Dear President Obama,
After listening to your State of the Union address tonight, you have me truly convinced that the United States has picked an astonishing leader. The stories about young kids writing to you about their parents not being able to work got to core of me, but hearing how many Americans you have given jobs to today turned my sorrow into joy. Most importantly, you touched on the subject of the bipartisanship that has continiously been going on. But, you know that the American, "people deserve a government that embodies their strength." When you stated this it made me realize that every American counts, and as a whole we are known as a country that never backs down, no matter how hard the times may be.
You cut taxes for a total of 8 million Amercans: first time home buyers, small businesses, and Americans paying for college. This left people with more money to pay for gas, clothes, etc...Therefore this helped the whole cycle in general in improving the economy. This plan is very intelligent yet seems so simple, which a majority of Americans can grasp, and realize what a great president you are.
To get to the issue of the banks, and all the horrible things they have done, you turn a new light upon them. You told your plan of how you proposed a fee to the biggest banks, and big businesses will pay back their taxpayers that helped them when they were in a rut. As you said, these big businesses do have the money to pay their taxpayers back since they gave out large bonuses to their own workers. I agree completely with you, and the banks should learn once and for all that they don't control the economy, you do.
One last topic that I thought you spoke very strongly on was not to wait any longer. Washington has told us for years and years to wait for change, but we are not going to stand beside anymore. As you said, China isn't waiting, they are proceeding forward each day: "I don't accept second place for the U.S." I believe in you, I believe in the two parties as a whole, and I believe all Americans will work as one to become the greatest nation possible.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Eisenhower and Kennedy on national policy
The two speeches do touch on similiar topics, and seem to take a similiar path. Eisnhower's speech didn't seem as inspiring, but did talk about some of the same ideas: "Together we must learn how to compose difference, not with arms, but with intellect and decent purpose." This statement is definently one that Kennedy agreees on, "Let both sides, for the first time, formulate serious and precise proposals for the inspection and control of arms--and bring the absolute power to destroy other nations under the absolute control of all nations." Kennedy seems to lean towards the side of talking out the issues, but towards the end of the quote he seems to veer towards the side of war. He wants each nation to have the complete power to be able to destroy another nation if need be, and as a last resort.
Eisenhower talks about how he believes as a whole, our society needs to find a balance between the uprising industries and scientific findings with the smaller businesses in the world: "Today, the solitary inventor, tinkering in his shop, has been over shadowed by task forces of scientists in laboratories and testing fields." As Eisenhower says this, Kennedy does believe that there should be a balance, but he doesn't seem to have as negative a view: "Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. Together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths and encourage the arts and commerce." This quote compared to Eisenhower's quote seems to look at science in a differnet way. Kennedy seems to look at science as a way to discover the world and educate people, whereas Eisenhower believes it has taken over too much of American society and a balance is needed.
Kennedy really sticks to sorting out problems through disscussion and he seems to have a goal to help others: "If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich." This quote is really strong in the sense that if the U.S. (being the free state) cannot help the thousands of poor people, then it cannot save the couple of people in society that are wealthy. It shows how we must be able to do both, not one or the other because that is not possible. This idea of helping others, and liberty runs through both speeches. In Eisenhower's speech: "our basic purposes have been to keep the peace; to foster progress in human achievement, and to enhance liberty, dignity and integrity among people and among nations." As you can tell, both of these presidents kept the ideas of liberty and helping others as a part of their overall big goal.
Eisenhower talks about how he believes as a whole, our society needs to find a balance between the uprising industries and scientific findings with the smaller businesses in the world: "Today, the solitary inventor, tinkering in his shop, has been over shadowed by task forces of scientists in laboratories and testing fields." As Eisenhower says this, Kennedy does believe that there should be a balance, but he doesn't seem to have as negative a view: "Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. Together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths and encourage the arts and commerce." This quote compared to Eisenhower's quote seems to look at science in a differnet way. Kennedy seems to look at science as a way to discover the world and educate people, whereas Eisenhower believes it has taken over too much of American society and a balance is needed.
Kennedy really sticks to sorting out problems through disscussion and he seems to have a goal to help others: "If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich." This quote is really strong in the sense that if the U.S. (being the free state) cannot help the thousands of poor people, then it cannot save the couple of people in society that are wealthy. It shows how we must be able to do both, not one or the other because that is not possible. This idea of helping others, and liberty runs through both speeches. In Eisenhower's speech: "our basic purposes have been to keep the peace; to foster progress in human achievement, and to enhance liberty, dignity and integrity among people and among nations." As you can tell, both of these presidents kept the ideas of liberty and helping others as a part of their overall big goal.
Monday, January 18, 2010
1950's Ad
Eisenhower vs. Stevenson:
Ike for President: In this add the music was really upbeat and happy, and made it appealing to a number of Americans. In the Ad there's a part where a variety of men and women walk across the screen. They are all holding signs that say "IKE" but the most important part is that the men and women were all differnet. Some were factory workers, fire fighters, stay at home moms, and painters. There's also a shot of just a man on a tractor which shows how agriculture is important in American society. The tractor is also representing industry because it shows how Eisenhower wants it to become a large part of the economy. There's an image of a family with a young child and a dog, and it's the "picture perfect" family. This ad shows how business and family are a large part of the American vision. And just how Uncle Sam motivated people to join the army for WWI, he is used in this ad to show his support for Eisnhower. This tactic can persuade peopele to vote for him if he has Uncle Sam on his "side." The other candidates running in this election are represnted as donkeys which are Democractic, but also they portray them as kind of dumb. They make the donkeys look a little funny, by giving them big ears and large bodies. This portrail makes these other candidates not seem as serious, compared to the picture showed for Eisenhower in the ad. This ad overall shows how our nation during this time is focused on their economy and jobs, which soon ends up booming more than ever.
Let's Not Forget The Farmer: This ad refers to all the farmers in the U.S. and dates it back to the 30's (the Depression). The ad makes sure to get across that the depression will not occur again, they use the line "didn't have bread when the day was done." This line is said while a foreclosure sign is shown and a family is standing there looking homeless. Then the song changes to Stevenson and there are images of a nice farm house, and him smiling in his car. These images show how if you vote for Stevenson and you're a farmer, you will not be forgotten. You won't go through the same hardships that you previously went through. This ad shows how agriculture is once again important in American economy. This is similiar to the ad that I talked about in the paragraph above, where agriculture was important too. Agriculture obviously is going to be a huge focus during the 1950's.
Nixon on Corruption: this ad shows Nixon talking on a stand, and he's talking about how he has served for the federal government before. And how he respects the thousands of people that serve the federal government. He believes that to pay back all the hard working Americans, the corrupt people and thiefs in these positions be kicked out. Previously, too many people were given political offices because they were friends with the president, and the positions were then abused. Nixon makes it clear that he wants only good hearted people in office, and wants people who will work hard for the good of the country. He also doesn't want Washington D.C. to have a bad reputation. It's supposed to be a place of trust, honsety and have reliable people that work hard. Therefore he's showing that him and Eisenhower are a good choice because they aren't crooks, nor are they corrupt. This shows how the nation wants to take a new direction on government, and ensure that people are rightly deserved thier positions. No more big business scandals where the government barely has control over the economy. This is a very big step that was needed sooner or later.
Ike for President: In this add the music was really upbeat and happy, and made it appealing to a number of Americans. In the Ad there's a part where a variety of men and women walk across the screen. They are all holding signs that say "IKE" but the most important part is that the men and women were all differnet. Some were factory workers, fire fighters, stay at home moms, and painters. There's also a shot of just a man on a tractor which shows how agriculture is important in American society. The tractor is also representing industry because it shows how Eisenhower wants it to become a large part of the economy. There's an image of a family with a young child and a dog, and it's the "picture perfect" family. This ad shows how business and family are a large part of the American vision. And just how Uncle Sam motivated people to join the army for WWI, he is used in this ad to show his support for Eisnhower. This tactic can persuade peopele to vote for him if he has Uncle Sam on his "side." The other candidates running in this election are represnted as donkeys which are Democractic, but also they portray them as kind of dumb. They make the donkeys look a little funny, by giving them big ears and large bodies. This portrail makes these other candidates not seem as serious, compared to the picture showed for Eisenhower in the ad. This ad overall shows how our nation during this time is focused on their economy and jobs, which soon ends up booming more than ever.
Let's Not Forget The Farmer: This ad refers to all the farmers in the U.S. and dates it back to the 30's (the Depression). The ad makes sure to get across that the depression will not occur again, they use the line "didn't have bread when the day was done." This line is said while a foreclosure sign is shown and a family is standing there looking homeless. Then the song changes to Stevenson and there are images of a nice farm house, and him smiling in his car. These images show how if you vote for Stevenson and you're a farmer, you will not be forgotten. You won't go through the same hardships that you previously went through. This ad shows how agriculture is once again important in American economy. This is similiar to the ad that I talked about in the paragraph above, where agriculture was important too. Agriculture obviously is going to be a huge focus during the 1950's.
Nixon on Corruption: this ad shows Nixon talking on a stand, and he's talking about how he has served for the federal government before. And how he respects the thousands of people that serve the federal government. He believes that to pay back all the hard working Americans, the corrupt people and thiefs in these positions be kicked out. Previously, too many people were given political offices because they were friends with the president, and the positions were then abused. Nixon makes it clear that he wants only good hearted people in office, and wants people who will work hard for the good of the country. He also doesn't want Washington D.C. to have a bad reputation. It's supposed to be a place of trust, honsety and have reliable people that work hard. Therefore he's showing that him and Eisenhower are a good choice because they aren't crooks, nor are they corrupt. This shows how the nation wants to take a new direction on government, and ensure that people are rightly deserved thier positions. No more big business scandals where the government barely has control over the economy. This is a very big step that was needed sooner or later.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Documents on the cold war
Truman Doctrine: this document shows how the U.S. knows that it needs to help Greece to repair thier country. Greece has been destroyed politically and economically, and has turned to the U.S. in dire need. The U.S. does bloat a little about how much we have, and how we have the right way of life and must help others (manifest destiny), but at least the U.S. has the heart to help Greece get back on its feet. The U.S. also helps Turkey, as Great Britain no longer can support them. Two years before this document (1945) the United Nations was created, so that a situation like WWII wouldn't occur again.
Even though the U.S. is doing a good thing (helping these two nations) it is also tieing us to them. This document shows the U.S. policy for the future war (cold war).
Kennan's Long's Telegram: this document shows how Long's view of capitalism isn't very positive but he believes it is better suited for a country rather than communism. He state the USSR against capitalism, but brings to light that there are indeed internal problems with capitalism. Through all this, he believes that someone must intervene the USSR before they spread their beliefs and government ways to other countries. Long's telegraph continues, and he states that action must be taken but not military action. He believes the USSR should be resisted and will full force, and they will quickly back down. He also beleives the American people should be educated about the nature of their government, and the actions that the U.S. will take. This document shows the U.S. resistance against the USSR and how there are people already strongly agaisnt them. Therefore, this builds up tension between the two nations, and he states in his telegraph that the west (being the U.S.) is more powerful than the USSR which foreshadows the Cold War.
Even though the U.S. is doing a good thing (helping these two nations) it is also tieing us to them. This document shows the U.S. policy for the future war (cold war).
Kennan's Long's Telegram: this document shows how Long's view of capitalism isn't very positive but he believes it is better suited for a country rather than communism. He state the USSR against capitalism, but brings to light that there are indeed internal problems with capitalism. Through all this, he believes that someone must intervene the USSR before they spread their beliefs and government ways to other countries. Long's telegraph continues, and he states that action must be taken but not military action. He believes the USSR should be resisted and will full force, and they will quickly back down. He also beleives the American people should be educated about the nature of their government, and the actions that the U.S. will take. This document shows the U.S. resistance against the USSR and how there are people already strongly agaisnt them. Therefore, this builds up tension between the two nations, and he states in his telegraph that the west (being the U.S.) is more powerful than the USSR which foreshadows the Cold War.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)