In AP Government, we spent the first 3 weeks of the second semester learning about public policy. We focused on foreign policy, health care, environment, social security and welfare more generally, and a bit on education. Students wrote policy position papers individually and then "advised" the president (me). In our pretend presidential administration, I played the first female elected to the office and I was an Independent who favored more Libertarian impulses on foreign policy, but was Green and Progressive in social and domestic affairs. The students then worked together to write collectively a State of the Union speech (we watched, analyzed and discussed President Bush's final State of the Union in order to understand how to write our own). The students learned both about policy and about how maddening and rewarding the policy-making process (and the communication process) can be! They learned that at times they had to compromise their ideas and ideals with one another's and with mine, but that always they had to speak forcefully for their well-informed ideas.
The State of the Union follows!
Dr. Berry
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Monday, February 25, 2008
Great Work F Block -- Enjoy your Speech!
F Block State of the Union 2008 – FINAL
State of the Union – Environment
My Fellow Americans:
Ladies, gentlemen, citizens of this great nation, we are here today to address the problems and dangers our society must overcome. At times, it may seem like a daunting task, but before you grow wary of the path that lies before us, remember the path that lies behind us. This nation has faced countless challenges since its foundation, and it has risen to the top. Sixty years ago, our military, coming out of the most crippling economic pitfall ever encountered by any nation, still destroyed unspeakable evil. We have prospered faster than any nation could have ever anticipated, becoming the only superpower less than a century after the Great Depression, and our military stands unquestioned as the most powerful in the world. We have been tested before, and we have proven that, united as a nation, we can defeat any foe.
This is not to say that the times ahead will be easy. There are a number of problems facing us today, and if we do not regard them as the critical threat to our national integrity that they are, this great nation will not survive. The social welfare system in its present state is doomed to failure, and if we must help it up. Our environment is slowly being destroyed by ignorant expulsion of destructive greenhouse gases. This is not an isolated issue; every first-world nation on the globe is responsible in its own part, although America is the number one emitter by a grand margin. Suffice it to say, we are inadvertently leading the nations of the world to destroy the environment, and this must stop. Of course, it will be difficult to lead other nations if they don’t respect us or the direction we are headed. For this and other reasons, we must improve our relations with foreign nations. Our goal has always been to instill a state of peace in the world, and, mighty as we are, we cannot do it alone.
Former president Bill Clinton once said “There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured with what is right with America.” Members of Congress, Vice President Colbert, Madam Speaker, and fellow Americans, it is with utmost belief in this statement that I call for change. It is time for us to play to our strengths, and in so doing eliminate our weaknesses. I call for health care reform, better schooling, and improved social welfare programs. I want our children and our children’s children to breath pure air, drink clean water, and have an abundance of healthy food sustainably produced. We must strive for improved global trade and diplomacy, secure our homeland’s borders, ports, and skies. With the combined efforts of myself, my staff, Congress, and the American people these goals are all attainable.
As one of the most powerful nations in the world, it is our duty and responsibility to spearhead the charge into the next age of prosperity. The last eight years have been years of waste and degradation. We must erase the era of failure away from the memories of the American people and the world. A new age is upon us, my fellow citizens. It is an age of wealth, an age of tenacity, an age of progression, and an age of unity. The road there is a rough one, and rest assured there will be challenges ahead, but we have overcome difficult problems before, and, united as a nation under my leadership, I know that we shall do so again.
America has been a beacon of hope for over 200 years, taking the leading role in the advancement in democracy, human rights, and technology, why should we not be the leaders in the forefront of the protection of the environment as well? We need to band together and lead the rest of the world and start protecting the environment to make sure the future is a bright one, and not just a hot one. Scientists predict we only have around 100 years of fossil fuels remaining if we maintain our present quality of life. We, as the nation that uses the largest amount of fossil fuels, must lead the research of alternative means of energy. We also must start to curb our emissions and make voluntary sacrifices in our daily lives to work towards the greater good for all to ensure the same quality of life is still available for future generations. This administration has decided to join the rest of the world in the fight to save our shared environment. We plan to sign the Kyoto Protocol and cooperate with the UN to ensure a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions. We will also work on a federal and state-by-state level to include individual citizens in this fight.
We prefer that the American people choose to curb emissions and voluntarily sacrifice in order to improve the health of our environment. In World War II, it was the sacrifice of ordinary Americans that ensured our victory over the threat of tyranny. This country needs to realize that Americans have not yet done our part to sacrifice in this new war. We have not yet been the leaders in preserving the environment, but we have the integrity and wherewithal to do just that. My administration, as the governing body of this great nation, must inspire the preservation of the environment, and to do so we will place various incentives which will inspire people’s desires to save the environment.
The first incentive we will use, on the domestic level, is to give a renewable energy tax break for consumers who convert their energy use and/or decrease their dependence on non-renewable energy sources. Not only will we give this incentive to individuals, but we will also give the opportunity to energy companies. Another incentive we will reward is a tax credit to individual Americans and any automobile manufacturer who switches to hybrid technology. This country has started to use hybrid cars, and if we improve and expound upon this technology it will prove to be greatly beneficial. However these incentives do come with reciprocal consequences. If, by 2020, considerable improvements have not been made, regulations will be tightened. We need to educate the people and manufactures of the United States of America on how to convert their energy use and/or their dependence on non-renewable energy sources.
In order to provide for these new technologies we as a country must pursue, research, and develop alternative and renewable energy sources. Our main point of emphasis will be directed towards the research of fusion technology. However, that is not to say that we will neglect the advancement of our research directed towards solar and other efficient energies. As of today we are putting $50 million towards researching solar energy. Once solar energy has become a truly viable source of power we will be able to direct our attention to other areas in desperate need of research and funding. With this new increase in the budget and our new emphasis on research, we are hoping to have better and cleaner sources of energy by 2010. The addition of new energy sources will enable us to direct our environmental priorities elsewhere.
After the cleansing addition of new energy sources our focus will be directed to the research for viable options to enhance and research the process of desalinization. We will effectively cooperate with Californian universities who will help us continue and refine our research. It must be duly noted that research shows that if we do not do anything to enhance our aquatic technologies we will go into a severe drought which already covers one third of the continental United States (USA Today). We often think of water as a renewable and endless resource, but it is not, and what happens when it runs out? In order to slow consumption, we must limit and keep track of how much water our citizens and corporations use daily. We will work with state and local governments to ensure that water conservation makes sense to local communities, but that it is also farsighted.
With this in mind we move to the preservation of our atmosphere. As an administration dedicated to protecting our environment we will increase the fines charged to corporations who overstep their emissions allotment. The fines will be based upon the company’s annual net profit and will vary within reason of the companies’ financial states, essentially the more you pollute the more excessive the fines. Furthermore, we will penalize local energy companies who have not sought out and implemented alternate energy sources by 2020.
On a final note -- the landfills in this country are filling up too quickly. There is not enough available space, nor are the current products renewable or recyclable to the extent that they will support our current use. Landfills and ocean dumping are no longer viable options. “By 2009, four of five landfills operating today will be full, and a new landfill can cost near $90 million” (AFN.org). America cannot afford this unnecessary cost on our national treasure nor can we afford the toll it will take on the environment. This administration believes strongly in the potential of recycling to revolutionize must be an option in all American communities. We will work with local governments to ensure this happens.
The fight to save the environment is not just a national problem, not just a state-by-state problem; but it is a fight for which the entire world needs to join together. Heads of states, local communities, and individuals must band together to help fight to save the environment that affects everyone and everything. We, as one of the leaders in today’s world, need to have an almost immediate change in how we build, live, and think to solve this quickly approaching problem of global climate change. We, as Americans, stand for what we feel is right, and right now we need to stand for saving the environment so future generations have a world to stand up for.
The nation’s current position on welfare has come a long way from its beginnings. Although the United States’ first priority was to provide endless aid to a nation in distress, thus aiding 80% of the population, that priority has changed with the years. We have digressed on our way along the social aid spectrum, coming from endless support to our current solution of temporary welfare. The nation is decidedly split about welfare’s contributions to those in need. Conservatives tend toward the conviction that welfare is a drain on the economy, and dependence without contribution allows those using this resource to remain in poverty. Currently, 27% of the United States population lives below the poverty level, with those on welfare receiving merely $385 a month for a family of four. Liberals tend to advocate that welfare is a necessary aid for those who are victims of circumstance, and that the money allotted as it stands is less than adequate. Although Bill Clinton provided the nation with a common ground solution of temporary aid for those on welfare (5 years on average with required proof of seeking employment), the current state of those families on welfare is one of great struggle. We must find a way to encourage employment among the impoverished classes, while at the same time providing them with the means to “get back on their feet” in a supportive manner, without making them choose among household necessities, rent, and work. Some parents on welfare, struggling to make ends meet, have been forced to choose between watching their child (for whom they could not afford child care, or were unaware or unable to access government child-care programs) and going to work. It is a travesty that in 2008 the funding for the national child-care service that provides education to over 865,000 children, Head Start, is 11% (893 million) below the 2002 funding level. It is our responsibility as a nation to financially provide our children with the tools they need to succeed, and with current funding levels, we are failing.
After 1996, with Bill Clinton’s welfare reform, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), welfare changed from being a resource provided as long as needed, to a resource provided for approximately 5 years, though this varies with each state. Power was slowly devolved from the federal government to the state governments in matters of welfare requirements. There was no federal standard for how long a person would be able to keep their welfare; this was determined by the states, which the administration believed knew their population better than the federal powers. This decision led to discrepancies between welfare requirements in the states that took greater liberties in controlling welfare, such as Alabama requiring a single woman to get married within three years of receiving welfare checks if she wished to continue her financial aid.
The major faults in the welfare system to date are the lack of proper funding for programs such as Head Start to provide parents with a safe and affordable place to leave their children when they go to work, the meager amount of aid provided to a family of four each month, and the strict time allotments decided by each state that do not consider personal circumstances that may factor into a person’s need for aid for a longer time than allotted.
First, our country needs to direct a portion of the money being channeled into Iraq, and channel it into the Head Start program. This system has already done a world of good for those underprivileged children who would otherwise not receive a good education, eat meals at lunch, or have a day care in their infant years, but there is much work to be done. If money is not provided to schools to hire good teachers, provide meals at lunch, or buy buses to transport children to and from school, the Head Start program will fail, and leave many children behind in the process.
As for the $385 a month for a family of four, this cannot do. While this amount may help the family, it certainly does not allow them the comfort of getting themselves “out of the hole” with any ease of mind. At most, this money will buy groceries for the month for a family that size. By raising taxes or simply prioritizing funds and giving more to this cause, monthly checks could be doubled, still not offering financial ease, but at least enough to cover a wider variety of needs. This would give the family more freedom of mind to pursue a career.
On a final note, perhaps the best reform to our current welfare system could be found in changing the terminal time allotted to a more malleable one, which can be extended depending on a person’s need and circumstances. With these three changes, we as a nation can help ease the minds of our fellow citizens in need while at the same time encouraging economic stability for impoverished families. With this kind of support, in time, the number of those in poverty will shrink, and America will be more the picture of success than it ever was before.
America has the moral responsibility to aid the elderly who have dedicated their lives to build and improve this very nation in which we live. Every worker in America should have the equal opportunity to voluntarily stop working in return for his or her services. At the age of 65, every man and woman should have the chance to retire and live comfortably; this has been made merely a fantasy for the majority of the working population. The current system of Social Security is forcing our parents and grandparents to continue working because the current system does not guard against population fluctuations. To counter this, I propose the creation of personal high-interest savings account backed by the United States government that would collect 8.65% of workers’ paycheck each month. At the end of the tax quarter in April, an individual could request up to 80% of the money back to use or invest. 20% would remain as insurance in the account and would only be accessible at the age of 65, the new age of retirement. With this system, the elderly of America are truly protected and their years of dedication will finally pay off, but they also have the choice to invest their hard-earned money in their own way.
WOW! Great stats – but do we want this in the State of the Union? The main purpose of the reformed Social Security Program shall be to provide a guaranteed income for every U.S. citizen and permanent resident during retirement. The average inflation for the past 20 years is about 3%. Assuming the same average rate for the next 30 years, a dollar today would value $2.43 in 30 years. In terms of today's dollars, the average minimum wage over the past 20 years has been around $6/hour. Assuming a forty-hour work week for fifty-two weeks, the minimum wage would equate to about $12 000 per year. As of now, 7.65% of an employee's wages is deducted from his/her salary to go towards their Social Security account, with another 7.65% provided by the employer. This totals to 15.30%, which if applied to the minimum yearly income, results in about $1800 contributed to their Social Security account yearly. Adjusting for a 3% yearly inflation and assuming 4% yearly yield for a savings account, in 30 years the Social Security account would have about $164 000.
If the personal and employer percent contribution would be raised to 8.65%, more than $2000 per year would go towards Social Security for a person with minimum wage. Raising the savings account interest rates to 5% and supposing the worker would allocate all of the 8.65% towards Social Security, the amount in the Social Security account after 30 years will be about $222 000, a significant increase, especially when assuming the worst case scenario of minimum wage.
The health of our people is also crucial to the health of America. Healthy people equal a productive nation. Currently, we have 45 million uninsured individuals who are struggling to keep themselves and their families healthy and happy. This is far too high a number. Therefore, the government, as the people's representative, must reform this system to universal healthcare. I know that this sounds like an impossible task, but I believe that it is more than possible if the correct steps are taken. I propose a plan that would give the people of the United States free universal healthcare in the next 14 years. First, we would begin by giving free government provided healthcare to all children up to the age of 18 and the elderly starting at the age of 65, regardless of their income. After five years, people younger than 28 and older than 55 would be eligible for this program. Then, after another 5 years, everyone would be covered under the system. A gradual change in the way healthcare is approached would allow for the public to adjust to the new plan and for the government to be able to work out any kinks that may arise. This system would cover everyone who has been legally living in the United States for at least 3 months. This would also mean that all people in the medical profession would become employees of the US government. Although this would require a slight tax increase to cover all the costs of healthcare, the benefit of this is monumental for every individual legally living in this country.
America prides itself in being at the forefront of so many programs that benefit our people; however, we are lagging so far behind the rest of the world when it comes to providing free universal healthcare. France, England, Canada, and even Cuba already have universal healthcare. If these nations have already created this system, then we know that it is possible and should follow suit to provide the best healthcare that we can.
As much as we must focus on our domestic affairs, we must also turn our eyes to the globe. Foreign policy should ensure the liberty of America by sustaining the right of safety, pursuit of happiness, and opportunity to prosper. The foreign policy of America depends on the protection and safety of its people, which leads to stability. America was built and still stands on an ideology of individualism and government for the people to protect the “unalienable rights” of Americans. The people of America will truly have liberty when the United States government can ensure the stability of the nation through improving policies on War on Terror, immigration, and trade.
The United States must protect its citizens and ideals by continuing to do everything in our power to fight the War on Terror. In America, the liberty to live, act, and speak without fear is directly linked to the idea of being free in a society from oppressive entities. The safety of Americans is too valuable to be compromised by terrorism. Therefore, by opposing those who jeopardize this safety, this inherent right of Americans, America will succeed in putting down the threats of the enemies, who do not choose a future of freedom and peace. To protect American lives and markets, we will continue to fight the War on Terror with vigilance and determination. The War on Terror is a battle we cannot afford to lose.
Our standing army must continue to be strong. We will increase benefits for soldiers and veterans and put more money towards the GI bill. To defend America, we must tighten border security with more money, technology, and personnel. However, to ensure the safety of this nation, the government must take steps even further. This administration will ask Congress to fund a missile defense program and better weapons to enhance our nuclear delivery capability to eliminate the turmoil and chaos terrorism and conflict cause around the world.
The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are going well and need our continued support. We cannot hope to create a secure world if we pull out of either country immediately. We must stay in Iraq on a support basis with the intent of sending half the troops home by 2010.
America will pursue sanctions on Iran and North Korea until they decide to be totally transparent about their nuclear programs. Iran is quickly becoming a nuclear threat to world security, and it is high time that the U.S. takes significant action. With or without our allies we must sanction Iran with whatever force is required. It is absolutely paramount that we not allow Iran to become a nuclear power. Iran has directly supplied our enemies and thus has declared an underhand war against the U.S. It is time to show Iran and the world that our freedom will not be threatened. We must immobilize these hostile dangers to our nation. It is vital that these rogue nations are stopped before they endanger our ideals further.
Moving away from the Middle East, we as a country have to regain the position of light in the world that we once hoped to hold. We have to protect the weak around the world and eliminate tyranny. This means stopping the genocide in Sudan and Darfur and working to stabilize Kenya.
Looking inward, the administration will improve the conditions immigration policies to better suit the conditions of America today. The path to citizenship will not be easy, but it will not be impossible either. In order to become a citizen, an immigrant will have to become proficient in English, serve in the military, work in the country for three years, and swear an oath of allegiance to the U.S. Furthermore, we will institute a minimum wage for immigrant workers, and we will require them to register with Border Patrol and have an efficient background check with the necessary systems to streamline this process. Finally, this administration, with the help of Congress, will implement a guest worker program that includes minimum wage for American factories operating in foreign countries, minimum wage for immigrant workers in America, and a registration process that is quicker but more intensive so that the federal government can track immigrants. Improving policies in immigration is an essential step in improving the strength of America.
To strengthen the economy and ensure the progress of America in the future, the federal government will foster good relations among America and other countries. We will show the world that America’s population is interested in improving conditions for humanity globally. America must support free trade but take a stand for humane globalization. American companies operating abroad must maintain standards of decency that we expect of our own people. In addition, the government will pursue policies to become less dependent on countries like China and to decrease the trade deficit by 20% in 2020. Finally, this administration asks Congress to give aid to Mexico to help ignite her economy. This will improve situations in Mexico internally and relations between Mexico and America, which will improve the chances of Mexico importing American goods and keeping immigrants at home. By becoming involved in global trade and economic development, while protecting the rights of Americans, America will improve its reputation worldwide as well as keep the economy prospering and strong.
America promises liberty. A strong, prosperous America will come when Americans can feel safe to strive and grow. Therefore, this administration’s foreign policy will promote opportunities for growth, safety, and protection. By concentrating on the War on Terror, immigration, and trade, the government has a responsibility to Americans to revise its foreign policy in order to attain the height of American idealism, liberty for the individual and the nation as a whole.
My fellow Americans, the world is quite different today than it was in our Nation's founding era. The world seems threatening, and sometimes overwhelming. We can no longer ignore the effects that global warming is having on the planet, and the United States must take responsibility to help end this threat, both with the help of its
citizens and its national government. The War on Terror is imperative to securing the safety of our people, and we must follow through till we defeat terrorism and expose our enemies for the nuclear, missile-bearing nations they are. We must protect our borders, and ensure global trade to protect and bolster the economy. Domestically, America must provide more funds to bettering the welfare system, and improving the quality of our compromised educational system. America is one of the strongest nations in the world, and we must be able to pride ourselves in providing for the future leaders of the world, our children. Global events demand that we re-examine our values and hold true to them,
both for ourselves and for our neighbors. We have been blessed by our founding father's far-reaching vision of life, liberty, and happiness, and it is up to us to translate that dream for the 21st century! Thank you, and God bless America.
State of the Union – Environment
My Fellow Americans:
Ladies, gentlemen, citizens of this great nation, we are here today to address the problems and dangers our society must overcome. At times, it may seem like a daunting task, but before you grow wary of the path that lies before us, remember the path that lies behind us. This nation has faced countless challenges since its foundation, and it has risen to the top. Sixty years ago, our military, coming out of the most crippling economic pitfall ever encountered by any nation, still destroyed unspeakable evil. We have prospered faster than any nation could have ever anticipated, becoming the only superpower less than a century after the Great Depression, and our military stands unquestioned as the most powerful in the world. We have been tested before, and we have proven that, united as a nation, we can defeat any foe.
This is not to say that the times ahead will be easy. There are a number of problems facing us today, and if we do not regard them as the critical threat to our national integrity that they are, this great nation will not survive. The social welfare system in its present state is doomed to failure, and if we must help it up. Our environment is slowly being destroyed by ignorant expulsion of destructive greenhouse gases. This is not an isolated issue; every first-world nation on the globe is responsible in its own part, although America is the number one emitter by a grand margin. Suffice it to say, we are inadvertently leading the nations of the world to destroy the environment, and this must stop. Of course, it will be difficult to lead other nations if they don’t respect us or the direction we are headed. For this and other reasons, we must improve our relations with foreign nations. Our goal has always been to instill a state of peace in the world, and, mighty as we are, we cannot do it alone.
Former president Bill Clinton once said “There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured with what is right with America.” Members of Congress, Vice President Colbert, Madam Speaker, and fellow Americans, it is with utmost belief in this statement that I call for change. It is time for us to play to our strengths, and in so doing eliminate our weaknesses. I call for health care reform, better schooling, and improved social welfare programs. I want our children and our children’s children to breath pure air, drink clean water, and have an abundance of healthy food sustainably produced. We must strive for improved global trade and diplomacy, secure our homeland’s borders, ports, and skies. With the combined efforts of myself, my staff, Congress, and the American people these goals are all attainable.
As one of the most powerful nations in the world, it is our duty and responsibility to spearhead the charge into the next age of prosperity. The last eight years have been years of waste and degradation. We must erase the era of failure away from the memories of the American people and the world. A new age is upon us, my fellow citizens. It is an age of wealth, an age of tenacity, an age of progression, and an age of unity. The road there is a rough one, and rest assured there will be challenges ahead, but we have overcome difficult problems before, and, united as a nation under my leadership, I know that we shall do so again.
America has been a beacon of hope for over 200 years, taking the leading role in the advancement in democracy, human rights, and technology, why should we not be the leaders in the forefront of the protection of the environment as well? We need to band together and lead the rest of the world and start protecting the environment to make sure the future is a bright one, and not just a hot one. Scientists predict we only have around 100 years of fossil fuels remaining if we maintain our present quality of life. We, as the nation that uses the largest amount of fossil fuels, must lead the research of alternative means of energy. We also must start to curb our emissions and make voluntary sacrifices in our daily lives to work towards the greater good for all to ensure the same quality of life is still available for future generations. This administration has decided to join the rest of the world in the fight to save our shared environment. We plan to sign the Kyoto Protocol and cooperate with the UN to ensure a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions. We will also work on a federal and state-by-state level to include individual citizens in this fight.
We prefer that the American people choose to curb emissions and voluntarily sacrifice in order to improve the health of our environment. In World War II, it was the sacrifice of ordinary Americans that ensured our victory over the threat of tyranny. This country needs to realize that Americans have not yet done our part to sacrifice in this new war. We have not yet been the leaders in preserving the environment, but we have the integrity and wherewithal to do just that. My administration, as the governing body of this great nation, must inspire the preservation of the environment, and to do so we will place various incentives which will inspire people’s desires to save the environment.
The first incentive we will use, on the domestic level, is to give a renewable energy tax break for consumers who convert their energy use and/or decrease their dependence on non-renewable energy sources. Not only will we give this incentive to individuals, but we will also give the opportunity to energy companies. Another incentive we will reward is a tax credit to individual Americans and any automobile manufacturer who switches to hybrid technology. This country has started to use hybrid cars, and if we improve and expound upon this technology it will prove to be greatly beneficial. However these incentives do come with reciprocal consequences. If, by 2020, considerable improvements have not been made, regulations will be tightened. We need to educate the people and manufactures of the United States of America on how to convert their energy use and/or their dependence on non-renewable energy sources.
In order to provide for these new technologies we as a country must pursue, research, and develop alternative and renewable energy sources. Our main point of emphasis will be directed towards the research of fusion technology. However, that is not to say that we will neglect the advancement of our research directed towards solar and other efficient energies. As of today we are putting $50 million towards researching solar energy. Once solar energy has become a truly viable source of power we will be able to direct our attention to other areas in desperate need of research and funding. With this new increase in the budget and our new emphasis on research, we are hoping to have better and cleaner sources of energy by 2010. The addition of new energy sources will enable us to direct our environmental priorities elsewhere.
After the cleansing addition of new energy sources our focus will be directed to the research for viable options to enhance and research the process of desalinization. We will effectively cooperate with Californian universities who will help us continue and refine our research. It must be duly noted that research shows that if we do not do anything to enhance our aquatic technologies we will go into a severe drought which already covers one third of the continental United States (USA Today). We often think of water as a renewable and endless resource, but it is not, and what happens when it runs out? In order to slow consumption, we must limit and keep track of how much water our citizens and corporations use daily. We will work with state and local governments to ensure that water conservation makes sense to local communities, but that it is also farsighted.
With this in mind we move to the preservation of our atmosphere. As an administration dedicated to protecting our environment we will increase the fines charged to corporations who overstep their emissions allotment. The fines will be based upon the company’s annual net profit and will vary within reason of the companies’ financial states, essentially the more you pollute the more excessive the fines. Furthermore, we will penalize local energy companies who have not sought out and implemented alternate energy sources by 2020.
On a final note -- the landfills in this country are filling up too quickly. There is not enough available space, nor are the current products renewable or recyclable to the extent that they will support our current use. Landfills and ocean dumping are no longer viable options. “By 2009, four of five landfills operating today will be full, and a new landfill can cost near $90 million” (AFN.org). America cannot afford this unnecessary cost on our national treasure nor can we afford the toll it will take on the environment. This administration believes strongly in the potential of recycling to revolutionize must be an option in all American communities. We will work with local governments to ensure this happens.
The fight to save the environment is not just a national problem, not just a state-by-state problem; but it is a fight for which the entire world needs to join together. Heads of states, local communities, and individuals must band together to help fight to save the environment that affects everyone and everything. We, as one of the leaders in today’s world, need to have an almost immediate change in how we build, live, and think to solve this quickly approaching problem of global climate change. We, as Americans, stand for what we feel is right, and right now we need to stand for saving the environment so future generations have a world to stand up for.
The nation’s current position on welfare has come a long way from its beginnings. Although the United States’ first priority was to provide endless aid to a nation in distress, thus aiding 80% of the population, that priority has changed with the years. We have digressed on our way along the social aid spectrum, coming from endless support to our current solution of temporary welfare. The nation is decidedly split about welfare’s contributions to those in need. Conservatives tend toward the conviction that welfare is a drain on the economy, and dependence without contribution allows those using this resource to remain in poverty. Currently, 27% of the United States population lives below the poverty level, with those on welfare receiving merely $385 a month for a family of four. Liberals tend to advocate that welfare is a necessary aid for those who are victims of circumstance, and that the money allotted as it stands is less than adequate. Although Bill Clinton provided the nation with a common ground solution of temporary aid for those on welfare (5 years on average with required proof of seeking employment), the current state of those families on welfare is one of great struggle. We must find a way to encourage employment among the impoverished classes, while at the same time providing them with the means to “get back on their feet” in a supportive manner, without making them choose among household necessities, rent, and work. Some parents on welfare, struggling to make ends meet, have been forced to choose between watching their child (for whom they could not afford child care, or were unaware or unable to access government child-care programs) and going to work. It is a travesty that in 2008 the funding for the national child-care service that provides education to over 865,000 children, Head Start, is 11% (893 million) below the 2002 funding level. It is our responsibility as a nation to financially provide our children with the tools they need to succeed, and with current funding levels, we are failing.
After 1996, with Bill Clinton’s welfare reform, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), welfare changed from being a resource provided as long as needed, to a resource provided for approximately 5 years, though this varies with each state. Power was slowly devolved from the federal government to the state governments in matters of welfare requirements. There was no federal standard for how long a person would be able to keep their welfare; this was determined by the states, which the administration believed knew their population better than the federal powers. This decision led to discrepancies between welfare requirements in the states that took greater liberties in controlling welfare, such as Alabama requiring a single woman to get married within three years of receiving welfare checks if she wished to continue her financial aid.
The major faults in the welfare system to date are the lack of proper funding for programs such as Head Start to provide parents with a safe and affordable place to leave their children when they go to work, the meager amount of aid provided to a family of four each month, and the strict time allotments decided by each state that do not consider personal circumstances that may factor into a person’s need for aid for a longer time than allotted.
First, our country needs to direct a portion of the money being channeled into Iraq, and channel it into the Head Start program. This system has already done a world of good for those underprivileged children who would otherwise not receive a good education, eat meals at lunch, or have a day care in their infant years, but there is much work to be done. If money is not provided to schools to hire good teachers, provide meals at lunch, or buy buses to transport children to and from school, the Head Start program will fail, and leave many children behind in the process.
As for the $385 a month for a family of four, this cannot do. While this amount may help the family, it certainly does not allow them the comfort of getting themselves “out of the hole” with any ease of mind. At most, this money will buy groceries for the month for a family that size. By raising taxes or simply prioritizing funds and giving more to this cause, monthly checks could be doubled, still not offering financial ease, but at least enough to cover a wider variety of needs. This would give the family more freedom of mind to pursue a career.
On a final note, perhaps the best reform to our current welfare system could be found in changing the terminal time allotted to a more malleable one, which can be extended depending on a person’s need and circumstances. With these three changes, we as a nation can help ease the minds of our fellow citizens in need while at the same time encouraging economic stability for impoverished families. With this kind of support, in time, the number of those in poverty will shrink, and America will be more the picture of success than it ever was before.
America has the moral responsibility to aid the elderly who have dedicated their lives to build and improve this very nation in which we live. Every worker in America should have the equal opportunity to voluntarily stop working in return for his or her services. At the age of 65, every man and woman should have the chance to retire and live comfortably; this has been made merely a fantasy for the majority of the working population. The current system of Social Security is forcing our parents and grandparents to continue working because the current system does not guard against population fluctuations. To counter this, I propose the creation of personal high-interest savings account backed by the United States government that would collect 8.65% of workers’ paycheck each month. At the end of the tax quarter in April, an individual could request up to 80% of the money back to use or invest. 20% would remain as insurance in the account and would only be accessible at the age of 65, the new age of retirement. With this system, the elderly of America are truly protected and their years of dedication will finally pay off, but they also have the choice to invest their hard-earned money in their own way.
WOW! Great stats – but do we want this in the State of the Union? The main purpose of the reformed Social Security Program shall be to provide a guaranteed income for every U.S. citizen and permanent resident during retirement. The average inflation for the past 20 years is about 3%. Assuming the same average rate for the next 30 years, a dollar today would value $2.43 in 30 years. In terms of today's dollars, the average minimum wage over the past 20 years has been around $6/hour. Assuming a forty-hour work week for fifty-two weeks, the minimum wage would equate to about $12 000 per year. As of now, 7.65% of an employee's wages is deducted from his/her salary to go towards their Social Security account, with another 7.65% provided by the employer. This totals to 15.30%, which if applied to the minimum yearly income, results in about $1800 contributed to their Social Security account yearly. Adjusting for a 3% yearly inflation and assuming 4% yearly yield for a savings account, in 30 years the Social Security account would have about $164 000.
If the personal and employer percent contribution would be raised to 8.65%, more than $2000 per year would go towards Social Security for a person with minimum wage. Raising the savings account interest rates to 5% and supposing the worker would allocate all of the 8.65% towards Social Security, the amount in the Social Security account after 30 years will be about $222 000, a significant increase, especially when assuming the worst case scenario of minimum wage.
The health of our people is also crucial to the health of America. Healthy people equal a productive nation. Currently, we have 45 million uninsured individuals who are struggling to keep themselves and their families healthy and happy. This is far too high a number. Therefore, the government, as the people's representative, must reform this system to universal healthcare. I know that this sounds like an impossible task, but I believe that it is more than possible if the correct steps are taken. I propose a plan that would give the people of the United States free universal healthcare in the next 14 years. First, we would begin by giving free government provided healthcare to all children up to the age of 18 and the elderly starting at the age of 65, regardless of their income. After five years, people younger than 28 and older than 55 would be eligible for this program. Then, after another 5 years, everyone would be covered under the system. A gradual change in the way healthcare is approached would allow for the public to adjust to the new plan and for the government to be able to work out any kinks that may arise. This system would cover everyone who has been legally living in the United States for at least 3 months. This would also mean that all people in the medical profession would become employees of the US government. Although this would require a slight tax increase to cover all the costs of healthcare, the benefit of this is monumental for every individual legally living in this country.
America prides itself in being at the forefront of so many programs that benefit our people; however, we are lagging so far behind the rest of the world when it comes to providing free universal healthcare. France, England, Canada, and even Cuba already have universal healthcare. If these nations have already created this system, then we know that it is possible and should follow suit to provide the best healthcare that we can.
As much as we must focus on our domestic affairs, we must also turn our eyes to the globe. Foreign policy should ensure the liberty of America by sustaining the right of safety, pursuit of happiness, and opportunity to prosper. The foreign policy of America depends on the protection and safety of its people, which leads to stability. America was built and still stands on an ideology of individualism and government for the people to protect the “unalienable rights” of Americans. The people of America will truly have liberty when the United States government can ensure the stability of the nation through improving policies on War on Terror, immigration, and trade.
The United States must protect its citizens and ideals by continuing to do everything in our power to fight the War on Terror. In America, the liberty to live, act, and speak without fear is directly linked to the idea of being free in a society from oppressive entities. The safety of Americans is too valuable to be compromised by terrorism. Therefore, by opposing those who jeopardize this safety, this inherent right of Americans, America will succeed in putting down the threats of the enemies, who do not choose a future of freedom and peace. To protect American lives and markets, we will continue to fight the War on Terror with vigilance and determination. The War on Terror is a battle we cannot afford to lose.
Our standing army must continue to be strong. We will increase benefits for soldiers and veterans and put more money towards the GI bill. To defend America, we must tighten border security with more money, technology, and personnel. However, to ensure the safety of this nation, the government must take steps even further. This administration will ask Congress to fund a missile defense program and better weapons to enhance our nuclear delivery capability to eliminate the turmoil and chaos terrorism and conflict cause around the world.
The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are going well and need our continued support. We cannot hope to create a secure world if we pull out of either country immediately. We must stay in Iraq on a support basis with the intent of sending half the troops home by 2010.
America will pursue sanctions on Iran and North Korea until they decide to be totally transparent about their nuclear programs. Iran is quickly becoming a nuclear threat to world security, and it is high time that the U.S. takes significant action. With or without our allies we must sanction Iran with whatever force is required. It is absolutely paramount that we not allow Iran to become a nuclear power. Iran has directly supplied our enemies and thus has declared an underhand war against the U.S. It is time to show Iran and the world that our freedom will not be threatened. We must immobilize these hostile dangers to our nation. It is vital that these rogue nations are stopped before they endanger our ideals further.
Moving away from the Middle East, we as a country have to regain the position of light in the world that we once hoped to hold. We have to protect the weak around the world and eliminate tyranny. This means stopping the genocide in Sudan and Darfur and working to stabilize Kenya.
Looking inward, the administration will improve the conditions immigration policies to better suit the conditions of America today. The path to citizenship will not be easy, but it will not be impossible either. In order to become a citizen, an immigrant will have to become proficient in English, serve in the military, work in the country for three years, and swear an oath of allegiance to the U.S. Furthermore, we will institute a minimum wage for immigrant workers, and we will require them to register with Border Patrol and have an efficient background check with the necessary systems to streamline this process. Finally, this administration, with the help of Congress, will implement a guest worker program that includes minimum wage for American factories operating in foreign countries, minimum wage for immigrant workers in America, and a registration process that is quicker but more intensive so that the federal government can track immigrants. Improving policies in immigration is an essential step in improving the strength of America.
To strengthen the economy and ensure the progress of America in the future, the federal government will foster good relations among America and other countries. We will show the world that America’s population is interested in improving conditions for humanity globally. America must support free trade but take a stand for humane globalization. American companies operating abroad must maintain standards of decency that we expect of our own people. In addition, the government will pursue policies to become less dependent on countries like China and to decrease the trade deficit by 20% in 2020. Finally, this administration asks Congress to give aid to Mexico to help ignite her economy. This will improve situations in Mexico internally and relations between Mexico and America, which will improve the chances of Mexico importing American goods and keeping immigrants at home. By becoming involved in global trade and economic development, while protecting the rights of Americans, America will improve its reputation worldwide as well as keep the economy prospering and strong.
America promises liberty. A strong, prosperous America will come when Americans can feel safe to strive and grow. Therefore, this administration’s foreign policy will promote opportunities for growth, safety, and protection. By concentrating on the War on Terror, immigration, and trade, the government has a responsibility to Americans to revise its foreign policy in order to attain the height of American idealism, liberty for the individual and the nation as a whole.
My fellow Americans, the world is quite different today than it was in our Nation's founding era. The world seems threatening, and sometimes overwhelming. We can no longer ignore the effects that global warming is having on the planet, and the United States must take responsibility to help end this threat, both with the help of its
citizens and its national government. The War on Terror is imperative to securing the safety of our people, and we must follow through till we defeat terrorism and expose our enemies for the nuclear, missile-bearing nations they are. We must protect our borders, and ensure global trade to protect and bolster the economy. Domestically, America must provide more funds to bettering the welfare system, and improving the quality of our compromised educational system. America is one of the strongest nations in the world, and we must be able to pride ourselves in providing for the future leaders of the world, our children. Global events demand that we re-examine our values and hold true to them,
both for ourselves and for our neighbors. We have been blessed by our founding father's far-reaching vision of life, liberty, and happiness, and it is up to us to translate that dream for the 21st century! Thank you, and God bless America.
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