President Carter states in the Malaise speech that he is concerned for the American people. Although he is continually worried about the energy crisis and the rapid inflation, he is mostly worried about the voices of the people. He believes that Washington DC has no listened to the true concerns of the American people, only made statements about resolutions. The Government and his position as leader have become too estranged from the public, and he wishes to keep the unity as an equal, not a dictator. The United States was in a moral and spiritual chaos, and it was questioned whether oil should continue to be imported from the Middle East, when jobs were being lost because of it. People were beginning to stop believing in the competency of the United States. Carter was concerned that the very fabric of the Nation was beginning to lose its strength. Unity is the only thing that can hold the American dream together. Problems with unity and good leadership affect all countries and ages; it will always be a problem.
The American ideal is changing from something that held relationships, families, and God close to their hearts, to a world full of materialism and greed. People are beginning to deal more with themselves and self indulgence than looking to giving and loving. Existentialism is rapidly overtaking the Country; moral is going down, depression is increasing - because of our own meaningless existence governed only by objects, we become depressed and lethargic. Our productivity as a country is decreasing. People do not even care enough to vote in their own President's election! I believe that America today is suffering from this same blight. It seems that our children are taught Materialism at a young age - toddlers being enrolled in beauty pageants to look "sexy", buying our teens new cars instead of making them work for a used one, teaching them that beauty is the brand of makeup they use or the amount of time they spend every morning fixing their hair. It is not only a problem with teens - less and less people in America are accepting God, but are looking to materials to satisfy the emptiness in their hearts.
Carter says the only way we can get out of the energy crisis is to face the problem head on. He is setting a deadline for how much oil we are able to take from the Middle East - no more than they used in the year 1977. He is also going to supply our country with more jobs, because America needs to supply itself with its own energy. Dependence on foreign oil must be cut down by half within the next ten years. Also, he wants to do more research into alternative means of energy, such as solar power. He will also require as a matter of law, that our Nation's utility companies cut their massive use of oil by 50 percent within the next decade and switch to other fuels, especially coal, our most abundant energy source. A conservation plan will be put into use, so that every American can conserve as much energy as absolutely possible. By doing all of this, it will instill a sense of community and readjust the falling moral in America.
President Obama's plan and President Carter's plan both follow the same basic rules - the only difference is that Obama is dealing with newer technology.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Ronald Reagan : Classwork
1) What are the problems America faces?
America is too materialistic, we do not understand how unique America is and how important our American traditions are. We are suffering from an economic crisis - materialism is causing misery and depression. Our taxes are unfair and favor the poor who use other people's taxes as an excuse to not work. The Government is too big and too overbearing.
2) What are Reagan's solutions?
We must act today in order to preserve tomorrow - these problems will not go away quickly, but we must continue to work on the economy nevertheless. We need to cut down the taxes as well.
3) What makes Reagan effective here?
He is funny and to the point - he is also witty. It is nice to have a leader who can laugh at themselves.
4) What does this reveal about Reagan?
Reagan truly does not believe that he played a part in the decline of the economy. He strongly believes that his party is RIGHT and the opposite part is WRONG.
5) What policy decisions might Reagan make according to this?
Reagan wants to increase the firepower of America - peace through strength.
6) How did this event effect Reagan's role with the American public?
Made him a public hero - he took a bullet for America. He remains stoic and leader-like.
7) Who is the audience?
The association of Evangelicals.
8) What is the argument Reagan makes here?
It is better to die sooner while still believing in God than live a long life without God at all. Communism is against God.
9) What do you think Reagan's agenda is in this speech?
To reduce the bad morals of our leaders who usually pretend to follow God, but really are selfish and immoral. Ignore the facts of history and declare the arms race over and a giant misunderstanding.
-this is as far as we got in class-
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