As I was watching President Obama’s State of the Union speech last week, I couldn’t help but wonder if this was the beginning of the end. If the 20th century was called America’s century, what would the 21st century be known for?
President Obama outlined his plan to “win the future,” and called for increased spending in education, emphasis on green jobs and a freeze on discretionary spending. His plan is only serving as a roadblock for America on its path back to the model country of the world.
Mr. Obama’s plan aims to tug at the heartstrings of voters as he is already looking towards re-election in 2012. Spending on education will always be a hotly contested issue and more money equals better schools, right?
Federal spending on education increased from $545.68 billion in 2000 to $921.21 billion in 2010, while U.S. test scores lagged far behind other industrialized countries.
The Program for International Student Assistance (PISA) evaluates student performance around the world, and in their 2009 evaluation, the United States ranked 17th in reading, 31st in math, and 23rd in science among 15 year old students.
This is unacceptable and shows that reform, not spending, is essential to raising the American education standard.
As a product of the public school system, I have seen many of these flaws firsthand.
The current system rewards longevity, not merit. We have all had the terrible teacher who has been at our school forever and never has to worry about his or her performance.
A system of merit-based pay encourages teachers to motivate students by rewarding better teachers with more pay, holding lesser teachers accountable and encouraging every teacher to get the most out of his or her students.
The second phase of President Obama’s plan calls for more emphasis on green jobs and alternative forms of energy, yet another vote grabber with no basis in logic.
A standard home solar power system costs $10,000 to install and generates approximately 750 kilowatt hours per year in a cloudy climate like the state of Washington.
The average American home uses 10,392 kilowatt hours per year. Solar power would account for only seven percent of the total electricity used in a household with solar panels.
This is not a realistic goal with the alternative forms of electricity we have now. Investing billions of dollars in an unrealistic program during a budget crisis is irresponsible, pointless and purely political.
While investing billions in floundering areas of our society, President Obama has also advocated a freeze in discretionary spending. This is a very small step in the right direction, but does little to make a dent in our national debt that stands at $14,113,709,100,304.03.
Spending freezes in discretionary spending, which only accounts for 13 percent of the total federal budget, do nothing when combined with increased spending in the areas mentioned above. At some point President Obama’s spending binge needs to end.
Mr. Obama is a likable guy, and I want him to succeed, but his history of broken promises, failed programs and empty rhetoric has finally caught up to him.
In his campaign, Mr. Obama promised many things, including his plans to close Guantanamo Bay, cut taxes for all but the wealthiest two percent of Americans and end backroom dealings in Washington.
Guantanamo Bay is still open. Tax cuts for the wealthiest two percent of Americans were just extended. Billy Tauzin, a PhRMA lobbyist Obama specifically targeted on the campaign, was consulted more than eight times in private for his support of the bill. This is not the man we voted for.
The United States deserves better. We have sent men to the moon, defeated communism, survived the Great Depression, invented the automobile, the airplane, the internet and served as a beacon of freedom for millions around the world.
This guy isn’t cutting it.