Upload file for English 101 summer 09

[JL]

Essay 1.1
Bacevich’s point of view regards Bush’s War Analysis

Andrew J Bacevich’s 2009 Limits of Power mistakenly claims that Bush
and the Bush administration made irresponsible choices for the Iraq
war. Bacevich argues that Bush started the war because of the Persian
Gulf region which is at the center of the world’s oil reserves. It is
a tragic and miserable fact that the United States is in a long war in
Iraq although Americans were already involved in several cruel wars in
the past. Bacevich himself served in the Vietnam War that Americans
were involved in and his son also served the country in the war in
Iraq and died 2 years ago. Bacevich believes that the Iraq war was
unjustified and reckless: many innocent people were killed, a
prodigious amount of money was spent, and loss of our beloved ones,
loss of valuable historical relics and souvenirs which it cannot be
restore and natural environments. Once the war occurs, the truth and
facts will disappear and every possible lies, frauds, and deceits
exits during the war and after the war. Media lied and gave us
fraudulent information for our country’s good because usually in War
psychological tactics are used. History could be changed for our own
convenience. We all know that our government spends billions of
dollars to support the war. Bacevich believes that we should stop
supporting war and Tucker disagrees with Bacevich and claims that the
spending on the war is something we need to do because of the
situation we are living in. As a matter of course, both America and
Iraq get hurt physically and mentally. This mental damage and pain
will last forever, and perhaps will be passed to the next generation.
Nevertheless, Bush and the Bush administration decided to go on a
heartless war again for us and for world. When the US says it wants to
eliminate Saddam’s dictatorship for failing to destroy deadly weapons,
how is that unjustifiable and reckless? I think we as Americans
shouldn’t blame and complain about Bush’s decision; instead, we should
support him and our government.
Bacevich believes that war in Iraq was always unnecessary but that’s
wrong because if Bush didn’t declare war, there would be much more
agony and pain to American and Iraqis because of Saddam Hussein.
Saddam Hussein, former President of Iraq, was nothing more than a mass
murdering, scheming dictator. However, in the long run, other
countries will have the same problems and suffer from him. Bacevich
claims, “The Iraq War deserves our attention as the clearest
manifestation of these three crises, demonstrating the extent to which
they are inextricably linked and mutually reinforcing. That war was
always unnecessary. Except in the eyes of the deluded and the
disingenuous, it has long since becomes a fool’s errand.” As Bacevich
says “the United States today finds itself threatened by three
interlocking crises. These are the economic and culture crises, the
political crises and military crises.” There are many good reasons for
America to go to war with Iraq. Among them are the fact that Iraq was
potential harboring of terrorism, the protection of Israel, and the
protection of the region’s oil resource. Bacevich says “the reason we
are in Iraq today is because the Persian Gulf is at the center of the
world’s oil, but the Persian Gulf region would have zero strategic
significance, were it not for the fact that’s where the oil is.” To
say that we are going to Iraq only because of the Persian Gulf is
unfair. Iraq holds an estimated 30% of the world’s oil and Saddam used
this as means to wield a great amount of power. Were we ever concerned
about what would happen to the world if we are out of oil, What if we
cannot import the oil from Iraq? The countries all over the world
would be in panic without it and I expect world war III. Besides that,
the French and many others have lucrative oil deals with the current
Iraqi dictatorship. I believe that oil is very important reason but it
is important because of us. People all around the world still need oil
for living. Fortunately Bush and Bush’s administration stop Saddam
Hussein to prevent even bigger war in advance. Iraq is a totalitarian
dictatorship harboring terrorists and we are indeed liberating the
Iraqis from one of the most oppressive governments in world history.
What is freedom today? What is its content? What costs does the
exercise of freedom impose? Who pays?” How would you like to live in a
country where prostitutes are beheaded and the government can murder
you at anytime? Personally I think freedom is the most valuable thing
that human can have and no one should take that from others. Bacevich
believes that eliminating nuclear weapons and focusing on the global
warming issue would help the nation but before we do that we have to
concern two things. The cost of eliminates these nuclear weapons and
our safety. The US become weaker without nuclear weapons and can’t
protect ourselves from other country with nuclear weapons. Both
circumstances, Bacevich’s idea regards nuclear weapons are not fit for
today. On the other hand Tucker says that global warming is one issue
that is not that important at this time. He says this is the sort of
issue we worry about when things are going well, but have little need
to be concerned when things are going poorly. I agree with Tucker’s
idea but it doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t care just take care of it
later. If we go by Bacevich’s idea about nuclear weapons, how are we
going to protect ourselves from other countries like Saddam Hussein?
His idea does not realistically fit today’s life. Bacevich claims, “Of
perhaps even greater significance, it is both counterproductive and
unsustainable.” I do understand that we have been in Iraq for almost 7
years and it seems we are not gaining anything that benefits
Americans, but the benefits that I see are different from what he
sees. Billions of dollars are being spent on War, and that is the
money from our own pocket that we earned for hard work. We usually use
that money to support ourselves and family. But why can’t we use it
for others who are suffering from Saddam Hussein. Is it because they
have different skin, non American, or are not blood related? Every
second people are making their choices and whether we like it or not
the choices that we made, those choices add up and create history of
our life. Now and then we need to make choices for others and even
though we do it with good intention we could get blamed for the
choices that we made. Bush and Bush’s administrations made a very
important choice for Americans and for the world. I know that war
cannot be the only solution for everything and everybody but believe
it or not, in some cases, the war is the only way to solve a problem.
I truly believe that Iraq is a problem that can’t be solved without
war. Bush didn’t declare war hastily; he and the UN issued out an
ultimatum for Iraq to disarm several times. Saddam was a danger to the
Arab world or at the very least his own people. Saddam was a complete
psychopath who will do whatever he wants; he needs to be replaced
immediately. President Bush says U.S. troops will finish the mission,
and by defeating terrorists in Iraq, they will make America safer. I
support a free, happy productive life for Iraqis. I know that we all
need a scapegoat, but instead of blaming Bush, blame the terrorists
for dragging out the war. They are the ones killing civilians inside
holy ground and teaching children as young as 5 to go kill Americans.
I truly believe that Iraqis want liberty and justice. Once in
Bacevich’s book he says that yet even as they celebrate freedom,
Americans exempt the object of their veneration from critical
examination. In our public discourse, freedom is not so much a word or
even a value as an incantation, its very mention is enough to stifle
doubt and terminate all debate. As a Korean American my grandmother
experienced civil war in Korea and her grandmother lived during the
time that Japan conquered Korea. Back then the Japanese were like
Saddam Hussein; the Japanese killed Koreans for no reasons, torturing
them, and experimenting on human bodies like Hitler. That’s why their
medical knowledge is well-known today. She told me how she lived
during the war. It was an awful and horrendous environment and
everybody was poor, not happy and scared. She told me that freedom is
the most important thing in humankind. The Iraqi people did not have
freedom under Saddam Hussein and we were right to liberate them. It
would be wrong of us –immoral- to ignore their suffering. I fully
support the war, and yes I agree that it is very hard for people to
understand what really happens when all the news reports show the bad
and not the good. Bacevich pointed out that Americans were slow to
grasp the implications of a global war with no exits and no deadlines
but he’s wrong because I know that Americans aren’t naïve and had many
wars in the past. I lost my high school friend in this Iraq War. One
day I saw his picture on the news. Just like that I lost my beloved
friend, but I still think Bush did the right thing and I do not blame
Bush for the responsibilities. Every military person that signs up to
go to Iraq knows the consequences involved. They know they are risking
their lives and will do so for their country. In CNN, 2008, Mar 18 in
an article titled “Five years later, Bush says Iraq war must go on”
Bush says "Removing Saddam Hussein from power was the right decision,
and this is a fight America can and must win." And also he says
"Defeating this enemy in Iraq will make it less likely we will face
this enemy here at home." I do agree with him that Saddam Hussein
needing to be removed from power was the right decision. If he didn’t
make that decision, I think all of Americans and Iraqis are going to
have more difficult time than now in the near future. After war we
could achieve world’s 30% of oil, the liberty of Iraqis, the
replacement of Saddam Hussein. I personally feel that I am very lucky
to be in America, under a democratic country. We as Americans can do
our parts and try to be supportive of our government and President of
Americans.

References
CNN, 2008, Mar 18 Five years later, Bush says Iraq war must go on
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/03/19/bush.iraq/index.html



Essay 1.2
Bacevich’s point of view of our Political system Analysis

Andrew J Bacevich’s 2009 Limits of Power mistakenly claims that our
political system is stagnant and needs to be adjusted immediately.
Bacevich claims that America is in massive trouble. He believes that
it is important to figure out how it got that way. There is a movement
that many Americans assume that the problems we face today are
problems that are out there somewhere, beyond our borders. The United
States have gotten strong authorities by made profit through World War
II. It helped America turn to be a strongest country of all. We
reigned and guide over other countries. Bacevich says, “Simply put, as
the American appetite for freedom has grown, so too has our penchant
for empire… empire has seemingly become a prerequisite of freedom…” He
pointed out that our country uses power to interfere other countries’
business without their approval. Bacevich is dissatisfied with our
behaviors like an empire among other countries and our foreign policy
system. He thinks unsuccessful foreign policy led the country into one
disaster after another. Bacevich insisted that our major problems are
at home.He wants Americans need to face our problems objectively and
wants us to fix our problems first before fixing the world’s problems.
Bacevich says "Physician, heal thyself," and you begin healing
yourself by looking at yourself in the mirror and seeing yourself as
you really are. Bacevich suggests to eliminate nuclear weapon and
combat global warming for fixing our inside problems. Bacevich claims
that Iraq war was a decisive example of all that’s gone wrong with the
American system. He blamed Bush for declaring unnecessary Iraq war and
moreover for global food energy and economic crises mount. He
indicated Americans life style, our irresponsible government such as
C.I.A, F.B.I, and national security council for 9/11 happening. The
essence of freedom shouldn’t be used as appetite or the pursuit of
excessive consumption. He argues that this sort of attitude and
Americans habituation life style is the one of the problems that we
have and need to be change and set right immediately. This argument
appealed to Americans who are tired of perpetual war but I doubt that
these suggestions can be the solution for this moment.
Bacevich believes that our country is a fat and self-indulgent it
lost the way to be in right track. He persuading to Americans fix
those problems to preserving American way of life, as it has long
existed. Practically, I think Bacevich’s ideas all sounds plausible,
but they will be suitable in the future, not in this moment. Bacevich
claims that our country acquired wealth, credit, and freedom; the
powers that enough to regulate other countries. Americans nearly had
all we desired for after World War II. Bacevich believes that the
united states use power over the rest of the world to fill our self
gratification. Bacevich believes that our country should stop meddle
and intrude our opinions to other countries using the powers that our
country acquired after World War II, but I believe our government
should manage information and use power to control and supervise other
countries because of two important reasons. First, if America did not
exist between the other countries, more arguments, dispute,
controversy, and struggle between them. The United States is a one of
well developed nation and it is a model not a bully for other
countries. For instance, the country like Iraq who owns 30% of the
world’s oil refuses to service oil to other countries? What if they
want to possess the atomic bombs to use to invade other countries? If
no one stop them who will? And not everyone can stop them, only who
has enough or more power than them can stop and control them. The
world needs our help to maintain global balance of power and world’s
safety. Bacevich propose that our country should eliminate nuclear
weapons and combat global warming. He says “Preserving the environment
means reducing the global consumption of fossil fuels while developing
alternative energy sources. In addition to saving the planet,
leadership in this arena will enhance national security,” but he is
wrong unless the rest of the world do that at the same time. Not
having a nuclear weapon means no power and if we do not have a power
it means no protection and no guarantee of our safety from other
countries. As Tepperman claims about Bacevich ideas “all sensible
ideas but hardly the sort of grand transformation he says the country
needs.” I agree with Tepperman because I think Bacevich’s suggestions
make sense but reality of our economy going downhill for last 6 years
and supposedly huge amount of money and times will be needed to
eliminate all nuclear weapons and combat global warming. Our economy
is bad today and Bacevich claims that America won’t be change if the
United States remains dependent on foreign, cheap Chinese goods and
infinite credit but he is wrong because if American as the biggest
consumers in today’s market stops their consumption, the world economy
will fail. It will affect other poor countries and if one country
starts falling down will quickly affect the rest of the world’s
economy. There are high probabilities to cause more difficult
problems
than now. Instead of reducing our consumptions we should find the
other way to make economy stable. Therefore Bacevich’s ideas are not
effectively fit for our problems in this time. The definition and
fundamental of inalienable rights might change and revise slightly
over the time although individual Americans use their freedom to do
many worth things. Majority of Americans find the essence of life,
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness by consumption, acquirement, and
indulgence. We can’t say it is wrong because consumption drives the
economy. I believe the United States has some sort of responsibility
to maintain global balance of power. No matter what one country is
going to be stronger than the others and I believe it is better
America keep that authorities because we are doing it for
longer enough to know what we are doing and doing it better than
other inexperience countries. Also we are not using our power in a
bad way we are using it in a positive way. If one of other
inexperience country take over the United States power will cause more
problems than us. For instance, could our situation get better than
today if Iraq took over the power? I believe it is necessary to have
Americans’ participation over rest of the countries. Bacevich’s ideas
to eliminating nuclear weapon does not helping to protect and prevent
our people from cruel proficient terrorist. Probably without nuclear
weapons, we will get threaten by Iraq or other countries who hates us
could of invade for our sources. Also we all know that to protect
nuclear weapons cost huge amount of money, probably eliminating
nuclear weapons will cost as much as protecting them. Therefore we
can’t support Bacevich’s idea right now for our self defense reason
and economy reason. For combat global warming suggestion, if we close
the factories which give us a green house gas and change non hybrid
cars which already had made and sold to hybrid cars will need large
fortune and time. If we close the factories will create unemployment,
thousands of thousands American loss their jobs. Unfortunately,
Bacevich’s idea didn’t include detail supportive solution for those
problems. He didn’t sufficiently and fully suggest his offer. We all
could read his book and rethink about our mistakes but we can’t follow
his directions because he is a daydreamer and prophet than a policy
maker. We need times to be fixing some of problems step by step, we
can’t do it immediately like he said.
References
Tomdispatch Interview, 2006, May 23 Bacevich on the Limits of
Imperial
Powerhttp://www.tomdispatch.com/post/85723/tomdispatch_interview_bacevich_...


Essay 1.3
Bacevich’s predicts the United States’ “the day of reckoning
approaches.” Analysis

Andrew J Bacevich’s 2009 Limits of Power mistakenly warns The United
States that “the day of reckoning approaches.” Bacevich believes that
our government and individual Americans need to realize and apprehend
our nation’s problems that need to be fixed right away. He claims that
the American idea of Freedom is built on consumption and
individualism. It is causing our power to erode. He claims “centered
on consumption and individual autonomy, the exercise of freedom is
contributing to the gradual erosion of our national power.” The United
States is confronting the most serious economic crisis since the Great
Depression. Hundreds of thousands of Americans have lost their jobs,
lost their homes, and lost their money for retirement along with their
safety. Bacevich believes that all of those problems have happened
because of our wrong way of exercising freedoms; therefore, he insists
we should wisely use our freedoms of consumption. The idea is that our
country should stop spending money borrowed from other countries that
we cannot pay back. In order to do that individual Americans need to
control and manage their consumption. He surely believes that we do
not have enough power to interfere and impose our will. Bacevich
arugues that American power is limited, but we do not think so, and we
exhibit hubris and sanctimony. Bacevich says, “American power has
limits and is inadequate to the ambitions to which hubris and
sanctimony have given rise.” He blames the Bush Administration for
misleading us about our economic system and foreign policy. Bacevich
claims that “the United States is ill-prepared to wage a global war of
no exits and no deadlines.” He thinks our Army is not capable of
fighting these wars. He believes Gentile’s idea represent his own
views which is that our soldiers are not conducting training for the
fundamentals of military conflict. Accordingly the Army has seriously
diminished capabilities to discharge conventional combat maneuvers. He
thinks our soldiers pay the price for our errors, and he feel bad for
the soldiers who are suffering in the Iraq war. Bacevich points out
that Bush’s ill-advised global war leads to our current economic
depression, and if our new president Obama does not grasp this
essential point and act on it, he warns us that America will confront
the day of reckoning soon. I do agree with him that we are confronting
a serious economic crisis, that we desperately need appropriate
solutions to these problems, and that it is very important to know
what caused this crisis in order to prevent the same problems, but I
disagree with his controversial point about our nation’s problems
today.

Bacevich points out that our government believes that we have
unlimited power that can be used to control other countries, and also
we believe that we are always right about our decisions. He uses the
words “hubris” and “sanctimony” to describe our government’s condition
and insists we change and stop, but he is wrong because I do not think
that it is not our government’s business to interfere in other
countries’ business. We might not have unlimited mighty power as much
as we used to, but to stop what we are doing right now does not save
us nor other countries from today’s disasters. He believes that the
Iraq war is unnecessary and reckless, which shows that he is
dissatisfied with Bush’s decision regarding the Iraq War. He claims,
“US troops in battle dress and body armor, whom Americans profess to
admire and support, pay the price for the nation’s collective refusal
to confront our domestic dysfunction.” Bacevich disapproves of the
fact that our government is spending billions of dollars to support
the war, but at the same time he says our military is ill-prepared. If
our government did not support the military financially, how can we be
prepared? I strongly disagree with Bacevich’s idea that “the United
States is ill-prepared to wage a global war of no exits and no
deadlines” because as Matthew E. Balkovic and Brian M. Burton say,
“The organizational culture of the Army has not really changed.” Our
Army did learn counterinsurgency and today remains very organized as a
conventional force. The Army has Full spectrum operation instead of
just counterinsurgency, a mix of both conventional and unconventional
warfare, which is more effective and essential to preserve US national
security. I also disagree with Bacevich with disregard the importance
of counterinsurgency. The counterinsurgency played a very important
part during the war, and as Balkovic and Burton say, “Bacevich… seeks
to tear down the importance of the counterinsurgency.” I think the
reason why the US troop had a desperate battle in Iraq is the
counterinsurgency. They provided security to the local population one
day and sent a company of infantry to destroy the infantry-fighting
vehicles the next. I know that managing and balancing operations are
hard, but they are doing it effectively by equally rotating roles.
From my perspective, the purpose of the war is to give an equal
opportunity of freedom to everyone, but he claims that our intention
was to invade other countries for their resources and lands. Bacevich
also points out that we did not use our freedom of consumption
appropriately, and it contributes to the gradual erosion of our
national power, but he is wrong because if we as the largest consumer
society in the world stop consuming, it will cause other problems like
increasing the rate of unemployment and causing stores to go out of
business. Instead of suggesting to Americans to stop consuming, I
recommend we regulate credit card APR rates. I think the bank and the
credit card companies rip us off. Bacevich offers much criticism and
reproach but very few solutions for America’s circumstances. As
Valkovic says, Bacevich suggests that the American need to keep
maintaining a variety of abilities, both military and civilian, to
operate across a range of strategic environments is essential to
preserve US national security, but what of Iraq and Afghanistan
today? If we follow Bacevich’s ideas we are turning our backs on
countries that need our help. Our Army should be prepared not just for
our nation but for the rest of the weak countries who need our help.

I think Bacevich’s suggestion for the solution cannot be a clever plan
to prevent the next possible war or our disaster. As we learned from
the past, France and England did not act quickly to stop Germany,
which caused a bigger war. I believe if the Bush administration did
not declaring war quickly to stop Saddam Hussein, we might have had to
face World War III. Bacevich suggests thinking differently and knowing
how to separate what is essential from what is not could be the
antidote for our problems, but it is not the efficacious solution we
can use immediately. It means we have to change our culture. It will
change over time, not right away. I cannot agree with Bacevich’s
beliefs when he says that if Obama, our new president, sees what is
essential, things will get better and if Obama pretends we do not need
to change, we will fail. He did not mention when that could happen and
did not give us detailed information about his thought. It seem
idealistic not realistic. I believe even Obama sees these problems
will not change our circumstances right away. Rosencrantz states that
Obama says, "Seek a new beginning between the United States and
Muslims around the world; one based on mutual interest and mutual
respect."It is already 6 months since he become a president, and our
economic crisis, high unemployment rates and high oil prices really
have not got better. We are not hubris; we want to help other
countries and want to give freedom to people to wants freedom. Our
Army is prepared to wage a
global war. Therefore, I think our government should look out for
other countries’ safety and freedom, but at the same time our
government should fix the problems that can help our economy to be
stable and maintain our power without hurry.

References
J. Rosencrantz, 2009, June 08 words and deeds.
http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/44617267.html


Essay 1.b
In the weekly address of April 25, 2009, President Obama suggests idea
to solve the world’s economic depression. He attends the G-20 meeting
and he announces few effective solutions for our economic crisis,
which I agree with, on April 2nd in London. The world’s leaders
gathered and had the meeting to solve a world’s worst recession, which
is a financial problem. He asks for the possible coordinated action to
fix the global financial system. The world is globalization that need
all of the countries work together because we are link together. Obama
believes that the agreement with the G20 nations can be a turning
point in today’s global economic crisis. Few solutions he mentions
during the meeting are to restore lending, spur job growth, and reform
financial regulation. He also claims that we need to support
developing countries and aid poor countries. Most of the Obama’s ideas
regard of solutions is very similar ideas with Bacevich and I think
they are both right except raise the IMF funding. The Obama
administration has proposed to increase amount of IMF funding but this
could be a mistake, because IMF has the harmful condition that can
bring the result disastrous to the countries. The countries like South
Korea and others already had bad experience about 10years ago. It
worsens their economy crisis. These countries learned their lesson and
save their money not to go back to the IMF again. I think Obama’s plan
for the world’s economy is not a good idea. He is putting us in
billions of dollars of debt. The IMF’s 250 billion fund
will be tripled to 750 billion but only half of this cash is
immediately available. The reality is we need the help immediately.
The percentage of unemployed is increasing everyday and small business
cannot get the loans for their business and their employees. We need
to solve the unemployed problems first. I believe there is better ways
to deal with this crisis. We need to sort out the banks and support
them. If banks are recovered, the business can get loans make our
economy recovers it as well. I agree with both Obama’s suggestion
about spur job growth. As Obama says, “All of us are working to spur
growth and create jobs.” I think to create jobs is the most essential
thing and effective method to improve the world’s economy and to
regain its power. It helps to recover and balance the economy back to
normal if everybody has a job. Then how can we create jobs? One of the
methods is to create more stable industries. I think not regulated
huge corporations are the one of the main reasons for the drop in
global economy. Instead support huge corporation we should support
small businesses and built the factories at other poor countries.
These ideas will decrease risks from unstable industries. It will
bring more jobs to people. The job creation is the most important
subject today. Obama claims that, “a foundation that invests in
quality education, lower health care costs, and develops new sources
of energy powered by new jobs and indstries.” Obama insist that we
should lower consumptions like Bacevich suggests. American should know
our limits and stop over spend. We need do save money and spend less.
As Bacevich claims that we need to find the natural resources to save
energy and save money. The world needs to invest to find the natural
resources and new ideas to save us in these economy crises. The G-20
is a good first step in dealing with global issues, global warming and
global economy crisis. Many powerful countries sit together to
discussion about the solution and hopes the measures they agreed on
could be taken into effect soon. As the largest developing country
China plays a very important role in the world’s economy.
Obama needs to listen to other countries’ voice because we all know
that any single country cannot go through the tough times like right
now. The world has to bond together and help each other. Other
countries includes America must learn to share and respect each other.
If the world’s leader keep discussing and have meeting like this, I
believe we will find the right solution for the problems. They need to
show solidarity that they are willing to work together to overcome it.
Also we must have a hope in our heart.


Essay 2 1st half

The current global recession recovery analysis
The United States faces current economic crisis and many of financial
experts propose solutions for these problems. The world concerns about
these problems because it is not just for America’s problem, it is for
other countries as well. The economy link with other countries’
economy and works together therefore the problem that we face now is a
global economic crisis. The world leaders came up with many solutions
at the G20 and take these problems seriously. One of experts who come
up with the reasons of the United States’ economy crises named Andrew
Bacevich wrote the book called “the Limits of Power.” In his book, He
argues that the United States is in a crisis made up of three
components, which are economic and cultural, political, and military.
Bacevich depicts American society as imbued with a culture of
entitlement. American believes them as the global leader and thinks
that other countries should welcome their ideas and system. Bacevich
believes that America need to change of their aspect and they should
stop interfere other countries’ business. Bacevich claims that
President Jimmy Carter’s famous speech “crisis of confidence” warning
Americans about their hubris and sanctimony. Bacevich thinks that the
US political system is in depression because the America confuses
freedom with appetite, an obsession with consumption, and never-ending
search for more (Tepperman). As Bacevich says, “Whoever dies with the
most toys wind, shop till you drop, and it feels good, do
it,” (Bacevich, P16) foreign policy affects Americans’ penchant for
consumption and never-ending search for more. Financial crisis is what
the American make of it. Buying things that they don’t need and
building liabilities, not building assets that make them gain the
financial freedom. Bacevich points out that the President Ronald
Reagan told Americans Ronald Reagan’s optimism and confidence by
offering Americans both “ guns and butter” (Bacevich, p.62) put
Americans in today’s economic crisis. In Bacevich’s view, Bush
administration’s intended “remake the world” (Bacevich, p.60) by
imposing American Values. Bacevich believes if Americans do not
discipline themselves domestically and internationally, “have
forfeited command of their own destiny” (Bacevich, P.65), Americans
cannot survive from today’s economic crisis. Bacevich examines the
causes of the current disarray in the United States. Bacevich claims
that since the Presidency of Harry S. Truman the country has been on
a war footing. During that time power has become increasingly
concentrated in the executive branch and congress has been moved
outside the circle of real power over decisions about military
initiatives. Bacevich mentions about four core convictions which are
the tenet that history has a purpose, the view that the United States
embodies freedom, the faith that God has called Americans to advance
this freedom, and the belief that only
when American values spread out throughout the world will the United
States finally be secure. Bacevich’s analysis is correct, and the
above-mentioned political approaches show the type of tough measures
needed to reform not only our economy but our culture as well. I
disagree with Bacevich’s view that American should give up their
consumption freedom for global recession recovery because I think if
someone chooses to work harder to have a more quality life, and then
they should possess a more quality life. We need to ask ourselves what
is the purpose of working hard? The difference between the communism
and democratism are that we do not have the limit of earning from our
labor and have freedom of consumption. Most of Americans work hard to
support themselves and their families. The richer spend more money
than middle class and middle classes spend more money than poor and
poor spend more money than homeless. I think the problem that American
has is the balance problems not overspending problems. We are at the
center of a gross imbalance in the world. Oil is another reason of the
global economy recession. For instance, the oil
consumption in the United States are is the one that cannot be
control
and reduce immediately because it is hard to living in the United
States without car. Most of American owns their own vehicle and reduce
our oil consumption in one day is the idealistic idea. Probably the
imbalances in oil consumption effect the global economy recession and
power but I do not agree with Bacevich about the purpose of declare
Iraq war. He mentions that the one of the reason that we were in war
because of the oil. Bacevich blames Bush Administration for the
responsibilities but we also think about what will happen to the world
when the terrorists would do with the 30% of world’s oil that they
have. What would be the world if they cannot buy the oils that they
need immediately? Of course we need to think about the stuff we throw
away or thoughtless waste and excess. We need to admit that our ways
of life abuse our wealth and power in so many ways. As Bacevich says,
we all know that it needs to be balance but it needs time cannot
happen in one day. The hybrid cars or battery cars cannot be replaced
with current cars right away with our economy situation. As Bacevich’s
view the United States is powerful that there is no need for us to
listen to what the other countries might think and the United States
mess around in the matters of other countries either for financially
or militarily to protect our interests in their countries. American
does not give much consideration to what is the best interest of the
other countries, but I think he is wrong because America did not
behave so selfishly to other countries. The United States works for
the world’s peace and we fight for other countries freedom. America is
like a big brother to the rest of the world. Also like our democracy,
the rest of the world need the limited government system to check and
regulate their power. For instance, what if we disregard terrorists’
action towards to other countries? What if we did not regulate North
Korea to own the nuclear bombs? We need the United States as a global
leader that look out for the rest of world. It is very important to
use the power wisely, if that power use in bad way will cause a
disaster. In “the picture of Dorian grey,” Dorian’s
mother choose the guy her father hates, and her father who has the
enough power to kill the guy cause Dorian’s mother a horrible pain led
to suicide. It is almost impossible to share the power evenly within
the world therefore one nation will get the most power and I believe
that nation should be the United States because as I mentioned it
earlier, the power can be a poison or antidote depends how and who use
it. Matter-of-fact, the United States uses the power in good way and
wisely. Wilde says, “Being good, means being in harmony with oneself.
Disharmony appears when man has been forced to bring own life into
accord with lives of the others. Whether we like it or not war can be
the solution for some problems and Iraq war was need it for our
safety. Bacevich accuse our government as a “bad guy,” but that could
be just one side of view. We could view as a “good guy” from other
side. During the global recession, thousands of skilled Americans lost
their
jobs led their family helpless. The poor and the middle class American
have to pay more for everything even for their basic necessity. The
United States and almost every nation suffer and trap of debt due to
global crisis. In “the picture of Dorian Grey”, Henry says, “I can
sympathize with everything, except suffering,” “I cannot sympathize
with that. It is too ugly, too horrible, too distressing. There is
something terribly morbid in the modern sympathy with pain. One should
sympathize with the color, the beauty, the joy of life. The less said
about life’s sores the better.” (Lord Henry, p37). The people’s
ignorance of other people’s affairs worsens these problems.
The effective solutions for these problems could be creating of more
jobs. If Americans gain their jobs, purchasing capacity of the people
will
increase. They will spend more and thus demands for goods will be
create and market will expand as well. We cannot see the problems
separately because it links and works together; therefore we have to
treats the entire problem as a priority. I think the main reason of
the present global economic crisis is the subprime mortgage crisis.
Subprime mortgage loans starts with Option ARMs remain fixed for
certain period of time and they turn into a huge amount. Most of the
borrowers default due to this high repayment rate and led to
foreclosure of houses. Many financial institutions called for
bankrupt. Finally the Government passing of Emergency Economic
Stabilization (Act of 2008), it improves the situation and it gives
hope of financial recovery. Americans need to step up to the plate and
fix their own finances and rethink their lives better. The United
States needs to join effort on the environmental front as well as to
combat terrorism. If the worlds work together continuously it will
resolve the current global recession but it takes time. Rome was not
built in a day. It stars from one person and anyone can be that
person. They all share the burden of each other’s mistakes. The only
way to fix these problems, it’s not by the Government, it’s by people
need to helping each other out. The crisis will be fixed in no time.
Reference
Bacevich, A. 2009 The limits of power: the end of American
exceptionalism.
Tepperman,J.2008,September 11 Is This The ‘End of American
Exeptionalism’?
www.npr,org/templates/story/story
CNN,2008. March18 Five years later, Bush says Iraq war must go on
www. Cnn.com/2008/politics/03/19/bush.iraq/index.html

Essay 2 final half
The current global recession recovery analysis

The United States faces current economic crisis and many of financial
experts propose solutions for these problems. The world concerns
about
these problems because it is not just for America’s problem, it is for
other countries as well. The economy link with other countries’
economy and works together therefore the problem that we face now is a
global economic crisis. The world leaders came up with many solutions
at the G20 and take these problems seriously. One of experts who come
up with the reasons of the United States’ economy crises named Andrew
Bacevich wrote the book called “the Limits of Power.” In his book, He
argues that the United States is in a crisis made up of three
components, which are economic and cultural, political, and military.
Bacevich depicts American society as imbued with a culture of
entitlement. American believes them as the global leader and thinks
that other countries should welcome their ideas and system. Bacevich
believes that America need to change of their aspect and they should
stop interfere other countries’ business. Bacevich claims that
President Jimmy Carter’s famous speech “crisis of confidence” warning
Americans about their hubris and sanctimony. Bacevich thinks that the
US political system is in depression because the America confuses
freedom with appetite, an obsession with consumption, and never-ending
search for more (Tepperman). As Bacevich says, “Whoever dies with the
most toys wind, shop till you drop, and it feels good, do
it,” (Bacevich, P16) foreign policy affects Americans’ penchant for
consumption and never-ending search for more. Financial crisis is what
the American make of it. Buying things that they don’t need and
building liabilities, not building assets that make them gain the
financial freedom. Bacevich points out that the President Ronald
Reagan told Americans Ronald Reagan’s optimism and confidence by
offering Americans both “ guns and butter” (Bacevich, p.62) put
Americans in today’s economic crisis. In Bacevich’s view, Bush
administration’s intended “remake the world” (Bacevich, p.60) by
imposing American Values. Bacevich believes if Americans do not
discipline themselves domestically and internationally, “have
forfeited command of their own destiny” (Bacevich, P.65), Americans
cannot survive from today’s economic crisis. Bacevich examines the
causes of the current disarray in the United States. Bacevich claims
that since the Presidency of Harry S. Truman the country has been on
a war footing. During that time power has become increasingly
concentrated in the executive branch and congress has been moved
outside the circle of real power over decisions about military
initiatives. Bacevich mentions about four core convictions which are
the tenet that history has a purpose, the view that the United States
embodies freedom, the faith that God has called Americans to advance
this freedom, and the belief that only
when American values spread out throughout the world will the United
States finally be secure. Bacevich’s analysis is correct, and the
above-mentioned political approaches show the type of tough measures
needed to reform not only our economy but our culture as well. I
disagree with Bacevich’s view that American should give up their
consumption freedom for global recession recovery because I think if
someone chooses to work harder to have a more quality life, and then
they should possess a more quality life. We need to ask ourselves what
is the purpose of working hard? The difference between the communism
and democratism are that we do not have the limit of earning from our
labor and have freedom of consumption. Most of Americans work hard to
support themselves and their families. The richer spend more money
than middle class and middle classes spend more money than poor and
poor spend more money than homeless. I think the problem that American
has is the balance problems not overspending problems. We are at the
center of a gross imbalance in the world. Oil is another reason of the
global economy recession. For instance, the oil consumption in the
United States is the one that cannot be control and reduce immediately
because it is hard to living in the United States without car. Most of
American owns their own vehicle and reduce our oil consumption in one
day is the idealistic idea. Probably the imbalances in oil consumption
effect the global economy recession and power but I do not agree with
Bacevich about the purpose of declare Iraq war. “If there be such
valor in the bearing, what make we Abroad? Why then, women are more
valiant that stay at home, if bearing carry it;and the ass more
captain than the lion;…” (Alicibiades, Timon of Athens ActIII.5).
Bacevich mentions that the one of the reason that we were in war
because of the oil. Bacevich blames Bush Administration for the
responsibilities but we also think about what will happen to the world
when the terrorists would do with the 30% of world’s oil that they
have. What would be the world if they cannot buy the oils that they
need immediately? Of course we need to think about the stuff we throw
away or thoughtless waste and excess. We need to admit that our ways
of life abuse our wealth and power in so many ways. As Bacevich says,
we all know that it needs to be balance but it needs time cannot
happen in one day. The hybrid cars or battery cars cannot be replaced
with current cars right away with our economy situation. As Bacevich’s
view the United States is powerful that there is no need for us to
listen to what the other countries might think and the United States
mess around in the matters of other countries either for financially
or militarily to protect our interests in their countries. American
does not give much consideration to what is the best interest of the
other countries, but I think he is wrong because America did not
behave so selfishly to other countries. The United States works
for the world’s peace and we fight for other countries freedom.
America is like a big brother to the rest of the world. Also like our
democracy, the rest of the world need the limited government system to
check and regulate their power. For instance, what if we disregard
terrorists’ action towards to other countries? What if we did not
regulate North Korea to own the nuclear bombs? We need the United
States as a global leader that look out for the rest of world. It is
very important to use the power wisely, if that power use in bad way
will cause a disaster. In “the picture of Dorian grey,” Dorian’s
mother choose the guy her father hates, and her father who has the
enough power to kill the guy cause Dorian’s mother a horrible pain led
to suicide. It is almost impossible to share the power evenly within
the world therefore one nation will get the most power and I believe
that nation should be the United States because as I mentioned it
earlier, the power can be a poison or antidote depends how and who use
it. Matter-of-fact, the United States uses the power in good way and
wisely. Wilde says, “Being good, means being in harmony with oneself.
Disharmony appears when man has been forced to bring own life into
accord with lives of the others. Whether we like it or not war can be
the solution for some problems and Iraq war was need it for our
safety. Bacevich accuse our government as a “bad guy,” but that could
be just one side of view. We could view as a “good guy” from other
side. During the global recession, thousands of skilled Americans lost
their jobs led their family helpless. The poor and the middle class
American have to pay more for everything even for their basic
necessity. The United States and almost every nation suffer and trap
of debt due to global crisis. In “the picture of Dorian Grey”, Henry
says, “I can sympathize with everything, except suffering,” “I cannot
sympathize with that. It is too ugly, too horrible, too distressing.
There is something terribly morbid in the modern sympathy with pain.
One should sympathize with the color, the beauty, the joy of life. The
less said about life’s sores the better.” (Lord Henry, p37). The
people’s ignorance of other people’s affairs worsens these problems.
The effective solutions for these problems could be creating of more
jobs. If Americans gain their jobs, purchasing capacity of the people
will increase. They will spend more and thus demands for goods will be
create and market will expand as well. We cannot see the problems
separately because it links and works together; therefore we have to
treats the entire problem as a priority. I think the main reason of
the present global economic crisis is the subprime mortgage crisis.
Subprime mortgage loans starts with Option ARMs remain fixed for
certain period of time and they turn into a huge amount. Most of the
borrowers default due to this high repayment rate and led to
foreclosure of houses. Many financial institutions called for
bankrupt. Finally the Government passing of Emergency Economic
Stabilization (Act of 2008), it improves the situation and it gives
hope of financial recovery. The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act
of 2008 is a bailout of the U.S. financial system that is a law
enacted in response to the subprime mortgage crisis authorizing the
United States Secretary of the Treasury to spend up to US$700 billion
to purchase distressed assets, especially mortgage-backed securities,
and make capital injections into banks. (govtrack.us)Americans need to
step up to the plate and fix their own finances and rethink their
lives better. The United States needs to join effort on the
environmental front as well as to combat terrorism. If the worlds work
together continuously it will resolve the current global recession but
it takes time. Rome was not built in a day. It stars from one person
and anyone can be that person. They all share the burden of each
other’s mistakes. The only way to fix these problems, it’s not by the
Government, it’s by people need to helping each other out. The crisis
will be fixed in no time.
Last Birthday gift
Today is Wendy’s birthday and also it’s our 10th anniversary. I went
to Glendale mall with one of my best friend named Sam to get his help
to choose her birthday gift. Finding a birthday gift for my wife is
one of the hardest and very difficult things to do for me especially
with little amount of money. I lost my job last month because of
today’s American economy crisis. I keep looking for a job but it is
very hard to find the job at this time. “Hey Jay, how about chocolate
for Wendy? Woman loves chocolate I’ll bet Wendy loves it too.” Sam
and I pass to see’s candy shop and Sam suggests chocolate for my
wife’s birthday gift. “ Wendy doesn’t eat chocolate since last month
for her diet. We should think about something else for her gift.” It
was always hard for me to go shopping because I am not use to
shopping. I only purchase necessities stuffs for living. I think it
is waste money if I buy something that I don’t really need such as I
pod’s which most Americans has. The reason that I can’t think and act
like American because I was born in Somalia, one of poor country in
the world, came to the United States when I was 29 as a college
student. I was so poor that I need to work full time almost 10 years
able to save 1years of college tuition. I met my wife when I attend
school she was beautiful tall and blond like one of a super model in
the magazine. When I first talk to her, I was nervous and shy made my
face red like sweet potatoes. I helped her math and she helped my
English. We became friend at first and we started date after that
semester ends. She was open minded and funny who like to go to beach
at summer and party at night like typical Americans. One of her
habit
is shopping and driving. So we often drive to Santa Monica beach and
hangout all summer. She likes to shop on the weekend and most of the
time she overspends it which causes the financial problem. Even she
doesn’t have money, she has to go watch every recent movies at
theater. She loves star bucks coffee and loves fast food. She spends
more money than she earns. She likes to change her well working phone
every time the new phone release. I am using same phone for 5 years
and it works very well. I read the article about the other countries
reaction regards the spouse’s overspending habits. When Arab women
overspend to purchase an Avaya from a brand shop, her husband allows
punishing her by slap on her face. But most American women if their
credit card over limits, they open another credit card and spends it
again. Last week I had to sell my car to pay off her credit card and
Wendy promise that she won’t waste any money but on the way to work,
she just has to have that mocha latte and muffin with chocolate chips
at the star bucks. During an afternoon break, she flips through a
catalogue and sees some fabulous shoes. She dials the toll-free
number and order that shoe. On the way home, she stops by the local
discount store to pick up a few necessities and come out with 10 new
CDs. After picking up a pizza on the way home, she realizes that she
have spent more than what she should spend in just under 12 hours. It
is so easy to spend money in America today. On the Internet, on
television, the radio, and around every corner, the opportunities are
waiting for us to spend our money. When I got home after pickup up our
son Ron from daycare center I saw Wendy’s last month credit card bill.
“Honey, did you see your credit card bill?” I ask Wendy. “Yeah… What
about it?” “Do you want to say anything about it?” I ask. “No. not
really? Why? Do I have to say something? “Did you buy the I phone
yesterday?” I couldn’t believe that she bought the I phone. “But you
changed your phone 6 month ago” I said to Wendy and she turn around at
me and said “Yeah I know but everyone has it.” I almost yell at her,
“Wendy I think you do not realize your overspending habit is a big
problem that most of Americans have today and it links to America
economy crisis. Americans think there is nothing wrong with
purchasing thing that they want. I think Americans shouldn’t confuse
their freedom of consumption with appetite.” Wendy did not say
anything and just look at me until I left the house with her birthday
gift.
Reference
Bacevich, A. 2009 The limits of power: the end of American
exceptionalism.
Tepperman,J.2008,September 11 Is This The ‘End of American
Exeptionalism’?
www.npr,org/templates/story/story
CNN,2008. March18 Five years later, ...


Essay 3 1st half
Military Crisis
The US wants to be the world leaders but with our circumstances we no
longer can sustain that status or mentality. First step we should
start strengthening our military and tightening up our borders. We
build a strong military then we will become strong nation again. We
need to fix our economy crisis in order to build a strong military. We
are living in a monetary system and the money decides which class of
people we are and it plays a big part in everything we do on our life.
Timon in Timon of Athens is a good example who failures to accommodate
and couldn’t survived in monetary system society. Timon spends and
uses all his wealth unwisely and wastefully with his false friends
made himself broke and end up killing himself. He ruined his life by
denies the logic of money and misunderstand of friendship and love in
society that control by monetary economy capitalism. He has spent all
his wealth and more without thinking about his account status to his
false friends. I think Timon represents today’s America and false
friends represent our enemies. The United States was one of the
wealthiest and most powerful countries in the world and we want to
maintain our status by keep invading countries which have the
resources that we need. I think Alcibiades troops represent our
military today in Iraq war. When Alcibiades’s request didn’t accepted
by Senators in Athens, he declares war to get what he wants. Instead
of invading other countries and making more enemies, we should focus
on improving production of electricity that can be replacing or
equally using as gasoline. James Inhofe says, “We need to provide
affordable and reliable energy for consumers.” (Pryor/Inhofe's Fueling
America Act of 2009) His bill would help reduce fuel costs for
Americans and it will reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil. John
O'Dell, Senior Editor says, “This isn't to say that natural gas is the
answer. It's just part of a solution to our future energy needs. But
it can help us reduce import oil use and bridge the gap from petroleum
to battery- and hydrogen fuel-cell electric power. For those reasons,
the bills are worth serious consideration.” I agree with John’s idea
about the bill. It can’t solve all of America’s problems but it is a
part of the solution and it is a very important step for our economy
recovery.
The world need is a stable and powerful country or countries need to
protect power and they should provide stability for each continent.
The main problems that affect our economy are gasoline prices that
dramatically increase and electricity rates because we entirely
dependent on carbon-based fuels. Because of our greed, we use gas
instead of sunlight to power our vehicles, and we pay high bills for
electricity from a machine even thought we could use windmill to have
same electricity. Al gore says, “Our dangerous over-reliance on
carbon- based fuels…” We purchase oil from the Persian Gulf with the
money that we borrow from China. We have spent all our wealth
wastefully and even borrow from other countries like China without
thinking about our account status. America need to realize our
problems and mistakes that we made until now should be change quickly.
Otherwise, we all will become slave to our enemies. Timon could not
use his second chance to use his gold wisely and he chooses not to
change. He gives away his gold to his false friend even though he
knows that all they want from him is gold. When Timon gives his gold
to support Alcibiades’ troops I notice similarity with our crisis that
our entire crisis connected to each other so if we solve our main
problems such as stopping ever- rising energy prices can recover our
economy and it will protect our national security without having to go
to war in Persian Gulf. We need to end our reliance on carbon-based
fuels and replace with produce electricity like solar energy, wind
power and geothermal power that can provide enough electricity for
America. I believe these very first steps it’s not the only things we
need to do but it should be the take us close to solve our country’s
crises. Moreover it will help rest of the world to recover global
economy and military crisis and bring peace to world.
Most of the oil that we use every day is from foreign countries and we
are spending money that can be used for other goods such as build jobs
for people who needs jobs here at home or that money can be used to
build solar arrays and windmills. Al gore argues, “Our economy cannot
stand 10 more years of sending $2 billion every 24 hours to foreign
countries for oil. And our soldiers and their families cannot take
another 10 years of repeated troop deployments to dangerous regions
that just happen to have large oil supplies.” (Al Gore,2009)
Unfortunately gas price will increase until we fix the wrong solution
that has absolutely nothing to do with the problems. For instance, our
government decides to give more money to the oil companies to reduce
our gasoline prices. This way can’t be real solution for the problems
and it wouldn’t work for long run only to help increase even higher
gasoline prices make oil company great profits. We all know that
decrease our gas price will not going to happen in the short term
unless we have Persian Gulf. Hypothetically we have Persian Gulf by
force, this war justifies? Or should make reasonable reasons and
excuses to invade other countries by saying protect our safety and
rest of the world from terrorist. Americans believe that the war in
Iraq is making the United States safer from the terrorism so more than
half of population was support the war and Bush administration but I
think we are safer from threat of terrorism if we stop want for their
resources. Joseph Lieberman says, “In Iraq today we have a
responsibility to do what is strategically and morally
right.” (Washington post, 2006) He argues that even though death and
destruction of our army are heartbreaking and infuriating, there isn’t
better strategic and moral alternative for America than standing with
the moderate Iraqis until they take over their country and security. I
agree with Joseph Lieberman saying that decisive steps needed for
victory in Iraq but I disagree with him when he says, “It will help to
give freedom throughout the Middle East” (Washington post, 2006)
because many Iraqi civilians killed and it was more than American
military casualties in Iraq. In any circumstances, Americans shouldn’t
think that it’s no problem as long as we can start the wars elsewhere.
Iraq war took place in their country and think about what happened on
9/11. It was almost devastated the United States and affected the rest
of the world. We should imagine ourselves what war would do to you if
it took place on our own country for 7 years. Do you think Iraqis
could thank our military to give freedom? Therefore we need to figure
out how we going to survive without gasoline and without invading
countries. The best way is to use solar and other energy sources than
gas.
Today many countries reluctant to go to war against one another
because the world’s economy is globalize can hurt one major trading
partner will led everyone else get hurts too. Without other countries
cooperation, we will suffer and we can’t help anyone else if we can’t
help ourselves. American believes that our enemies destroyed our
economy but I believe we are the one who destroyed ourselves and we
don’t know it like Timon in the Timon of Athens. The United States can
win at any war if their winning is the only purpose regardless of
other sacrifices. Iraq war took longer and harder than what we
expected and during those times our countries ask us to sacrifice
ourselves in many ways. We suffered and sacrificed for nothing.
Increase taxes, higher gas price and APR rates were the part of our
sacrifices. The total cost of war in Iraq is estimated at 1.6 trillion
by 2009 (Washington CNN,2009) that was nearly double amount of money
that white house requested from congress. Our economy crisis makes the
other crises even worse. The committee said, “The higher total
economic impact comes from the cost of borrowing money to pay for the
war, lost productivity, higher oil prices and the cost of health care
for veterans.”(Washington CNN,2009) If we do not have to go to war
then we could save money for veterans’ health care. Al gore says, “The
leading experts predict that we have less than 10 years to make
dramatic changes in our global warming pollution lest we
lose our ability to ever recover from this environmental crisis.” This
problem is very serious problems and we need to consider and take it
seriously what the scientist are telling us right now. We will lose
our ability to recover environmental crisis if we don’t make changes
within 10 years. When we stop using oil and coal will help to prevent
our global warming pollution. We need to use solar, wind and
geothermal in order to reduce the pollution. We the Americans need to
arm themselves with the knowledge of what is going on to their country
and what they can do to help. We all know that greed messed up our
world and we can’t continue live like this. We can’t solve our
problems at once but start using production of electricity like solar
energy; wind power and geothermal will help to solve part of our
problem. I believe if we continue to effort to figure out the solution
then within 10 years we will be a true leader in the world again.
Recognizing our limits is the first step to close to the solution for
the problems that we face today.
References
John O'Dell, July 9, 2009 Natural Gas Bills in Congress Benefit
Consumers As Well as Fuel's Biggest Backer
James Inhofe, July 8, 2009 Inhofe Applauds Bi-Partisan Support for
Natural Gas Vehicles
Al Gore, July 29, 2009 NPR Al Gore's Speech On Renewable Energy
Joseph Lieberman, Dec. 29, 2006 Washington Post, Why we need more
troops in Iraq
Washington CNN, November 14, 2007 War costs could total $1.6 trillion
by 2009, panel estimates


English 101 Summer/09
Essay 3-Final half
The Military Crisis

The US need to face the fact that they want to be the world leaders
but with their circumstances they no longer can sustain that status or
mentality. If they want to be a strong nation again, then they need to
build a strong economy and military by stop making more enemies with
other countries by stop interfere other countries’ business. The first
step that they need to do is fix their economy crisis and they need to
reduce their dependence on foreign oils in order to build a strong
military. The US military could learn a good lesson from the character
named Timon in the Timon of Athens by Shakespeare. His character
spends more than he has and ends up having debt similar to Americans
today. America chooses to use their wealth unwisely and wastefully
without thinking about their account status for long time. The debt
causes today’s US economy crisis as well as their military crisis. We
are living in a monetary system and the money decides which class of
people we are and it plays a big part in everything we do on our life.
Timon is a good example who fails to accommodate into a monetary
system society. Americans are similar to Timon who hurts himself and
suffer from that result from his wrong action. Timon’s way of life
represents today’s Americans’ style of over consumptions and false
friends represent their enemies that will turn their back and maul
them like a beast when the United States need help. It is very
important to Americans to get their power again because they already
have too many enemies that can hurt and threaten Americans’ safety. As
Bacevich says, “How the United States Did Not Reinvent War… But
Thought It Did” (Bacevich, 2009). Americans believe they are the world
police and justified the Iraq war for saving Iraqis from terrorist but
the US need to admit that there are alternative reason for this long
war which is oil. The United States was one of the wealthiest and most
powerful countries in the world and they want to regain their status
by keep invading countries which have the resources that they need.
Alcibiades troops in Timon of Athens can represent the US military
today in Iraq war. When Alcibiades’s request didn’t get accepted by
Senators in Athens, he declared war to get what he wanted but in
reality war can’t be the only way and right way to solve the problem.
Instead of invading other countries and making more enemies, the U.S.
should focus on improving production of electricity that can be use as
gasoline. The U.S. needs to learn from their mistake and be willing to
fix their mistakes immediately if they want to recover US crisis
today.
The world needs a stable and powerful country or countries need to
protect power and they should provide stability for each continent.
The main problems that can affect the US economy are gasoline prices
that dramatically increase and electricity rates because they entirely
dependent on carbon-based fuels. Al gore says, “We have dangerous over-
reliance on carbon- based fuels…” Most of the oil that the US use
every day is from foreign countries and they are spending money that
can be used for other goods such as builds jobs for people who needs
jobs here at home or that money can be used to build solar arrays and
windmills. America purchase oil from the Persian Gulf with the money
that we borrow from China. They have spent all their wealth wastefully
and even borrow from other countries like China without thinking about
their account status. America need to realize their problems and
mistakes that they made until now should be change quickly. Otherwise,
Americans all will become slave to their enemies. Al gore argues, “Our
economy cannot stand 10 more years of sending $2 billion every 24
hours to foreign countries for oil. And our soldiers and their
families cannot take another 10 years of repeated troop deployments to
dangerous regions that just happen to have large oil supplies” (Al
Gore,2009). Unfortunately gas price will increase until the US fixes
the wrong solution that has absolutely nothing to do with the
problems. For instance, the US government decides to give more money
to the oil companies to reduce their gasoline prices. This way can’t
be real solution for the problems and it wouldn’t work for long run
only to help increase even higher gasoline prices make oil company
great profits. The US need to end their reliance on carbon-based fuels
and replace with produce electricity like solar energy, wind power and
geothermal power that can provide enough electricity for America.
James Inhofe says, “We need to provide affordable and reliable energy
for consumers.” (Pryor/Inhofe's Fueling America Act of 2009) His bill
would help reduce fuel costs for Americans and it will reduce
America’s dependence on foreign oil. Also the US government passed the
bill for the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 on June 26
(Thomas.loc.gov, 2009) for one of the solution because this bill
important issues that needs to be take care of. This bill provides
renewable energy, clean fuels, energy efficiency and reducing global
warming pollution. The American Clean Energy and Security Act will
help to reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil and reduce emission
from power plants and motor vehicles. It is true that in order to make
this Act function will cost money but this can be the second chance
for the U.S. and Americans to regain their power so they should use
this second chance wisely not like Timon. Timon could not use his
second chance to use his gold wisely and he chooses not to change but
Americans shouldn’t. John O'Dell, Senior Editor says, “This isn't to
say that natural gas is the answer. It's just part of a solution to
our future energy needs. But it can help us reduce import oil use and
bridge the gap from petroleum to battery- and hydrogen fuel-cell
electric power. For those reasons, the bills are worth serious
consideration.” It can’t solve all of America’s problems but it is a
part of the solution and it is a very important step for their economy
recovery. These very first steps it’s not the only things the US need
to do but it should be the take Americans close to solve their
country’s crises. Moreover it will help rest of the world to recover
global economy and military crisis and bring peace to world.
We all know that decrease our gas price will not going to happen in
the short term unless the US government change regulation of oil or
have Persian Gulf. Hypothetically we have Persian Gulf by force, this
war justifies? Or should make reasonable reasons and excuses to invade
other countries by saying protect our safety and rest of the world
from terrorist. When Timon gives his gold to support Alcibiades’
troops I notice similarity with our crisis that our entire crisis
connected to each other so if America solve the main problems such as
stopping ever- rising energy prices can recover their economy and it
will protect the US national security without having to go to war in
Persian Gulf. Americans believe that the war in Iraq is making the
United States safer from the terrorism so more than half of population
was support the war and Bush administration but Americans are safer
from threat of terrorism if they stop want for their resources.
Joseph Lieberman says, “In Iraq today we have a responsibility to do
what is strategically and morally right.” (Washington post, 2006) He
argues that even though death and destruction of the US army are
heartbreaking and infuriating, there isn’t better strategic and moral
alternative for America than standing with the moderate Iraqis until
they take over their country and security. I agree with Joseph
Lieberman saying that decisive steps needed for victory in Iraq but I
disagree with him when he says, “It will help to give freedom
throughout the Middle East” (Washington post, 2006) because many Iraqi
civilians killed and it was more than American military casualties in
Iraq. In any circumstances, Americans shouldn’t think that it’s no
problem as long as they can start the wars elsewhere. Iraq war took
place in their country and think about what happened on 9/11. It was
almost devastated the United States and affected the rest of the
world. Americans should imagine themselves what war would do to them
if it took place on their own country for 7 years. Can people think
Iraqis could thank to the U.S. military to give them a freedom? Today
many countries reluctant to go to war against one another because the
world’s economy is globalize can hurt one major trading partner will
led everyone else get hurts too. Without other countries cooperation,
the U.S. will suffer and they can’t help anyone else if they can’t
help themselves. American believes that their enemies destroyed their
economy but Americans are the one who destroyed themselves and we
don’t know it like Timon in the Timon of Athens. The United States can
win at any war if their winning is the only purpose regardless of
other sacrifices. Iraq war took longer and harder than what the U.S.
expected and during those times their countries ask Americans to
sacrifice themselves in many ways. Americans suffered and sacrificed
for nothing but the war. Increase taxes, higher gas price and APR
rates were the part of Americans’ sacrifices. The total cost of war in
Iraq is estimated at 1.6 trillion by 2009 (Washington CNN,2009) that
was nearly double amount of money that white house requested from
congress. The U.S. economy crisis makes the other crises even worse.
The committee said, “The higher total economic impact comes from the
cost of borrowing money to pay for the war, lost productivity, higher
oil prices and the cost of health care for veterans.”(Washington CNN,
2009) If Americans do not have to go to war then they could save money
for veterans’ health care. Therefore we need to figure out how we
going to survive without gasoline and without invading countries. The
best way is to use solar and other energy sources than gas.
The Americans need to arm themselves with the knowledge of what is
going on to their country and what they can do to help. People all
know that greed messed up the world and they can’t continue live like
this. Because of people’s greed, they use gas instead of sunlight to
power our vehicles, and they pay high bills for electricity from a
machine even thought they could use windmill to have same electricity.
Al gore says, “The leading experts predict that we have less than 10
years to make dramatic changes in our global warming pollution lest we
lose our ability to ever recover from this environmental crisis.” This
problem is very serious problems and Americans need to consider and
take it seriously what the scientist are telling right now. They will
lose their ability to recover environmental crisis if they don’t make
changes within 10 years. When they stop using oil and coal will help
to prevent the global warming pollution. The U.S. needs to use solar,
wind and geothermal in order to reduce the pollution. The U.S. can’t
solve their problems at once but start using production of electricity
like solar energy; wind power and geothermal will help to solve part
of the problem for long term. If the U.S. continues to effort to
figure out the solution then within 10 years they will be a true
leader in the world again. Recognizing the U.S. limits is the first
step to close to the solution for the problems that they face today.
References
O'Dell, John. 2009, July 9.Natural Gas Bills in Congress Benefit
Consumers As Well as Fuel's Biggest Backer
http://blogs.edmunds.com/greencaradvisor/2009/07/natural-gas-bills-in-congress-benefit-consumers-as-well-as-fuels-biggest-backer.html
Inhofe, James. 2009, July 8. Inhofe Applauds Bi-Partisan Support for
Natural Gas Vehicles
www.californiachronicle.com/articles/view/109263
Gore, Al. 2009, July 29. NPR Al Gore's Speech On Renewable Energy
www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92638501
Lieberman, Joseph. 2006, Dec. 29. Washington Post, Why we need more
troops in Iraq
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/.../AR2006122801055_pf.html
Washington CNN. 2007, November 14. War costs could total $1.6 trillion
by 2009, panel estimates
www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/11/13/...war.costs/index.html

Journals

Jounal/Research
Week1: June15-June19
Bcevich,A. 2008, August 15. Bill Moyers Interviews Andrew J. Bacevich
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/08152008/profile.html

A) I agree on what Bacevich says about our foreign policy. He says
that our foreign policy is the result of a dependence on consumer
goods and credit. I believe that we have much more power to control
the market than were actually aware of. We want to be able to do
whatever we want to do without having to worry about whether or not
the book’s balanced at the end of the month, or end of the fiscal
year. As Bacevich says therefore, we want this unending line of
credit. When our jobs are being shipped overseas we can’t really blame
big business because they’re only following the market. Consumers want
the cheapest prices possible for their products, and one of the ways
to achieve that goal is to find cheaper labor. If we want to reduce
our ridiculously large trade deficit then we need to start buying
American. We need to star shop at the local hardware instead of Wal-
Mart. Bacevich also says that fixing our problems before fixing the
world's problems. I believe our problem as American is that were too
complacent with our problem. As long as our problem doesn’t affect us
we don’t concern ourselves too much about it. We keep borrowing and
consuming with no real plan on how we are going to pay back our debts.
As Bacevich pointed out that we do not have an answer to pay for the
commitment of entitlements that is going to increase year by year for
the next couple of decades, especially as baby boomers retire. At the
rate is going its only inevitable that our economy collapses or our
country is mostly owned by foreign interests. If we are going to stop
this then we have to drastically change the way we spend and consume,
but I don’t see Americans doing this until it’s too late and we suffer
from another economic pressure.

B) I disagree on what he says about the Iraq War. Bacevich says that
It’s “unjustifiable and reckless.” There are many reasons for war with
Iraq, among them potential harboring of terrorism, protection of
Israel, and protection of the region’s oil resource. Bacevich says
“the reason we are in Iraq today is because the Persian Gulf is at the
center of the world's oil reserves.”Although he states “I don't mean
that we invaded Iraq on behalf of big oil, but the Persian Gulf region
would have zero strategic significance, were it not for the fact that
that's where the oil is.” To say that we are going to Iraq because of
Persian Gulf is an entirely socialist idea. Saddam Hussein, former
president of Iraq, was nothing more than a mass murdering, scheming,
and a dictator. Iraq holds an estimated 30% of the world’s oil and
Saddam used this as means to wield a great amount of power. Iraq is
a totalitarian dictatorship harboring terrorists and we are indeed
liberating the Iraqis from one of the most oppressive governments in
world history. How would you like to live in a country where
prostitutes are beheaded and the government can murder you a t
anytime? Besides that the French and many others lucrative oil deals
with the current Iraqi dictatorship. I believe that oil is only one
reason, not the only reason. Bush and the UN issued out an ultimatum
for Iraq to disarm several times. Saddam is danger to the Arab world
or at the very least his own people. Saddam is a complete psychopath
who will do whatever he wants, he needs to be replaced. I support a
free Iraq, happy, productive for themselves is the one. Bacevich lost
his son 2years ago in Iraq. I know he needs a scrap goat, but instead
of blaming Bush, blame the terrorists for dragging out the war. They
are the ones killing civilians inside holy ground and teaching
children as young as 5 to go kill Americans. I truly believe that
Iraq wants liberty and justice. I fully support the war, and yes I
agree that it is very hard for people to understand what really
happens when all the news report showing the bad and not the good. I
lost my high school friend in this Iraq War. One day I saw his
picture
on the news. Just like that but I still do support this War because
every military person that signs up to go to Iraq knows the
consequences involved. They know they are risking their lives and will
do so for their country. When the US says it wants to eliminate
Saddam’s dictatorship for failing to destroy deadly weapons, how is
that unjustifiable and reckless?

C) I got the feeling from Bacevich that he really does not like the
United States government. He focuses on the world wars, and the United
States involvement. Bacevich never really says anything good about
what any president has done during the world wars. He listed problems
of Americans and government, but not much of solutions. One point I
would like to research more information about the Vietnam War and
about his son. I know that He died in Iraq and It seems like his
son’s
death influence to Bacevich and his book.

Journal WK 2-3
Caroline Dena
English 101
In Rich Tucker’s January 23, 2009 column in Townhall.com,
“Iceberg Economics” he does not full agree with Bacevich book The
Limits of Power. Tucker believes that spending more money is better
for us as dose having nuclear weapons and that global warming is not a
big concern for us. Whereas Bacevich state the opposite of what he
thinks in his book The Limits of Power. I disagree with what Tucker
says is his essay. His essay talks about how turning off the coffee
pot on the Titanic once it has hit the iceberg is not significant. I
believe that spending money is not a good move, global warming is
something that we should be worried about and nuclear weapons are not
so good because of the aftermath.
Revise by JL
English 101
Tucker, R, 2009, Jan. 23 column in Townhall.com, “Iceberg Economics,”
he wrongly suggest his ideas to solve today’s economy recovery. Tucker
claims that our over consumptions could profit us and the global
warming and nuclear weapon cannot be immediate concern for us. He
proposes opposite ideas with Bacevich in “The limits of power.” I
disagree with Tucker’s Idea about the coffee pot on the Titanic
because, our over consumption cannot be the solution for our economy
crisis and the global warming issue needs to be take care of
immediately as well as nuclear weapons.

Saias Miguel
Eng101
6/26/2009
In the New York Times, September 14, 2008 article “We Got Trouble”
Jonathan Tepperman criticizes Bacevich's ideas about his proposal
solution to put an end to this crisis. Tepperman's argument seems
legit but I strongly believe Bacevich's theory about fighting global
warming and other issues here at home are America's top priority.

Revise by JL
English101
E1.2
New York Times, September 14, 2008 in the article “We Got Trouble”
Jonathan Tepperman disapproves of Bacevich’s ideas to recover our
economy crisis but I believe Bacevich’s ideas about the global warming
and other issue here at home should be America’s priority concern
today.


Journal Week 4-5
Matsui, Rep. D. 2009, June 25. The American Clean Energy and Security
Act of 2009: to create clean energy jobs, achieve energy independence,
reduce global warming pollution and transition to a clean energy
economy.

A)One thing I liked about this Bill is that it provides renewable
energy, clean fuels, vehicles and sequestration, energy efficiency,
and reducing global warming pollution. This Act will help to reduce
our dependence on foreign oil and it also would reduce emission from
power plants and motor vehicles.
B)One thing I don’t liked about this Bill is that people would think
it is right to tax the poor and middle class when we are having
financial crisis. Pollution reduction will cause more job loss and it
cost money to invest new clean energy technologies, including wind and
solar power. This money comes from our tax and we are paying for it.
Therefore this bill has high risk to hurts low-income families and
middle income families.
C)One thing that I don’t understand is how the US pollution reductions
will effect to the world without other countries participation. How
can we make and support other developing countries to be part of this
Act.

Journal 6
Americans effects the U.S. in many ways today’s world. One of the
problems that Bacevich points out in America today is our global
warming for our crisis. The environment can be effect by the
consumerism because of the consumer’s greed. The animated film Happy
Feet is the good example shows about the food chain and problem of
general overconsumption. In the film, the problem was overconsumption
of fish and its effects on the food chain. The food chain eventually
can effect Americans. We harvest fish way faster than the fish can
reproduce. We spend more than what we earn and usually we buy more
than what we need. The fishes are not the one effected by the global
warming; the polar bears also drop their population because of the
melting of ice caps. As Bacevich mentions, it is a problem that needs
to be fixed for us. This film inform us how important it is to take
care of our environment and to protect ourselves from global warming.
In American, still there are not enough jobs and people still keep
getting fired. People lost their houses due to unpaid mortgage
payments. Christopher Gardner in the Pursuit of Happyness, the film
based on a true story, represents Americans today. In the movie, he
loses his house, his bank account and credit cards. He desperate to
find a steady job in the movie and American are desperate to find the
job like him today. Financial problems break Christopher’s family and
as well as Americans’ family. Everywhere and everything is competitive
to Americans. Christopher competes with 20 other candidates for
internship position at Dean Witter. We all scared about our economic
crisis but like Christopher if we go through these hard time recession
will pay off.