Garret Rueckert

POLS 2100
Paper #1
As we reflect on the past and how events transpire, we hope that we learn lessons
sometimes in a very painful wayand grow from there. As I reflect on the status of the nation in
the world, I see progress. However, I also see lessons still unlearned. If we want to grow as a
nation and a people, we must take our hard knocks on our feet and be willing to roll with the
punches. As I elaborate on the economic, environmental, defensive, and humanitarian problems
facing the world today, evaluate what is praiseworthy and what is damnable. Think of solutions;
think of your fellow man; and think for yourself. For it is not the politicians that make a
particular nation great in the world, it is its people and their principles.
The world economy is still struggling from the collapse of 2007. There is no doubt that
globalization has tied the United States economy to the worlds economy; and as the US is the
richest nation in this new interwoven international community, our economy should be run
responsibly for everyones sake. Too long have we put perpetual growth and profit above
efficiency and sustainability; too long have corporate interests been subsidized and prioritized
over investments into the real base of the economythe people. If we reinvest in education,
science, and energy infrastructure our economy could stand as an example for the rest of the
world. American universities have a worldwide reputation for excellence, and steps should be
taken make that excellence more available to our young people. Returns from investing in
science and education are never immediate, but the rewards for doing so are undeniable. Our
need for energy independence has never been more dire; as such, no option should be left off of
the table in this regard. Our dependency on oil from the Middle East entangles us too greatly
with an unstable region and involves us with factions and politics we do not understand. Nuclear,

solar, wind, and biofuel sources of energy need to be explored for their potential. If for the time
being the technology is not up to par to meet our energy demands, responsible domestic drilling
should also be considered, but not at the expense of the environment.
The environmental challenges facing us in the world today range from sustainability to a
very serious threat of global climate change. We must employ the entire international community
in the effort to harmonize our own growth with the earths environmental needs. A new
international organization for the most industrialized (and therefore the biggest polluters) nations
should be established to think tank and discuss these environmental issues. This organization
could be an arm of the UN or an entirely new entity. Either way, it must cross the entire globe
because these environmental issues are common to all people. As one of the biggest polluters,
the US should take the lead in developing green technologies and actively reducing pollution and
deforestation. Environmental issues cannot be reduced to power politics, so strong-arming other
nations into action will not work; instead, cooperation must grow naturally out of mutual selfinterest and responsibility.
The sphere of politics that does require us to be realists is our defense. Though we wish
the nation had no enemies, there are threats to the basic safety of the people that cannot be solved
with the same old tactics. Our intervention in the Middle East has done more to undermine our
own security than any amount of defense spending cuts could. Though I do not advocate total
isolationism, delivering democracy to foreign lands by means of guns and bombs has proved
ineffective since the Vietnam conflict. The choice is not black and white; the options are not just
do absolutely nothing or continue the current polices. We must take a much more nuanced
approach to national security and defense than we have so far. If we reduced our dependency on
foreign oil, we would be more secure; if we watched our own borders instead of the border

between Pakistan and Afghanistan, we would be more secure; if we ended the violence in
Mexico with more sensible drug policies, we would be more secure. As shown, there are a
number of steps to take that could make our nation safer that do not involve mass surveillance or
expensive weapons systems. We could easily reallocate some of the defense budget into other
investments without sacrificing our necessary position as the worlds most advanced military.
Certain regional alliances such as NATO have proven to benefit the US greatly even though our
military is what give NATO any teeth. Other alliances, such as those with Saudi Arabia and
Israel, have proven to be much less beneficial to us. Though we should not walk out without a
word on an alliance, we must reevaluate what is important to our own defense.
If we truly wish to help struggling people in poor countries, then a hard look at the
foreign aid program is necessary. The taxpayers here should not subsidize irresponsible spending
by leaders in other countries. If any foreign aid is to continue, every penny given should come
with a mandate on how it is spent. Subsidizing other militaries puts those countries in a
dangerous position of dependency on the US more responsible and humanitarian investments
should be made with foreign aid. If our foreign policy is going to have human rights as a
fundamental principle, we should not make war where we plan on lecturing on the matter. The
conflict in Iraq for example has claimed the lives of far too many civilians; if we want them to
establish a government that recognizes human rights, we should not take collateral damage so
lightly. In a similar way, the United States should be more committed to ending foreign conflicts
than to picking winners and losers. Time after time again, yesterdays allies prove to be todays
enemies.
Despite all of the challenges we currently face, the American way is to endure and
overcome adversity. We grow stronger the more we struggle. If we alter course in many areas of

foreign policy, we may see the change we want. Economically, we should seek to be more selfsufficient and sustainable, which would benefit the environment as well. Our own defense should
come before any alliance or regional/international organization and should be paid for by our
own dollars. Other issues such as climate change will however require all nations to cooperate in
mutual self-interest, and as such international organizations can be used in many ways to
facilitate that cooperation. The coercion of power politics should only be applied where
absolutely necessary or where an immediate threat lies. Despite the changes that are necessary
going forward, I am optimistic that progress of all peoples and nations will continue.