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 G Block -- Enjoy your Speech!
G Block – State of the Union FINAL 2008
My Fellow Americans:
When the founding fathers gathered in Philadelphia in 1788, they swore to protect the rights and privileges of their people, the citizens of the new United States of America. They called for change- a progression from the monarchical rule of George III into a new era of independence and democracy. We have continued their honorable tradition for 220 years. Today, I address the nation, as charged by our Constitution, so that we may continue to progress and to do so with the spirit and courage of our forefathers. The world is rapidly changing, and we must once again lead the world in its evolution into an era of new global diplomacy, environmental reverence, and social responsibility.
At home, we will deliberate on and reform our domestic policies, especially with regards to social welfare, social security, health care and the paramount issue of the education of future generations. Our current system of social welfare is one desperately in need of change. By returning many welfare programs to a national level and relieving the states of the burdens of inefficient and under-funded programs, we can expand the services and improve the quality of care for our citizens. With the impending retirement of the baby-boom generation, it is imperative that our government assists Social Security to ensure its survival for future generations of workers. Our government must also begin the transition into more affordable and available healthcare for the uninsured and poorly insured of America. It is a nation’s duty to protect its citizens in every way possible. I also firmly believe that education of our youth is the backbone of a strong and evolving democracy. As leaders, it is also our duty to ensure the sustainability of our nation; to do this, we must take action against global warming and for the reform of environmental policy.
In the coming year, we must set the standards for future administrations and generations of American citizens to uphold the inspired tradition of our founding fathers and with the support of this assembled body and with the strength of every American, we can create change and progress.
First let me address the area that I find of utmost importance to our children and our children’s children – the environment. Americans must lead the rest of the world in a new commitment to protecting our planet. I will sign the Kyoto Protocol and make every effort to meet and exceed the standards. But the Kyoto Protocol is not enough. People all over the world must be educated about the threats to their environment. America will take up the responsibility of educating both American citizens and people throughout the world. Congress should fund a new program, the Global Outreach Division (GOD), which will work to increase environmental awareness throughout the world. The government will also lead the way in the environmental movement. The government itself will become more environmentally friendly in the next four years than at any time in its history. The bureaucracy will try to go as paperless as possible and rely on energy efficient transportation on a daily basis. I can only encourage Congress and the Judiciary branch to do the same.
In addition, the federal government will finance an increase in the scope and availability of public transportation. In order to decrease our dependence on foreign oil, and involve the citizens in the environmental revolution everyday, the government will encourage carpooling and will improve public transportation, especially on the west coast.
My administration will also increase financial support of research for renewable energy sources, including: nuclear, solar, wind, and hydro powers. America will also support research into a variety of environmental problems including: forest fires, bees, and natural disasters. I am confidant in the ability of American scientists and the ingenuity of American inventors. I believe that if Americans put their minds to it, we can come up with practical, intelligent solutions to our environmental problems.
In order to ensure that environmental friendliness is also economically favorable, and therefore increase the participation of everyone, the government will offer tax breaks for corporations and individuals who are energy conscious. Corporations will be eligible for tax breaks if they decrease their emissions significantly, incorporate recycled products into their manufacturing, and use and promote renewable energy sources.
We can only have an environmental revolution if every person helps. People should join GOD. They should educate themselves about the problems in the environment and the resources available to them through the government. Each person must be a part of the solution. GOD will reach out to the people overseas, and here in the US the government will take further steps to help and educate Americans. Next to every public trashcan, my administration will install a recycling bin in order to make it as convenient to be environmentally friendly as it is to be wasteful. GOD will teach Americans how to make changes in their daily lives, like buying recycled products, reusing water bottles, and supporting businesses that are environmentally conscious. Together we can make a difference in our world and preserve the health of our environment for future generations.
The health of planet is no more essential to our national strength than the health of our people. Unfortunately, Americans are in dire need of better health insurance because the insurance system is in dire need of attention and reform. Under the current system, the Americans who need health insurance the most have been left behind. As such our government is introducing a plan to stimulate the current health insurance market and provide insurance to every American who requires it. The foundation of this new system will be based on the principles of universal health care in hopes that this is the first step in moving our country towards a more equal and fair health care system. In order create a better America, our government will establish a new division of the Department of Health and Human Services. This new branch will supervise a government-run health insurance system that will provide coverage to all US citizens. The goal of this system is to make health insurance accessible and affordable to even the poorest Americans. This new organization will be run as a not-for-profit government corporation, in contrast to the current private health care industry, which operates for profit.
In order to fund this new system, there will be a small addition to the income tax of all American citizens. The income tax will provide the financial basis upon which the government health insurance will operate. The base amount of this tax will be determined each financial quarter by the projections of an independent market research panel. Furthermore, this panel will determine fair coverage costs based upon the current market price of health insurance. The purpose of this advisory committee is to insure that the government does not provide unfair competition with the existing private industries, but rather provides a cheaper, guaranteed alternative to private health insurance. In some cases, the situation may arise such that a supplemental payment is necessary to cover the cost of medical treatment. If the insured citizen is unable to afford this extra cost, or co-pay, the government will further cover such costs at a slight increase in the individual citizen's "insurance tax."
Finally, our government would like to assure the American people that this new system in no way undermines the current health insurance market, but rather encourages it to compete by offering more coverage at lower prices. By doing so, we offer the American people a choice to be insured by either a government-run or private health insurance organization, ensuring that in either case, all Americans have the opportunity to receive health insurance regardless of their medical and/or financial circumstances.
The retirement of our elderly is a national concern. We need a program that will help all our retirees live out the rest of their years comfortably. Some may believe that there will be enough money to support our seniors in the next few decades, and no change is necessary. We cannot take that chance. We cannot risk American lives. If we do not have enough money to adequately provide Social Security benefits, we will see our elders, our grandmothers and grandfathers, struggling to find a place to sleep at night. Do we really want to take that chance? We need to increase funds going to the less fortunate for the security of America. Not only do we need a plan to help our baby boomers retire comfortably, but we also need to increase monthly social security checks going to the needy. In our current state, people cannot live on the meager monthly checks they receive. We must bring about change to help this country’s people.
Our top priority is to increase the amount of money going to those who rely on the government. If the people cannot rely on the government for support, that government does not deserve to lead. So, we must raise taxes on the top 20% of America’s wealthy to help those in need. With a tax increase, we can increase the flow of money in social security checks, increasing to $1,500 per month average.
The next change that must be made is to help all the baby boomers become financially secure. To do so, we must have more available funds to go out to the large amount of retirees in the coming years. In order to manage funds, we will increase the age requirement for social security benefits from age 65 to 70. To compensate for this five year age difference, we will have a slow transition for retirees. At 65 they will begin to receive a part of their social security check, and the amount will increase each year until they get full benefits by age 70. This plan will enable manageable living for all America’s citizens, with very little expense to those who do not require assistance. With this plan we will pave the path to a united America, where everyone has a home and the freedom to live comfortably in old age.
TANF, or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, is a program specifically set up for the aid of needy families with children on a temporary basis. TANF is controlled mainly on a state level and is given grants by the federal government. Recipients thus receive more or less money based on the state they live in, making the welfare program of the United States inconsistent across the nation. This system of aid is fairly new but that does not mean that we should accept it any longer. Much of the money given to the states for their personal welfare programs must go to the paychecks and office bills of the bureaucracy set up to manage the funds, thus decreasing the amount of money that can go directly to the needy families. We must solve the problems of TANF by first moving the entire program to a national level and put the control in one bureaucracy in order to maintain equality among our citizens. We also must educate our taxpayers on the benefits of welfare and the type of people who are receiving their aid. These families are sometimes working multiple minimum wage jobs while trying desperately to remove themselves from under the poverty line. The cost of education and living is rising but minimum wage is staying the same. We must raise minimum wage in order to meet with the standards of living we are requiring for our citizens. No American should have to work two jobs and receive welfare to feed a family of four. Also, as a nation we must work to clean up our food production. We will strive to reduce fats, such as corn oil, in food and subsidize those farmers and food companies who grow organic foodstuffs and create wholesome foods.
One of the most important aspects of our national strength is the educational system in America. As hard as it may be to admit, our students are not adequately educated. More schools are closing and more teachers are falling below the standards. We must increase wages for teachers who have been dedicated to a certain school for a certain number of years. We also must increase the training needed for our educators. Also, instead of closing schools who do not meet certain criteria we should put more money into these systems so that they may finally pull their students up to meet their full potential. It sends the wrong message if we just give up on entire school systems. We are telling our children that they aren’t good enough to receive our compassion or our aid. We must therefore, reconsider and reform No Child Left Behind. We must put forth resources and support to our schools so that our students can become more competitive in a global world.
And it is a global world which is why foreign policy is one of the most important areas of policy for the Congress and the President. Unfortunately, my predecessor made foreign policy solely an arena for the president. I intend to put foreign policy back in the hands of the American people. My first and foremost obligation is protecting the American people on domestic and foreign soil. In an effort to secure Americans in America, we must first examine our own borders. My administration understands the necessity to nurture the ideas and skills of foreigners without sacrificing national security. Immigrants have been and will always serve as the foundation of American culture, and by excluding them we cannot grow to our utmost potential.
The system of American Foreign Policy as it stands is flawed. The problem stems from border security and the inefficient system of earning citizenship. By increasing the pay and prestige of border patrol, we can strengthen our patrol force, increase efficiency, and promote the safety of fellow Americans. We support a guest worker program because we recognize immigrants’ contributions to the American economy, but we are unwilling to sacrifice the safety of Americans for the advancement of the economy. We must initialize comprehensive background examinations of incoming guest workers. In an effort to support these immigrants, we want to secure their natural rights as human beings by establishing a guest worker Bill of Rights. This will include due process, equality under the law, minimum wage, and labor laws. Guest workers will pay into the social security system and can receive the benefits after gaining citizenship. Those workers, though, are not entitled to all of the rights of American citizens. They are strictly guest workers who abide by our laws but are still legally waiting in line to attain full citizenship. On a similar note, we must make the path to attaining citizenship less complicated and less lengthy. The timeline right now is almost 20 years to earn citizenship. Families are forced to wait an entire generation before they can even hope to legally earn citizenship. The United States government must invest time, money, and resources into streamlining the process.
But now, let us examine the reason why thousands of people every day attempt to cross into America. Few people want to leave their homeland, so these immigrants must have just reasoning for coming to this great country. While we support guest workers, we also support our international relations and we would rather see our international reputation improve. In an effort to nurture our global economy, we must revise the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). While we believe in the importance of free trade, we also believe in overseeing the policies of American companies established on foreign soil. To preserve the American image of a country that values life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for everyone, we must maintain environmental, social, and economic standards of the United States.
In order to protect all of the United States, we must ensure that we are protected from enemies of democracy. To do this, we must lead by example. Democracy abroad is impossible if it is eroded at home. We must abolish torturous practices, restore the writ of Habeas Corpus, and minimize our invasive methods of gathering intelligence. It is only after democracy is secured at home that we can protect it abroad. First and foremost, we must reduce our number of troops in Iraq. The Iraqis see us as a dominating threat to their existing social order and this gives terrorists a reason to rebel against the United States’ troops. However, we recognize and honor our men and women who have given the ultimate sacrifice to our country, and we will not let their bravery be in vain. In an effort to secure a long-term alliance with the Iraqi people, we must maintain enough troops to build the country into a flourishing global asset and keep stability without further aggravating the situation. Furthermore, we must recognize that Iran and North Korea threaten our security and are therefore threats to the beacon of hope that is America. We insist that both of these countries keep the world informed of their nuclear status. Also, we will begin funding and promoting a defense system to protect the American people from potential attack. Terrorists, while difficult to find, are not impossible to conquer. They are harbored within nations and are not randomly dispersed. As a result, we must work diplomatically with all nations to ensure that terrorists cannot find safety. Let us take these past seven years as a lesson that proves diplomacy superior to militaristic violence. As your president it is my duty to use my power as Chief Diplomat instead of Commander-in-Chief to ensure America’s security and prosperity at home and at large.
The responsibilities given to us by the Founding Fathers require us, as a nation, to come together to preserve personal liberties, defend our country, and maintain our independence. Based on the principles set up by our Constitution we will lead our country into the new age of progress and technology.
By reforming our domestic policy we will ensure the state of our nation to be prepared to move forward with the new development of technology and future knowledge. By educating our youths we will ensure the best futures for our citizens and make our country able to advance competitively with other nations. The only way we can successfully educate our youths we must follow through on abolishing the No Child Left Behind Act. This test does not encourage progressive learning; rather it is destroying the public educational system in our nation. We as a nation have the capability to expand the services and improve the quality of care for our citizens in other areas as well, such as health care. In order to do this it is imperative that our government assists this program, and the many others like Social Security and TANF to ensure their survival and effectiveness for future generations.
In order to function as a global nation we also need to extend our borders to other countries as well by encouraging diplomacy and rapid processing of citizenship. In order to encourage the acquisition of independence we will withdraw our troops from Iraq and aide the production of a free state in Israel.
Citizens should be inspired by the actions of their government and should be active in helping us further these developments in our ever-growing country. By taking an active role as a citizen, you not only will be furthering our government, you will be helping our nation lead the front of progression into the new age of advanced thinking.
My Fellow Americans:
When the founding fathers gathered in Philadelphia in 1788, they swore to protect the rights and privileges of their people, the citizens of the new United States of America. They called for change- a progression from the monarchical rule of George III into a new era of independence and democracy. We have continued their honorable tradition for 220 years. Today, I address the nation, as charged by our Constitution, so that we may continue to progress and to do so with the spirit and courage of our forefathers. The world is rapidly changing, and we must once again lead the world in its evolution into an era of new global diplomacy, environmental reverence, and social responsibility.
At home, we will deliberate on and reform our domestic policies, especially with regards to social welfare, social security, health care and the paramount issue of the education of future generations. Our current system of social welfare is one desperately in need of change. By returning many welfare programs to a national level and relieving the states of the burdens of inefficient and under-funded programs, we can expand the services and improve the quality of care for our citizens. With the impending retirement of the baby-boom generation, it is imperative that our government assists Social Security to ensure its survival for future generations of workers. Our government must also begin the transition into more affordable and available healthcare for the uninsured and poorly insured of America. It is a nation’s duty to protect its citizens in every way possible. I also firmly believe that education of our youth is the backbone of a strong and evolving democracy. As leaders, it is also our duty to ensure the sustainability of our nation; to do this, we must take action against global warming and for the reform of environmental policy.
In the coming year, we must set the standards for future administrations and generations of American citizens to uphold the inspired tradition of our founding fathers and with the support of this assembled body and with the strength of every American, we can create change and progress.
First let me address the area that I find of utmost importance to our children and our children’s children – the environment. Americans must lead the rest of the world in a new commitment to protecting our planet. I will sign the Kyoto Protocol and make every effort to meet and exceed the standards. But the Kyoto Protocol is not enough. People all over the world must be educated about the threats to their environment. America will take up the responsibility of educating both American citizens and people throughout the world. Congress should fund a new program, the Global Outreach Division (GOD), which will work to increase environmental awareness throughout the world. The government will also lead the way in the environmental movement. The government itself will become more environmentally friendly in the next four years than at any time in its history. The bureaucracy will try to go as paperless as possible and rely on energy efficient transportation on a daily basis. I can only encourage Congress and the Judiciary branch to do the same.
In addition, the federal government will finance an increase in the scope and availability of public transportation. In order to decrease our dependence on foreign oil, and involve the citizens in the environmental revolution everyday, the government will encourage carpooling and will improve public transportation, especially on the west coast.
My administration will also increase financial support of research for renewable energy sources, including: nuclear, solar, wind, and hydro powers. America will also support research into a variety of environmental problems including: forest fires, bees, and natural disasters. I am confidant in the ability of American scientists and the ingenuity of American inventors. I believe that if Americans put their minds to it, we can come up with practical, intelligent solutions to our environmental problems.
In order to ensure that environmental friendliness is also economically favorable, and therefore increase the participation of everyone, the government will offer tax breaks for corporations and individuals who are energy conscious. Corporations will be eligible for tax breaks if they decrease their emissions significantly, incorporate recycled products into their manufacturing, and use and promote renewable energy sources.
We can only have an environmental revolution if every person helps. People should join GOD. They should educate themselves about the problems in the environment and the resources available to them through the government. Each person must be a part of the solution. GOD will reach out to the people overseas, and here in the US the government will take further steps to help and educate Americans. Next to every public trashcan, my administration will install a recycling bin in order to make it as convenient to be environmentally friendly as it is to be wasteful. GOD will teach Americans how to make changes in their daily lives, like buying recycled products, reusing water bottles, and supporting businesses that are environmentally conscious. Together we can make a difference in our world and preserve the health of our environment for future generations.
The health of planet is no more essential to our national strength than the health of our people. Unfortunately, Americans are in dire need of better health insurance because the insurance system is in dire need of attention and reform. Under the current system, the Americans who need health insurance the most have been left behind. As such our government is introducing a plan to stimulate the current health insurance market and provide insurance to every American who requires it. The foundation of this new system will be based on the principles of universal health care in hopes that this is the first step in moving our country towards a more equal and fair health care system. In order create a better America, our government will establish a new division of the Department of Health and Human Services. This new branch will supervise a government-run health insurance system that will provide coverage to all US citizens. The goal of this system is to make health insurance accessible and affordable to even the poorest Americans. This new organization will be run as a not-for-profit government corporation, in contrast to the current private health care industry, which operates for profit.
In order to fund this new system, there will be a small addition to the income tax of all American citizens. The income tax will provide the financial basis upon which the government health insurance will operate. The base amount of this tax will be determined each financial quarter by the projections of an independent market research panel. Furthermore, this panel will determine fair coverage costs based upon the current market price of health insurance. The purpose of this advisory committee is to insure that the government does not provide unfair competition with the existing private industries, but rather provides a cheaper, guaranteed alternative to private health insurance. In some cases, the situation may arise such that a supplemental payment is necessary to cover the cost of medical treatment. If the insured citizen is unable to afford this extra cost, or co-pay, the government will further cover such costs at a slight increase in the individual citizen's "insurance tax."
Finally, our government would like to assure the American people that this new system in no way undermines the current health insurance market, but rather encourages it to compete by offering more coverage at lower prices. By doing so, we offer the American people a choice to be insured by either a government-run or private health insurance organization, ensuring that in either case, all Americans have the opportunity to receive health insurance regardless of their medical and/or financial circumstances.
The retirement of our elderly is a national concern. We need a program that will help all our retirees live out the rest of their years comfortably. Some may believe that there will be enough money to support our seniors in the next few decades, and no change is necessary. We cannot take that chance. We cannot risk American lives. If we do not have enough money to adequately provide Social Security benefits, we will see our elders, our grandmothers and grandfathers, struggling to find a place to sleep at night. Do we really want to take that chance? We need to increase funds going to the less fortunate for the security of America. Not only do we need a plan to help our baby boomers retire comfortably, but we also need to increase monthly social security checks going to the needy. In our current state, people cannot live on the meager monthly checks they receive. We must bring about change to help this country’s people.
Our top priority is to increase the amount of money going to those who rely on the government. If the people cannot rely on the government for support, that government does not deserve to lead. So, we must raise taxes on the top 20% of America’s wealthy to help those in need. With a tax increase, we can increase the flow of money in social security checks, increasing to $1,500 per month average.
The next change that must be made is to help all the baby boomers become financially secure. To do so, we must have more available funds to go out to the large amount of retirees in the coming years. In order to manage funds, we will increase the age requirement for social security benefits from age 65 to 70. To compensate for this five year age difference, we will have a slow transition for retirees. At 65 they will begin to receive a part of their social security check, and the amount will increase each year until they get full benefits by age 70. This plan will enable manageable living for all America’s citizens, with very little expense to those who do not require assistance. With this plan we will pave the path to a united America, where everyone has a home and the freedom to live comfortably in old age.
TANF, or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, is a program specifically set up for the aid of needy families with children on a temporary basis. TANF is controlled mainly on a state level and is given grants by the federal government. Recipients thus receive more or less money based on the state they live in, making the welfare program of the United States inconsistent across the nation. This system of aid is fairly new but that does not mean that we should accept it any longer. Much of the money given to the states for their personal welfare programs must go to the paychecks and office bills of the bureaucracy set up to manage the funds, thus decreasing the amount of money that can go directly to the needy families. We must solve the problems of TANF by first moving the entire program to a national level and put the control in one bureaucracy in order to maintain equality among our citizens. We also must educate our taxpayers on the benefits of welfare and the type of people who are receiving their aid. These families are sometimes working multiple minimum wage jobs while trying desperately to remove themselves from under the poverty line. The cost of education and living is rising but minimum wage is staying the same. We must raise minimum wage in order to meet with the standards of living we are requiring for our citizens. No American should have to work two jobs and receive welfare to feed a family of four. Also, as a nation we must work to clean up our food production. We will strive to reduce fats, such as corn oil, in food and subsidize those farmers and food companies who grow organic foodstuffs and create wholesome foods.
One of the most important aspects of our national strength is the educational system in America. As hard as it may be to admit, our students are not adequately educated. More schools are closing and more teachers are falling below the standards. We must increase wages for teachers who have been dedicated to a certain school for a certain number of years. We also must increase the training needed for our educators. Also, instead of closing schools who do not meet certain criteria we should put more money into these systems so that they may finally pull their students up to meet their full potential. It sends the wrong message if we just give up on entire school systems. We are telling our children that they aren’t good enough to receive our compassion or our aid. We must therefore, reconsider and reform No Child Left Behind. We must put forth resources and support to our schools so that our students can become more competitive in a global world.
And it is a global world which is why foreign policy is one of the most important areas of policy for the Congress and the President. Unfortunately, my predecessor made foreign policy solely an arena for the president. I intend to put foreign policy back in the hands of the American people. My first and foremost obligation is protecting the American people on domestic and foreign soil. In an effort to secure Americans in America, we must first examine our own borders. My administration understands the necessity to nurture the ideas and skills of foreigners without sacrificing national security. Immigrants have been and will always serve as the foundation of American culture, and by excluding them we cannot grow to our utmost potential.
The system of American Foreign Policy as it stands is flawed. The problem stems from border security and the inefficient system of earning citizenship. By increasing the pay and prestige of border patrol, we can strengthen our patrol force, increase efficiency, and promote the safety of fellow Americans. We support a guest worker program because we recognize immigrants’ contributions to the American economy, but we are unwilling to sacrifice the safety of Americans for the advancement of the economy. We must initialize comprehensive background examinations of incoming guest workers. In an effort to support these immigrants, we want to secure their natural rights as human beings by establishing a guest worker Bill of Rights. This will include due process, equality under the law, minimum wage, and labor laws. Guest workers will pay into the social security system and can receive the benefits after gaining citizenship. Those workers, though, are not entitled to all of the rights of American citizens. They are strictly guest workers who abide by our laws but are still legally waiting in line to attain full citizenship. On a similar note, we must make the path to attaining citizenship less complicated and less lengthy. The timeline right now is almost 20 years to earn citizenship. Families are forced to wait an entire generation before they can even hope to legally earn citizenship. The United States government must invest time, money, and resources into streamlining the process.
But now, let us examine the reason why thousands of people every day attempt to cross into America. Few people want to leave their homeland, so these immigrants must have just reasoning for coming to this great country. While we support guest workers, we also support our international relations and we would rather see our international reputation improve. In an effort to nurture our global economy, we must revise the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). While we believe in the importance of free trade, we also believe in overseeing the policies of American companies established on foreign soil. To preserve the American image of a country that values life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for everyone, we must maintain environmental, social, and economic standards of the United States.
In order to protect all of the United States, we must ensure that we are protected from enemies of democracy. To do this, we must lead by example. Democracy abroad is impossible if it is eroded at home. We must abolish torturous practices, restore the writ of Habeas Corpus, and minimize our invasive methods of gathering intelligence. It is only after democracy is secured at home that we can protect it abroad. First and foremost, we must reduce our number of troops in Iraq. The Iraqis see us as a dominating threat to their existing social order and this gives terrorists a reason to rebel against the United States’ troops. However, we recognize and honor our men and women who have given the ultimate sacrifice to our country, and we will not let their bravery be in vain. In an effort to secure a long-term alliance with the Iraqi people, we must maintain enough troops to build the country into a flourishing global asset and keep stability without further aggravating the situation. Furthermore, we must recognize that Iran and North Korea threaten our security and are therefore threats to the beacon of hope that is America. We insist that both of these countries keep the world informed of their nuclear status. Also, we will begin funding and promoting a defense system to protect the American people from potential attack. Terrorists, while difficult to find, are not impossible to conquer. They are harbored within nations and are not randomly dispersed. As a result, we must work diplomatically with all nations to ensure that terrorists cannot find safety. Let us take these past seven years as a lesson that proves diplomacy superior to militaristic violence. As your president it is my duty to use my power as Chief Diplomat instead of Commander-in-Chief to ensure America’s security and prosperity at home and at large.
The responsibilities given to us by the Founding Fathers require us, as a nation, to come together to preserve personal liberties, defend our country, and maintain our independence. Based on the principles set up by our Constitution we will lead our country into the new age of progress and technology.
By reforming our domestic policy we will ensure the state of our nation to be prepared to move forward with the new development of technology and future knowledge. By educating our youths we will ensure the best futures for our citizens and make our country able to advance competitively with other nations. The only way we can successfully educate our youths we must follow through on abolishing the No Child Left Behind Act. This test does not encourage progressive learning; rather it is destroying the public educational system in our nation. We as a nation have the capability to expand the services and improve the quality of care for our citizens in other areas as well, such as health care. In order to do this it is imperative that our government assists this program, and the many others like Social Security and TANF to ensure their survival and effectiveness for future generations.
In order to function as a global nation we also need to extend our borders to other countries as well by encouraging diplomacy and rapid processing of citizenship. In order to encourage the acquisition of independence we will withdraw our troops from Iraq and aide the production of a free state in Israel.
Citizens should be inspired by the actions of their government and should be active in helping us further these developments in our ever-growing country. By taking an active role as a citizen, you not only will be furthering our government, you will be helping our nation lead the front of progression into the new age of advanced thinking.
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