2005 Capitol Forum - Future 5

After studying 4 divergent perspectives throughout the Capitol Forum and the Post-Forum Lesson, students are challenged to consolidate what they have learned and develop an alternative future for the United States' role in the world. This fifth future expresses the students' own views on the issues explored throughout the Capitol Forum program. Below are a few samples of Future 5s written by Washington State students following the 2005 Capitol Forum in Olympia.

A student from Shorewood High School writes:

The security of America depends on a future very different from the one chosen by our president. We must work multi-laterally, including not just democratic nations. We must include all nations if we plan on building a cooperative world. The United Nations is an inefficient and corrupt body, however we must back it whenever possible. Participation is essential in order to reform the United Nations.

As Americans we have a responsibility to our forefathers to uphold democracy and our standard of freedom. Our history demands giving democracy more than a fighting chance before drifting from it. Only when we have listened and given the UN more than enough time, can we act on our own to preserve freedom throughout the world.

American foreign policy must also change to adapt to the growing threat of terrorism by addressing its root causes that are imbedded deeply in the history and present of this ever-changing world. As the nations and peoples of this world grow ever more connected, and always more complicated, our approach must change with it. We cannot continue to look at the social-political world from such a simplistic standpoint.

A student from Shorewood High School writes:

The future I have created is a combination of Future 3, Build a More Cooperative World, and Future 4, Protect the U.S. Homeland. I would call it: Balanced Focus on Homeland and International Cooperation. I believe that instead of focusing on one or the other, both being very urgent, we should split our time and focus on both equally. Internationally, this would mean being a strong participant in the UN and its cooperative decisions, but not necessarily being a main leader. As far as homeland is concerned, I believe that healthcare, education, violence, etc., are in need of immediate attention. We must use the rest of our time focusing on these homeland issues.

The only downfall to this future would be trying to find the exact balance in which both problems are being addressed equally, but I do think that once this could be achieved, our country would be on the right path towards stability within our own nation and around the rest of the world. It would be addressing global environmental issues, AIDS, terrorism, etc in a cooperative effort with the other UN countries while still paying close attention to programs in desperate need of help here at home.

A student from River Ridge High School writes:

The United States is known to currently be one of the most powerful countries in the world. With the promise of a better life and freedom, many people wish to migrate to the U.S. whether it means legally or illegally. Presently we are using vast amounts of petroleum that not only affects our environment, but also our economy, which has become an important problem that needs to be solved. We must also acknowledge that we have not solved the threat of terrorism that threatens our country. Therefore we need to stop trying to deal with other countries’ problems, and instead work with the problems at home. Not only are there problems of immigration, terrorism, economy, and environment, but there are also problems of obesity, trust in our government, security, and also crime rates that threaten our country.
What do we have to do?

Keep our toes in the water, but keep the focus on our own country.

Immigration:
We need to keep strict security on our borders, may it be by the water or border from South America. We need to keep the number of people coming into America at a reasonable number. There is no use accepting a huge amount of people if we cannot help support them, once they arrive. With the focus on America, we can keep our borders free of illegal aliens that may try to enter into our country.

Environment:
Though the U.S. has a population of 4.6 % of the world, we use 25 % of the energy used in the world (http://www.csam.montclair.edu/~kenschaft/oil.html). With the need to drive or use electricity, we are in constant need of petroleum. The amount of petroleum that we use takes a toll on our environment. How is by the pollution and effect that it takes on our ozone layer. We need to concentrate on ways to veer away from the usage of petroleum, and instead use other products for driving and electricity. The U.S. also needs to contemplate how important it is to recycle. With the help of more recycling, we can help save our environment.

Economy:
At this moment, there are people in need of aid. Our poverty rate is quite high, and people are in need of jobs. We need to stop putting more jobs overseas, this way it can give people jobs here instead of over there.

Terrorism:
There is a threat of terrorism that threatens our country. We need to build security, so that we as Americans feel safe and not threatened. This thus shows that we need to concentrate more at home, instead of the war in Iraq.

A student from River Ridge High School writes:

Although democracy in itself is a wonderful idea, we have not advanced so far in our country to reach its full potential for bringing a country under the true “power of the people”. In Future 5, the world will become a more cooperative, environmentally friendly, representative community. Through increased international communication and cooperation, less dependency on fossil fuels, and less manipulation of underdeveloped nations by the larger developed ones, Future 5 will bring our world to a greater and more enjoyable state of living.

Politically, there will be no more 2-party system in America. We will become a genuinely multi-party system to better represent the masses of the people and their many varying viewpoints. There will be spending caps on campaigns (so money doesn’t win the election), and the money will come from taxpayers only so as to bring even more representation into the election process -- with your money going for a certain candidate, wouldn’t you get more involved? Also, in America and wherever else it happens to work, there will be a more severe separation of church and state. No more religious groups backing the presidency financially or any other way other than in their own votes and beliefs. The name for this falls under social-democracy: a larger state government, with federal funding for healthcare and education nation-wide. This will allow a healthier, happier nation since they will be well-represented and involved in what the politicians are doing.

Economically, we will have an open market, but with less manipulation and consumerism. Less outsourcing, and open the WTO meetings to other people so the rest of the world may know of what is really going on with international trade. There will be an international standard of working -- a system of managing in which there is fair work for fair pay, and no more sweatshops or child labor ANYWHERE. There will be an international committee that will oversee the inspection and enforcement of this law. More specialization will also be a part of the economy of Future 5. Local resources and talent will be put to use, creating more jobs and less monopolized, all-encompassing businesses like Wal-Mart who make everything, but make everything mediocre. This will create more competition, and to keep small businesses from falling under, there will be incentives from the government to begin a business and keep it going. As for reducing consumerism, there will be a new surge in culture and originality without it, along with a new set of values that does not include so many material things (this is mainly in American culture).

In opening up the WTO, the economical issues that tie into the environment are opened up to the public. There will be international committees responsible for development and cohabitation projects, providing cleaner water and preserving wildlife and its habitats. We hope to see an end to petroleum in Future 5, stricter guidelines on emissions, and the U.S. is to sign the Kyoto treaty. The end of petroleum will advance technology, and better the atmosphere and environment so the globe can recover from all the abuse that has plagued it for so long through petroleum. More environmentally friendly forest management and more responsibility put upon large companies for their actions on the environment will also help to further the recovery and preservation of the world.

Another tie to economy is immigration. Outsourcing brings the jobs to the people, but with reducing outsourcing will come an increase in immigration. In Future 5, there will be no civilian patrols on borders (there will be trained, border patrol guards specifically placed in those positions). This will stop the random shooting and will serve to better border control efficiency. There is also a plan to incorporate a lottery system in foreign countries. Essentially, there is a lottery to come to the U.S. You win a visa to come over and establish yourself and if you comply with American laws, you get to stay! There will also be a system to bring over immediate family members to residents in the country currently. The borders will always be open to asylum seekers, and there will be a yearly review conducted of critical areas to determine if there is a need to allow more people in from a certain area at any particular point in time. No more incidences like WW2 (the Jews were not let into America fast enough or in great enough numbers).

Immigration could possibly bring terrorism into our country, correct? Wrong. There will be a new global community effort to stop terrorism in countries all over the world, not just the U.S. There will be more cooperation between nations of the UN, including the United States, and we will invest in international security programs. Economic means of motivation for countries to cooperate could be used also, such as investing in countries that agree to participate actively in anti-terrorism programs. America also needs to revise our foreign policies and invest in a more fair trade program to decrease the amount of enemies we have/make.

Future 5 will bring the nations of the world together, which will in turn increase the effectiveness of international committees to fight terrorism and environmental problems. By increasing fair trade and decreasing manipulation of underdeveloped countries, we can bring everyone up to a higher standard of living and better the world’s economy through more than just a few powerful countries. Cooperation and community are the keys to bringing the world together, which will increase the efficiency and effectiveness of programs across the globe.

 

To read excerpts from Future Fives written by students from across the nation, see The Choices Program website: http://www.choices.edu/capitol_forum/capf_future5.cfm