher education, improve technology, and some tax cuts. The economy must The long-term benefits are seen in and help begin to restore consumer con- resolve itself with a restoration in con- government expenditure projects that fidence. sumer confidence. The real problem with will shape the American economy for The results of the economic stimulus the American economy is its uncertainty, the future. The resurrection of consumer act may not revive the American econo- which directly dissuades that consumer confidence will take several years to re- my in the near future. Without certainty, confidence. cover despite the daily drops and rises in the exorbitant spending will both make If Americans are to truly propel the the DJIA. Research in alternative energy conservatives cringe and make a differ- private sector into predominance, we will erase questions of efficiency and al- ence. Aiding American consumers with must remember that the intricate econo- low the United States to pioneer a global the stimulus programs and tax cuts will my cannot and should not be oversimpli- market to compete with oil. The con- lead the economy to prosperity. Once fied and dissected with vague terms of sequences of natural disasters will de- the United States has laid the infrastruc- stimulative and not stimulative. Amer- crease with infrastructure investments. ture for a successful capitalist model, its ica’s prosperous capitalist economic The infrastructure disrepair in the Unit- people can build an economy of greater model proliferated with the ingenuity ed States has led to a massive water pipe strength than its former self. and prosperity in dominant domestic in- that burst in Bethesda, Maryland in De- dustries like automobile manufacturing. cember 20087, the New Orleans levees’ Works Cited: 8 The pride of the working class through miserable failure as water barriers , and 1. http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/99xx/doc9989/ their labor and well-being attributed to the American Society of Civil Engineers hr1conference.pdf much of America’s prosperity. Over the 2. http://online.wsj.com/article/ awarding the United States the grade of SB123369271403544637.html 9 past few decades, the middle class was D for overall national infrastructure . The 3. http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/mcconnell- steadily ignored and forgotten in favor of United States is broken both financially gives-critics-75m-target-2009-03-02.html corporate greed and the welfare state. 4. http://www.cleveland.com/nation/index. and physically. The ‘excessive spend- ssf/2009/02/earmark_reform_stimulus_bill_c. President Obama’s priorities for re- ing’ that this legislation entails will yield html
6 VanderbiltPoliticalReview.com | Spring 2009 5. http://money.cnn.com/2009/03/13/ Reagan economic record clearly shows against Reaganomics: Tax cuts lead markets/markets_newyork/index. htm?postversion=2009031315 that fiscal conservatism is effective. to deficit explosion, the rich get richer 6. http://www.forbes.com/2009/03/10/citigroup-ma- Much like President Obama, Ronald while the poor got poorer, and African doff-dow-markets-transcript-citigroup.html Reagan inherited an economy in sham- Americans are not helped. All three ar- 7. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-06- 01-levees_x.htm bles. In 1981, the American economy guments, however, are flawed. Reagan’s 8. http://www.gazette.net/stories/12232008/mont- suffered from the highest inflation rate tax cuts stimulated the economy and led new152717_32563.shtml 9. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/28/us/ since 1947 and a vast amount of unem- to a near doubling in tax receipts from politics/28projects.html ployment. Reagan believed in lowering 1980 to 1990. When compared to the in- 10. http://thebridge.typepad.com/thebridge/2009/03/ taxes for all (rich and poor) in order to crease in tax receipts during the Clinton fact-checking-the-economic-stimulus-package- gop-earmarking-claims-from-factcheckcomarti- stimulate the economy. He believed that years, the rate of increase is about the cle-reprinted.html lower taxes combined with spending same. This is no surprise to Dr. Byron 11. http://www.timescolonist.com/business/fp/drop+s cuts allow the economy to thrive and the Schlomach, the Goldwater Institute’s urprises+economists/1340791/story.html wealth would “trickle-down.” The idea is Chief Economist. He points out that in that rich people spend money, start busi- order to achieve maximum growth, the Kenneth Colonel nesses and employ people who are poor- government should tax no more than Political Science, Economics, & US er. When Reagan entered office, Ameri- 17% of the GDP. Any higher rate will History cans in the top tax bracket were paying slow growth and economic activity. To- Class of 2011 70% of their income to the government. day, our government takes 23% of the Reagan slashed that rate to 28% by the GDP.4 end of his presidency.1 Ronald Reagan once said, “I’m not In Defense of Low tax rates provide incentive worried about the deficit, it’s big enough for people to work their hardest. If the to take care of itself.” Reagan was show- Fiscal government takes a huge portion of the ing off his sharp sense of humor as he re- Conservativism money you earn and gives that money to ally thought the budget deficit was “the A look at the Reagan people through social programs, you are greatest disappointment of his presiden- Economic Record less likely to be motivated to work. To cy.” So what caused the deficit? Certainly better understand the Laffer curve, which a massive increase in defense spending, Cedric Karaoglan illustrates this concept, one should think which Reagan supporters credit for the about the extreme values. If the govern- collapse of the communist Soviet Union, any liberals will argue that the ment taxes you at a 0% rate, then tax is one reason. But it is also the Demo- Meconomic mess is proof that fis- revenue will be zero. If the government cratic Congress’ fault, as it outspent ev- cal conservatism does not work. Critics taxes you at a 100% rate, then tax rev- ery one of the nine budgets Reagan pro- believe that conservative policies lead to enue will be zero or very low because posed, but one. Congress also agreed in high deficits while benefiting the rich at taking all of your income gives you no 1982 that for every $1 increase in taxes, the expense of the poor. However these incentive to work or you will avoid pay- $3 of spending would be reduced, but people fail to realize that President Bush ing taxes. So the idea behind the Laffer this spending reduction never happened. and the Republican Congress did not curve is that the government can increase Some would say that since George Bush govern the economy conservatively. Fis- tax revenue by finding the ideal tax rate (Sr.) and Clinton raised taxes, the deficit cal conservatism is usually associated on the curve.4 fell at a slower rate than would have un- with reduced government spending and Reagan managed to successfully turn der Reagan’s policies.2 lower taxes. While Bush did decrease around the weak economy he inherited The argument that the rich got richer taxes he also increased the federal bud- from Jimmy Carter. On eight of ten eco- and the poor got poorer is also flawed. get by 104% during his eight years, com- nomic variables examined by the Cato It is true that from 1980 to 1988 the pared to 11% during the Clinton Admin- Institute, such as real economic growth, wealthiest 5% of the country increased istration. President Bush presided over a real median family income, interest their share of total income from 16.5% to significant increase in education and ag- rates, inflation, and unemployment, the 18.3% while the poorest saw their share ricultural spending and the largest single American economy was stronger after fall from 4.2% to 3.8%. However, what expansion of Medicare ever, while pay- his presidency. The only economic vari- actually happened is the rich got richer ing for two wars abroad. Before Presi- able that was worse was the savings rate. and the poor got richer. Every income dent Bush, the last President to practice During the pre-Reagan years the produc- quintile gained during the Reagan years. fiscal conservatism was Ronald Reagan. tivity rate was higher but much lower in If you were in the bottom 20% of income Although Reagan did increase the bud- the post-Reagan years.1 before Reagan, there was an 86% chance get by spending more on defense, he There are three common arguments that you would not just earn more, but cut non-military spending by 10%.3 The The Vanderbilt Political Review 7 you would move up to a higher quintile ing, Reduce Poverty” www.humanevents. on the delivery of health care. Govern- by 1990. If you were in the poorest 20% com. Internet Explorer. ment regulations are not the leading 3. Mercatus Center at George Mason. http:// you had a better chance of being in the www.mercatus.org/PublicationDetails. cause of higher administrative costs. Al- top 20% than remaining at the bottom by aspx?id=26426. Internet Explorer. ternatively, it is the bureaucracy within 1990.1 4. Schlomach, Byron. “Trickle-Down Eco- private insurance companies that costs Some critics will say that Reagan- nomics”. 1/22/08 more once individuals get insured. The omics did not help African Americans. Veterans Affairs Health Care program Again, the facts seem to disprove this. Cedric Karaoglan incurs only 4% administrative costs; a The income of African Americans in- College of Arts & Science seventh of what it costs private insur- creased at an 11% rate compared to 9.8% Class of 2012 ers. A lot of time and money is spent by for whites. In the eight years before Rea- private insurers manipulating how much gan, African Americans saw their salary money insurers owe versus how much decrease at a rate of 4.4%. Healthcare money the patient is responsible for pay- A study published by the Rio Grande ing through deductibles and co-pays. Foundation shows the benefits of cutting Payment This is something that can, and must, be taxes and spending. In the top ten states Reform a avoided. with the highest tax rates, the poverty rate In addition to administrative costs, the increased 2%, while childhood poverty necessity financial incentives in the United States’ rates fell 2.8%. In the ten states with the Aniket Rali payment system lead to over treatment lowest tax rates the poverty rate declined and, as a result, higher health care costs. 9% and childhood poverty rates dropped he United States spends more on Our fee-for-service payment model en- 10.3%. This ties back to the Laffer curve healthcare every year. However, the courages providers to make more money and fiscal conservatism. Low tax rates populationT is becoming progressively by performing more services. If a hos- stimulate the economy, and people (rich sicker. Health care is currently the larg- pital or an independent provider is able and poor) earn more money. Interest- est and fastest growing category in the to get its patient to come back for addi- ingly, the ten states with the lowest-per- annual federal budget. Although the tional treatment, it makes more money. capita spending reduced poverty rates United States spends 17% of its GDP This means that if hospitals and provid- by 8.42% while the ten states with the on health care, it ranks 24th in its over- ers figure out a way to keep their- pa highest-per-capita spending actually saw all health among industrialized nations. tients healthy, they go broke. Health care 2 a 7.6% increase in poverty. According to the CIA World Factbook, providers cannot be blamed for seeking A few conclusions about fiscal conser- the U.S. is ranked 30th in the life expec- larger profits, since they live in a capital- vatism can be made. Since tax revenue tancy of its citizens, significantly lower ist system. This means that the method increased under Reagan, the budget defi- than that of other developed countries of payment needs to shift from the num- cit was caused by the combination of in- like Germany, Switzerland and Japan. ber of services provided to the outcome creased military spending and not enough Additionally, we have a high infant mor- of those services. The system needs to spending reductions. While counterintui- tality rate for being a developed country, create a serious monetary incentive for tive, lowering tax rates increase tax rev- ranking 29th overall. These statistics, in providers to build healthy communities. enue by stimulating the economy. Based addition to many others, show that the The United Kingdom proves that such a on the statistics, the Reagan years were United States’ health care system is in a system, with incentives for better, rather a time of prosperity for all. Rich and state of crisis and is in need of urgent ac- than more, health care is not only pos- poor people earned more and improved tion. sible but also sustainable. Primary care their lives. Reagan’s conservative poli- Where is all of this money going if it physicians in the U.K. act as gate keep- cies successfully brought down poverty is not improving citizens’ overall health? ers through which every patient needs and created a thriving economy. The Rio The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates to go in order to consult a specialist. Grande Foundation study proves that the that the number of health care admin- These primary care physicians earn a same policies that worked under Reagan istrators has increased by 2500% since bonus when their patients do well with- in the ‘80s still work today. 1970, while the number of physicians out having to consult specialists. This is an effective way of ensuring equal and Works Cited: has only marginally increased. A conser- vative estimate of administrative costs quality health care. Contrary to popular 1. Cato Institute. “The Truth about the Reagan holds that they account for 27% of total belief, over treatment is just as danger- Economic Record” www.cato.org. Internet health care costs. In other words, more ous as no treatment. Explorer. money is being spent on paperwork than People often correlate increasing 2. Human Events. “Lower Taxes, Cut Spend-
8 VanderbiltPoliticalReview.com | Spring 2009 healthcare costs with technological inno- Works Cited: The fact that China is currently the larg- vation in medical procedures. However, 1. Keehan, S. et al. “Health Spending Projections est holder of the US government’s debt statistics have a different story to share. Through 2017, Health Affairs Web Exclusive underscores China’s importance to the Japan, the country with the greatest life W146: 21 February 2008. United States (MacLeod 2009). The 2. California Health Care Foundation. Health Care expectancy in the world, uses twice as Costs 101 -- 2005. 02 March 2005. situation in Tibet is a clear case of the many MRI scans per capita as the United 3. The Wisconsin Health Care Partnership Plan, 17 familiar conflict between America’s hu- States (and eight times as many as the March 2009. manitarian values and its pressing geo- UK) and yet spends only 8.1% of its Acknowledgments: political needs. GDP on healthcare as compared to the Dr. David Boyd and Mr. Dominic A. Day. US’ 17%. How is Japan able to provide The Crisis in Tibet efficient universal health care without The discussion over the issue of Tibet Aniket Rali forcing individuals and families into is not new to political science; rather, the Biology & Chemistry bankruptcy? The answer lies in its pay- debate is rooted in the 1949 invasion of Class of 2009 ment system. Japan uses a single payer Tibet by the China. As Chinese political model where government and physi- authority over Tibet was consolidated cians negotiate the prices of each service through brutal suppression by 1959, on a bi-yearly basis. Every citizen con- Tibet, China, and the Tibetan government under the Dalai tributes to a social insurance fund that Lama was forced to flee (alongside thou- ensures universal health care. When all American For- sands of refugees) into the surrounding payments for medical services are made eign Policy in countries of Nepal and India (ITC 2009). by a single entity, the costs of healthcare The Chinese have argued that Tibet was are significantly reduced by avoiding the Economic always historical part of China and was administrative expenses that go into de- merely reintegrated in 1949. This claim, termining who pays what and to whom. Crisis in light of international standards on the Furthermore, a fixed fee for each MRI Andrea Clabough sovereignty of states, is weak. The tradi- and X-ray scan in Japan has encouraged tional government under the Dalai Lama companies, like Toshiba and Olympus, Given that the new Obama administra- was fully functioning without interfer- to develop efficient and cheaper -scan tion was elected on the ideals of “hope” ence until the invasion, even to the point ners that can reduce a physician’s cost of and “change,” it is hardly surprising that of signing treaties with foreign nations providing treatment. The features of this such optimism has been translated into (ITC, 2009). From the Tibetan perspec- healthcare system can be implemented the desire to promote goodwill interna- tive, China’s actions from 1949 onward in reforming our own system. tionally. It is also hardly surprising that have been a direct violation of a sover- There may be disagreements about the promotion of such values has been eign state’s autonomy for exploitation. which model would work best. Argu- sidelined by the economic crisis that Officially, modern Tibet is an “autono- ably, Universal Coverage is not only the dominates the attention of the American mous region” of China, which implies most ethical, but also the most practical government and public. While this pre- national autonomy under the umbrella of solution to our current crisis. The cost of occupation is not unjustified, there is a Chinese authority (CIA, 2009). The real- treating the uninsured, all 46 million of danger that such a narrow domestic fo- ity in Tibet, however, is anything but au- them, further drives premiums and co- cus can cause us to neglect humanitar- tonomous. Reports of massive political pays higher for the insured. In Wisconsin ian crises abroad that directly violate repression as well as complete subjuga- alone, for every uninsured person, $ 910 our democratic values. Unfortunately, tion of the Tibetan region under Chinese of unpaid medical bills per year is shifted neglecting such international problems authorities have circulated the interna- to higher premium costs for those with becomes even more convenient when tional community since the exile of the insurance. Hence, it is absolutely critical the recognition of their severity would Dalai Lama’s government in 1959. that we reform our healthcare system to endanger relationships with the states Instead of experiencing the growth provide comprehensive and yet afford- that our frail economy depends upon. and development that has characterized able coverage to every citizen. Universal The United States’ relationship with the past half century in China, Tibet is Coverage is a reality in several other in- China over the issue of Tibet is one ex- on the verge of a humanitarian disaster. dustrialized nations and I am confident ample of this exact situation. While the Modern Tibetans are increasingly a sub- that we can achieve the same level of Obama administration expresses support jugated people within their own country. success in a capitalist society through for the Tibetan cause, any efforts to ad- They are outnumbered 7.5 to 6 million careful payment system reform. dress the issue are hindered by Ameri- by Chinese immigrants who hold abso- can dependence on Chinese investments. lute political power (TYC, 2009). Ti-
The Vanderbilt Political Review 9 betan Buddhism, arts, and language are open discussions with the Tibetan gov- rea invades South Korea. North Vietnam actively suppressed, as evidenced by the ernment-in-exile. To completely retreat invates South Vietnam. Iran vs. Iraq. In- destruction of over 6,000 monasteries from our humanitarian standards when- dia vs. Pakistan. Great Britain vs. Argen- and the prohibition the Tibetan writing ever their promotion is “difficult” would tina. China vs. Tibet. The Soviet Union system (ITC 2009). Not surprisingly, represent a defeat not only for the Tibet- vs. Afghanistan, etc., etc. Unfortunately, over 70% of Tibetans are illiterate and ans, but for all people who are threatened all these involve one nation state against unable to participate in their own gov- by prejudice and injustice worldwide. As another. ernment (TYC, 2009). Similarly, Chi- a global leader in democracy, this is a de- If the U.N. has been helpless in pre- nese exploitation of the Tibetan region feat that the United States cannot allow. venting armed conflict between nation has had devastating consequences on the states, what kind of record has it had in ecosystems of the Tibetan Himalayas. Works Cited: the past, or can it have in the future, in- Since 1949, the Chinese government has 1. Central Intelligence Agency. “China.” The World volving civil war, revolution, or repres- destroyed millions of acres of woodlands Factbook. March 19, 2009 https://www.cia.gov/ sive regimes slaughtering their own peo- library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ and utilized Tibet’s mineral wealth in or- ch.html ple? What did the U.N. do about any of der to provide raw materials for China’s 2. International Campaign for Tibet. “Tibetan Cul- these types of situations, Cambodia and own industrial revolution (TYC, 2009). ture.” 2009. http://www.savetibet.org/resource- Rwanda being the most egregious? center/all-about-tibet/tibetan-culture 3. MacLeod, Calum. “Clinton: China, U.S. fates The main problem in today’s world is Policy Initiatives and the Future of Tibet tied.” USA Today. February 23, 2009. http://www. that every ethnic or religious group such The situation in Tibet is at best a trag- usatoday.com/news/world/2009-02-22-clinton- as the Kurds, Chechens, Serbs, or Cath- china_N.htm edy, and at worst a cultural genocide on 4. Tibetan Youth Congress. “Tibet at a Glance.” TYC olics in Northern Ireland, wants their par with any in global history. The Da- Central Executive Committee. 2009. http://www. own country. In Africa and Asia, armed lai Lama himself has traveled widely to tibetanyouthcongress.org/facts_about_tibet.html conflict with its senseless murder of one gain international support for the Tibetan group by another gets down to the tribal cause, and to dispel any misconceptions Andrea Clabough level. It seems that very few ethnic, re- about his goals for Tibet. Since 2002, the Political Science ligious, or tribal groups want to live in Dalai Lama has offered to negotiate a Class of 2010 peace with those who are different. Look settlement in which Tibet would remain at Bosnia and Kosovo, where next-door an official part of China, but with true neighbors were, and still are, fighting autonomy that would allow for Tibetan Effectiveness, and killing each other, with peace hang- leadership under a democracy as well as Relevance of UN ing on by a thread. the reinstitution of Tibetan educational, is Open to Should not someone have stepped up religious, and cultural institutions (ITC, to do something about the killing of in- 2009). Thus far, such negotiations with Debate nocent civilians in the Cambodias and the Chinese leadership have proven inef- Bob Youngerman Rwandas of the world? Would the U.S. fective, and it is clear that international have been wrong to have stepped into pressure on China will be necessary to t is time that we examine the U.N.’s those types of situations to save lives facilitate a solution. record in maintaining peace or pre- while the U.N. stood idly by doing noth- Unfortunately, the United States is ventingI armed conflict since its birth fol- ing? Does anyone believe that other na- hindered in its support of Tibet by the lowing World War II. As this record is tions like France, Germany, Russia, or heavy Chinese investment that supports examined, it is essential that we take into China would step up and do something its struggling economy. However, Amer- account the effectiveness of the U.S. as a to save lives of innocent civilians around ican leadership cannot risk neglecting the world arbiter in the development of U.S. the world? Highly unlikely. basic humanitarian values upon which foreign policy. The concept of a multina- The facts of the matter are that the our democracy is based for the sake of tional body of nations which could bring U.N. is not set up or organized to do any- expediency in difficult circumstances. international pressure to prevent armed thing about most types of armed conflict While we depend upon China for in- conflict between nation states is a worth- that afflicts the world today. If the United vestments, China still depends on U.S. while goal, but unfortunately is has yet States doesn’t do something, nothing is markets for its own economic stability in to materialize. done. The result is the discovery of mass the current crisis. The situation in Tibet Since its founding, the U.N. has been graves à la Iraq all over the world. is not and should not be acceptable to impotent in preventing armed conflict The most reasonable explanation for our policy-makers, and we should em- between nation states, all of whom U.S. unilateral action in the world’s hot ploy the extensive diplomatic leverage are U.N. members. Endless examples spots is humanitarian purposes. Isn’t the we still possess with China to promote abound all across the globe: North Ko- use of U.S. power to stop the killing of
10 VanderbiltPoliticalReview.com | Spring 2009 the innocent a worthwhile endeavor? Dr. Klint Alexander laration of Human Rights and the Inter- If not the U.S., then who? The U.N.? national Covenant on Civil and Political 8 Hardly. The time has arrived to initiate a INTRODUCTION Rights of 1966 (ICCPR). The U.S. Gov- serious dialogue about the U.N.’s inef- n January 2009, President Barack ernment has ignored these conventions fectiveness. When countries like Syria, Obama called for the closing of the by detaining individuals indefinitely and Libya, China, and Cuba are members detentionI facility at Guantanamo Bay, depriving them of their basic rights. The of the U.N.’s Council on Civil Rights, I a major pillar of the Bush Administra- Bush Administration classified the Guan- contend the U.N.’s credibility is at stake. tion’s “national security” strategy in the tanamo detainees as “unlawful enemy When the U.N.’s Conference on Racism war on terror.1 The announcement fol- combatants” to avoid having to comply selects only Israel for condemnation, lowed the landmark decision by the U.S. with the Geneva Conventions. There is something is amiss. Supreme Court in Boumediene v. Bush,2 no such intermediate status under inter- Instead of the U.N., I would promote which extended the Constitution’s reach national law. more effective diplomacy between two to protect the right of noncitizen detain- The Supreme Court, too, has refused nation states or small groups of nations to ees held at Guantanamo Bay to seek a to enforce these conventions in ruling on resolve differences and solve problems. writ of habeas corpus in U.S. courts.3 habeas petitions filed by the detainees in That is precisely what is occurring with Since 2002, approximately 770 individ- U.S. court. In Boumediene, the Court re- North Korea. The nations most affected- uals have been held at Guantánamo Bay, frained from applying international law South Korea, China, Japan, and Russia- and currently about 250 remain captive and, instead, extended the reach of the will ultimately solve the problem. there. It took more than six years to Constitution beyond America’s shores to Although I recognize that many of my complete the first trial, and most detain- protect the right of noncitizen detainees fellow Americans believe that the U.N. ees have been subjected to violations of to petition for a writ of habeas corpus. is the only hope for world peace, I would due process, physical and verbal abuse, Harvard Law Professor Noah Feldman beg to differ for the reasons stated above. and solitary confinement, among other praised the Court’s decision as “an act If ever there is an issue deserving of de- abuses.4 The illegal detention and mis- with tremendous international resonance bate, it is the continued relevancy and ef- treatment of noncitizens at the detention . . that makes the Constitution available fectiveness of the United Nations. facility has led to several suicides and to all persons – no matter where they more than 40 attempted suicides.5 Am- might be.”9 Conservative legal schol- Bob Youngerman nesty International described the Guan- ars, such as Jack Goldsmith, found the Vanderbilt School of Law tánamo detention program as “the gulag decision to be misguided and even dan- Class of 1959 of our time”.6 gerous, arguing that the Constitution The Guantánamo detention program should not be interpreted in a way that has strained America’s relationships undermines America’s security and sov- CLOSING with its allies and compromised its rep- ereignty.10 Neither viewpoint is accurate. utation as a champion of human rights If anything, the decision highlights the AMERICA’S and the rule of law. Although the law of Supreme Court’s intention to strictly armed conflict permits the detention of limit the Constitution’s reach and its GULAG: enemy combatants outside the justice reluctance to enforce international law THE AFTERMATH OF system during wartime, such detentions conventions that are clearly applicable THE GUANTANAMO to the case. DETENTION CASES AND must comply with internationally recog- THE LIMITS OF THE nized standards for the protection of hu- Even though Boumediene extended CONSTITUTION’S REACH man rights. These standards are defined the Constitution’s reach beyond Ameri- TO PROTECT HUMAN principally in the Geneva Conventions,7 ca’s shores, the Supreme Court neverthe- RIGHTS and more broadly in the Universal Dec- less adopted a restrictive view of alien
1. In numerous speeches and legal briefs, Bush administration offi- Mr. Hamdan was released to Yemen to carry out the remaining few months combatant” cannot be held personally for acts committed during combat, cials advanced the claim that “national security” and the safety of Ameri- of his sentence. U.S. Sending a Convict Back to Yemen, N.Y. TIMES, unless the acts constitute crimes against humanity or war crimes. Law- can citizens took precedence over all other concerns and, therefore, mea- Nov. 25, 2008, at A23. Prior to Mr. Hamdan’s conviction, Australian Da- ful combatants must be treated as prisoners of war (POWs), a legal status sures taken to combat terrorism which also violate human rights law were vid Hicks was convicted by a military commission, but that conviction was that comes with certain protections. The rules governing the treatment of justified. obtained by voluntary plea. Hicks pled guilty to material support for terror- POWs are enshrined in the Geneva Conventions relative to the Treatment 2 Boumdiene v. Bush, 553 U.S. ___, 128 S.Ct. 2229 (2008). ism and was sentenced to nine months of confinement in his home country. of Prisoners of War (GCIII). See generally Geneva Convention (III) rela- 3 The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus is enshrined in Article I, Demetri Sevastapulo, U.S. Court Dismisses Guantánamo Charges, June 4, tive to the Treatment of Prisoners of War, Aug. 12, 1949 [1955] 6 U.S.T. section 9, clause II of the Constitution. The clause states that “the privilege 2007, available at www.ft.com. 3316. If there is any doubt about whether a detainee should be classified of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended unless when in Cases 5 David Bowler and David Kaye, Guantánamo By the Numbers, N.Y. as a “lawful combatant”, then Article 5 of the GCIII states that their status of Rebellion or Invasion, the public Safety may require it.” CONST., § TIMES, Nov. 10, 2007, A27. may be determined by a “competent tribunal” and, until such time, they 9, cl. 2. 6 See Lionel Barber & Paul Taylor, Clinton Slams Guantánamo, FIN. are to be treated as POWs. A nation holding POWs must try them in the 4 The first trial of a detainee was not completed until August 2008 TIMES, June 20, 2005, at 1. same courts that would try the country’s own military officers, which in the when al-Qaeda member and former driver for Osama Bin Laden, Salim 7 The Geneva Conventions of 1949 define the requirements for a United States are court-martial proceedings. Hamdan, was convicted of providing material support to terrorism and sen- wartime captive to be eligible for treatment as either a “lawful combat- 8 The ICCPR, in particular, sets forth the basic political and civil tenced to five and a half years in prison. After credited with time served, ant” or an “unlawful combatant.” The critical distinction is that a “lawful rights of individuals and is binding on those parties who have ratified it
The Vanderbilt Political Review 11 detainee rights by limiting that reach to in American jurisprudence. there is evidence of a lack of government Guantánamo Bay only. The decision has In the end, the Boumediene Court control over its own forces. As Pakistan no bearing on the precedent established rightfully held that the President could approaches ever closer to a state of ut- in Johnson v. Eisentrager which delineat- no longer operate Guantánamo Bay as a ter turmoil, it must be made clear who ed a clear line between the jurisdictional law-free zone. Today, Guantánamo de- controls their military and intelligence treatment of citizen enemy combatants tainees have the same rights and access forces, because it does not appear to be and alien enemy combatants detained to federal courts as noncitizens captured the civilian government. While Mush- outside of the United States.11 According and detained in Washington, D.C. or arraf declared his opposition to terror- to Justice Jackson: South Carolina. However, Boumediene ist organizations in 2001 at the United [O]ur law does not abolish inherent in no way reaffirms the legitimacy of States’ behest, there is little to show for distinctions recognized throughout international law or signals an outward- the $10 billion the US has given Pakistan the civilized world between citizens and aliens. . . the nonresident enemy looking direction in applying the Consti- to wage the War on Terror. alien, especially one who has re- tution beyond America’s shores. What On March 16, Pakistani Prime Minis- mained in the service of the enemy, the Boumediene decision stands for is a ter Yusuf Raza Gilani declared the rein- does not have even this qualified ac- temporary broadening of U.S. jurisdic- statement of Chaudhry as Chief Justice, cess to our courts, for he neither has tion to noncitizens detained at a single ending the protest march to Islamabad comparable claims upon our institu- tions nor could his use of them fail to detention facility offshore; nothing led by opposition leader Nawaz Sharif. be helpful to the enemy.12 more, nothing less. Once the detention Chaudhry’s appointment was highly Thus, once the Guantanamo detention facility at Guantanamo Bay is closed, the opposed by current President Zard- facility is officially closed, Eisentrager law’s status quo under Eisentrager will ari, as Chaudhry has vowed to reverse will live on and the issue of whether the resume. all constitutional changes made under Constitution guarantees certain basic hu- Musharraf, including the legal reprieve man rights to noncitizen detainees off- Dr. Klint Alexander Musharraf gave to Zardari for corrup- shore will become moot. Senior Lecturer of Law and Political tion charges. While Sharif, former prime Furthermore, the Court’s decision in Science minister and leader of the Pakistan Mus- Boumediene takes a domestic-centered, Vanderbilt University lim League (N), played the role of the rather than an “outward-looking,” view people’s hero in praising the decision of the law, placing the idea of national to reinstate the chief justice, his self- sovereignty above the interests of pro- Ten Billion righteous rhetoric failed to mask his pri- moting a more legitimate international Dollars, Zero mary motivation for backing Chaudhry: legal order. A strong case could have removal of Musharraf’s changes would been made that the Guantánamo deten- Results: include a clause preventing Sharif from Pakistan in Danger of Be- tion program violated the binding obli- running for a third term as Prime Minis- coming a Failed State gations imposed upon the U.S. by the ter. As the cycle of corruption continues, ICCPR and the Geneva Conventions as Matthew Sen Zardari’s government demonstrates that well as the spirit of the UDHR. The Su- it is not in control of the country. preme Court refrained from considering ix months after General Pervez Mush- While Pakistan’s political elite has these issues and instead applied its own Sarraf announced his resignation as been keen to feud over the judiciary, it sovereigntist worldview of the Constitu- President (Military Leader) of Pakistan, has not seen it fit to address adequately tion. By failing to apply clearly appli- it is still unclear exactly who, if anyone, the growing turmoil throughout Pakistan. cable international law to the case, the has filled the power void he left behind. Whether Pakistan’s dealings with its ter- Supreme Court missed an opportunity to The highly-publicized power struggle rorists can be termed as a war or not is strengthen the role of international law between current President Zardari (wid- questionable. In many cases, militants ower to Benazir Bhutto and head of the have been allowed to retain their au- such as the United States. Among the rights provided for in the ICCPR are the Pakistan People’s Party) and opposition tonomy as long as they sign documents right to presumption of innocence until proven guilty (Article 14(2)), the right to counsel and a speedy trial (Article 14(3)), and the right to privacy (Article leader Nawaz Sharif over the reinstate- promising that they will not commit fur- 17). The ICCPR also forbids inhumane or degrading treatment (Article 7), ther acts of terrorism (this is dubbed a arbitrary arrest and detention (Article 9), and ensures freedom of movement ment of Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry within one’s own country without interference (Article 12). as Chief Justice gives the impression “victory” by the military). Despite Paki- 9 Noah Feldman, When Judges Make Foreign Policy, N.Y. TIMES MAGAZINE, Sept. 28, 2008, at 55. that these two men are the primary fig- stan’s repeated guarantees that it is do- 10 See generally JACK GOLDSMITH & ERIC POSNER, THE LIMITS OF INTERNATIONAL LAW (2005). ures in Pakistani politics. A closer look ing all it can, one cannot help but wonder 11 Johnson v. Eisentrager, 339 U.S. 763, 70 S.Ct. 936 (1950). 12 Id. at 779. renders the notion of civilian control in why the military was able to deploy itself Pakistan questionable. Militant groups ever so swiftly along the Indian border continue to control parts of Pakistan, and following the 2008 Mumbai attacks, yet
12 VanderbiltPoliticalReview.com | Spring 2009 finds itself in a strategic debacle within since the 1980s. the Taliban had attacked a primary its own borders. The jingoistic attitudes Considering Pakistan’s lackluster school just east of us in Asadabad. expressed by Pakistani leaders toward performance against its own terrorist The school taught young boys and girls together in an open courtyard India despite their failure to control their militants and trajectory toward a state outside a mosque. One rocket made own country are alarming, but not any- of chaos, the West must re-evaluate its a direct hit on the children as they sat thing new. strategy in the region. America’s pres- in class. A second rocket exploded Pakistan’s reluctance to fight terrorist ent difficulties in Afghanistan, fighting nearby. Seven children were killed. organizations in practice is not surprising militants armed with weapons once sup- Thirty-four were wounded. ,given the state’s history of using terror- plied by the US to fight against the So- The Taliban kill children for attend- ism as a tool of warfare. The Pakistani viet Union, should have taught the US ing co-educational schools. They force Intelligence Services (ISI) created the that an enemy’s enemy is not necessarily women to wear body-length veils under terror organization known as Lashkar-e- a friend. What Pakistan has done with penalty of death. They teach their sons Taiba (LET) for the purpose of waging America’s $10 billion is anyone’s guess. nothing but their radical interpretation of jihad against India. Since its inception in We can only hope it has not, in a cruel the Qur’an. And these are only the be- the 1950s, the ISI has been responsible twist of irony, funded Pakistan’s terrorist ginnings of their radical beliefs. for supporting proxy-groups and guer- networks. As for the impotent, unpopu- There is a growing chorus of voices rillas such as LET in clandestine opera- lar President Zardari, he will likely not calling for compromise with the Taliban. tions against India, recently including the remain in power for long. Many predict It is too easy to believe that by giving 1999 Kargil war (orchestrated by the es- that Mr. Sharif will take advantage of them some concessions, everything will teemed Prime Minister Sharif), the 2001 the situation and rise to power himself work out in the end. The Taliban’s phi- attack of the Indian Parliament, and the (assuming that Chaudhry changes the losophy does not recognize compromise, 2008 Mumbai attacks. Although Paki- constitution). As long as the civilian and granting them concessions would be stan banned the LET in 2002 under UN government is unable or unwilling to an admission of defeat. We cannot hope pressure, it allowed LET-run schools, control the army or intelligence services, to create a democratic state in Afghani- communities, armories, and training it hardly matters who is in charge. If the stan as long as the Taliban exists. It is a camps to continue under a name change state continues to degenerate into law- contradiction in terms. Because the Tali- and police supervision which lasted at lessness, Pakistan may experience an ban do not play by the rules of democ- most a few days. Last December, the all-too-familiar reinstatement of military racy, they lose their right to participate LET and Al Qaeda pledged their support rule. Meanwhile, the United States is in a democratic government. In fact, be- to Pakistan should war break out with deluded enough to believe that the Paki- cause they target innocent civilians, they India. Meanwhile, Pakistan has made as- stani military is actually going to destroy lose their right to exist. surances that they have been waging war terrorist cells that it regards as valuable While we Americans too often view against these groups for years. assets in waging its illegal war against the war in Afghanistan in terms of statis- Any promises made by the civilian India. It is high time the US strategy to- tics (casualties suffered, years and bil- government are negligible at best, as it ward Pakistan changed, and it is going lions spent) the Taliban sees its struggle may not, in fact, control its armed forc- to take more than the lobbing of a few against Western culture as eternal. We es. When accused of complicity in last missiles. need to view our struggle against radical November’s Mumbai attacks, the ISI re- Islam for what it is: a clash of civiliza- fused governmental orders to work with Matthew Sen tions, the same way we saw Commu- India. Police with instructions to keep Music & Political Science nism during the Cold War. We need our Mr. Sharif under house arrest conve- Class of 2010 president to issue an ultimatum to the niently disappeared when crowds of his Taliban along the lines of Reagan’s “Mr. supporters arrived in protest. The attack Gorbachev, tear down this wall.” on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore, We must back up our words with ac- coincidentally in Sharif’s home state of No Compromise tion. The relative calm in Iraq has pro- Punjab, ended with none of the assail- vided the space for an offensive on the ants captured or killed, despite promises with the Taliban Taliban. While Obama’s addition of made by the government to provide the Jesse Jones 17,000 troops to Afghanistan is a step in Sri Lankan team with “Presidential” se- the right direction, it is not enough. We curity. Zardari’s promise to bring those n March 17, 2009, The New York need to provide engineers, teachers, doc- responsible to justice look grim, as Paki- OTimes published an editorial by tors, and even more soldiers. We must stan has not solved one out of the hun- Army Lieutenant Kristen L. Rouse, secure peace in the Afghani villages, then dreds of militant attacks it has suffered which I quote below: go on the offensive against the Taliban. One afternoon in April 2006…
The Vanderbilt Political Review 13 We cannot stop at the border. We need just saved a life. Take the rest of the day rica today. According to the U.N. Food to go after the Taliban in Pakistan with off.” and Agriculture Organization, 35% of or without the help or approval of who- Though emergency aid is undoubt- the world’s food aid arrives at African ever is in charge in that country. Eventu- edly necessary at times, these charities shores, despite only having 14% of the ally we will disrupt Al Qaeda operations, have perhaps deepened the humanitarian world’s population. Thus, Africa’s once perhaps even kill or capture Osama bin catastrophes that plague most of Africa known export markets have migrated to Laden. today by engendering a dependence on other lands. Coffee once purchased from Some will argue that, like poppy external assistance. While mosquito nets Ethiopia is now grown in Vietnam, and fields, the Taliban will continue to come may have the potential to save lives, in greater amounts than produced by all back in rural Afghanistan no matter how what is the outcome after they exceed of Africa. Palm Oil had long been West hard we fight them. If this is so, then so their four years of functionality, a fact Africa’s leading export, yet today Indo- be it. We will have to eradicate them each Rick Reilly failed to mention? True, nesia supplies the world’s major quanti- time they return. Losing to the Taliban there may be hundreds of new schools ties would strengthen the resolve of radical dotting the landscape, but how can this While we may have demonstrated Islamists the world over, creating even help when many African cultures pro- our charitable nature with our boxes of more problems later on. hibit young girls from being educated? school supplies and secondhand cloth- The history of asymmetric warfare Yes, we have successfully provided food ing, the cost of giving is high. Such ac- suggests that against a determined op- for hungry children, albeit thousands of tions lack development strategy, namely ponent, technological advantage disap- children, but what results when the out- the generation of sustainable societies no pears. We know our Western values of pouring of food aid stops? longer in need of global assistance. More freedom, tolerance, democracy, and capi- The cycle of poverty continues un- critically, these actions alter the way in talism are powerful, but we must develop abated. Today, we are witnessing the which we view the African people. Too them among the Afghani populace. We consequences from having collapsed the often, we come to think of the hungry as need to rededicate ourselves to eradicat- distinctions between emergency aid and “mouths to feed,” or the poor as passive ing the Taliban once and for all, not just long-term, sustainable development. In recipients. With this mindset, we fail to for our own sake, but for the safety of 2002, the declared value of American consider the possible unintended effect Afghanistan’s innocent children. secondhand clothing exported to Africa of our actions: the loss of dignity and the was $59.3 million. Of this, about $2.3 disempowerment of the human spirit. It Jesse Jones million went directly to Uganda, where is time to for us to see African people in College of Arts & Science it accounted for 81% of garment pur- their whole being – not just as a man suf- Class of 2012 chases that year. fering from AIDS, or a woman prohib- For the Kasenyanku Women’s Group ited from an education, but as a people of Jjayna, Uganda, this influx was dev- whose lives teeter precariously on the astating. Their handmade gomesi (tradi- outcome of a multiplex of issues. A Hand Out is tional dress for women) were no match As Alex Perry says, “Give a starv- Not a Hand Up for the used, less expensive American ing man a fish, sure. But when he’s re- Catherine Spaulding clothing. Six years later, the Kasenyanku covered, give him a rod and have a chat Women’s Group still exists, however about contraception.” We must move to id to the developing world has their survival depends on the microcredit a holistic approach, one that reaches be- long been provided by a slew of they are currently receiving from organi- yond the current top-down conventional eagerA organizations and charitable giv- zations such as Kiva: Loans that Change models of aid and lays a foundation built ers. In 1984, Bob Geldof and Midge Lives. Despite being a sustainable and through the empowerment of the African Ure prompted the rest of the world to progressive form of development, mi- people. We must reinvest the people in sing along as they raised money through crofinance loans are undercut with every their future, engage them in their com- Band Aid/Live Aid to fight the Ethiopian sock, t-shirt, or pair of jeans we donate munity, and create circumstances that famine of 1984-1985. More recently, to Africa. These items not only suppress encourage the basic needs and develop- Rick Reilly sent the sports world into economic growth, but discourage indi- ment of the whole person. a mosquito net-buying frenzy when he viduals from developing the private sec- Let’s build a new school, but instead urged readers in Sports Illustrated to do- tor in their homeland. of parading as knights in shining armor, nate ten dollars for a net, in order to save In the end, we are solving the puzzle let’s involve the people who live there some of the 3,000 African children that only to erase our answers. Although food in its planning and development. Then, aid has declined from 20% in the 1960’s let’s work to ensure gender equality – to die each day from Malaria. As exhorted 4 by his column, “Buy a net. Bang. You to 5% in 2005, we are still feeding Af- guarantee that the school will provide an
14 VanderbiltPoliticalReview.com | Spring 2009 equal education for girls and boys of all ages. While we are at it, let’s make sure Submit to our next issue those children never miss a lunch. Let’s work with the parents, encourage their The Vanderbilt Political Review will be accepting your essays of 500-1000 words education and literacy, and grant them until the middle of February. We are looking for essays that have been used for po- micro finance loans to get a small busi- litical science, history, or economics classes, as well as essays written specifically ness going. Let’s provide antiviral drugs in response to current events happening as we speak. Please send your essays to and free health education to prevent yet [email protected] another orphan from walking through The Vanderbilt Political Review selects essays based on how well they are written, those school doors. Let’s fill the library not the stance that an author takes on a particular issue. If you have any questions with books, but not our old copies of about its nonpartisan method of selection, please direct them to the gmail account. Harry Potter or Nancy Drew. Let’s fill it with books written in native languages, and by local authors who can profit from such an opportunity while helping their community. Most importantly, let’s de- velop an equal partnership, so that when VPR Needs Editors we say the word “let’s,” we will never again think we are talking only about ourselves. This is strategic planning for the fu- The Vanderbilt Political Review is looking for intelligent, motivated, and politi- ture. A holistic approach that builds a cally active undergraduate students to become a part of the VPR staff. These students foundation through the empowerment will be involved with the selection of the essays that are published in each issue, of the African people. With their self- editing, fact-checking, encouraging others from their class to write, and even writing reliance comes great inspiration, and some of the essays themselves. great possibility. Only then can a differ- ence really start to be made. Maybe Rick Join the Vanderbilt Political Review and help bring the Vanderbilt Community Reilly shouldn’t have been so quick to together through political, economic, and historical analysis! say, “Take the rest of the day off.” Please contact our President, Jadzia Butler, at [email protected] for an application. Works Cited:
1. “About the Campaign.” Nothing But Nets.
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