In the midst of our declining economy and subsequent budget cuts, my family as well as many others have been effected, particularly in the areas of education and disability assistance. My brother was diagnosed with autism in 2003, and the budget cuts across my home state have greatly effected the amount of attention and education he receives daily. The budget cuts trace back to the never-ending cycle of debt we've fallen into which was created by a vast amount of government spending. My concern, in particular is government spending and the usage of tax payer dollars to fund wars. We spent over 800 billion dollars in Iraq and almost 500 billion in Afghanistan. With these figures in mind, it's evident that our parents' tax dollars are re-directed to the fueling of wars, not towards the education of disabled individuals and educational programs for youth in need.
If I could ask today's candidates a few questions, one of them would be, "how are you going to prevent future wars so that in a few years my tax dollars won't be falling into the figures listed above?". Not only are those figures robbing us of needed services in this country, they are creating an inheritable cycle of debt. Now that we are in a recovery period, I would like to know what proactive measures these candidates are going to take to make us look better in four years?
Another concern is fueled by our reputation as "Ugly Americans". PeaceMaker has really taught me to think about the gravity of civil relationships. If other countries see Americans through civil practices, international relations may change gradually and lessen the chances of war. Being part of the UN I am always inclined to consider how we can improve our relations with other countries. We've come to the conclusion that instilling a sense of cultural diplomacy in young individuals will create a reverent nation of older citizens that are empathetic and sympathetic towards members of other nation states. Therefore, I would also inquire about "how today's candidates are going to improve our relations with other countries."
By: Nicole Johnson
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