I unfortunately don’t spend a lot of time learning about, or discussing politics. I actually live in a blissfully naïve world most of the time. I watch the news, so I am aware, but seldom discuss, or really develop an opinion on politics.
That being said, I have always disliked the War on Terror. I understand the need to make our country safe, I do, but are we going about it correctly? Throwing money at it?
OUR country needs help. We spend billions on the war, just as Friedman discusses in the article What’s Our Sputnik? but nearly every school district in our country is cutting budgets. It’s not just schools, but most of the threads that make up our united country. Selfishly thinking, we need to begin working to take care of our families and specifically, the students in our country. Don’t get my wrong, I fully support our troops and what they do, but I don’t necessarily agree with what they are asked to be doing.
I am hoping that the recession and the alternative fuel crisis are going to be our Sputnik. Our country is realizing that we need to be more competitive and less reliant on other countries for our petroleum-based needs. I think that we are slowly realizing our Sputnik-like event, but it will take time to transition. Unfortunately, I don’t think that it will be as fast and furious as the nation’s focus was with the actual Sputnik event.
Eric,
ReplyDeleteYou bring up a great point about the alternative fuel crisis. You are correct in mentioning that we are going to have to figure out some way to power this great nation due to the fact that we are using up our natural nonrenewable resources at an alarming rate. We really do need to focus on some efficient and effective alternative clean energy through solar, wind, or hydro power before it is too late. I agree that whatever happens will not be a quick reaction. Unfortunately, I think that our national is in a greater financial crisis as well as has its hands in too many other countries' affairs to be able to jump with the focused response we had to Sputnik. My husband is in the military and I support our troops as well, but you are right in mentioning that we are really neglecting the future of our nation that is on our own soil. Priorities need to change.