[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 17 (Thursday, January 28, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Pages S342-S343]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        VERMONT ESSAY FINALISTS

 Mr. SANDERS. Mr. President, I ask to have printed in the 
Record copies of some of the finalist essays written by Vermont High 
School students as part of the sixth annual ``What is the State of the 
Union'' essay contest conducted by my office. These finalists were 
selected from nearly 800 entries.
  The material follows:


        ADAM FLEISCHMAN, SOUTH BURLINGTON HIGH SCHOOL (FINALIST)

       The state of the union is strong. Americans are working 
     hard, unemployment is down, the stock market is up, and the 
     recession of 2008 feels like ancient history. Still, we face 
     problems. Climate change is one of those issues, particularly 
     because of the denial by politicians in our government that 
     refuse to do anything, because their re-election campaigns 
     rely on oil and gas companies' contributions.
       In the 114th congress, 170 members deny that global warming 
     is real. Many representatives receive huge donations, as much 
     as $63 million from big oil and gas companies, and in return, 
     they support deregulation initiatives in Congress to protect 
     the corporations. In other words, they prevent progress and 
     obstruct a move away from non-renewable energy sources. In 
     this way, they are not representing their constituents--
     they're representing the interests of the very wealthy 
     corporations--and it's undermining the political system we 
     have.
       In a legislative body that is constantly blinded by the 
     goal of staying in office, rather than passing comprehensive 
     reforms to save our planet, the denial is rampant. Even 
     though 97% of scientists agree that climate change is real, 
     and manmade, these elected officials with no background in 
     science choose to ignore it, and instead put trillions of 
     taxpayer money into a defense budget that is bloated and 
     unnecessary. For climate change to be properly addressed, it 
     starts with Congress. If we invest money into clean energy--
     solar panels, wind turbines, natural gas--we will slowly be 
     able to move away from non-renewable, dirty sources.
       We also must take a stand against the corporations 
     profiting off of non-renewable sources, making it clear that 
     their campaign contributions should not be the difference 
     between whether or not we leave a healthier planet for future 
     generations. If we wait long enough, it will be too late to 
     do anything. It's not part of a ``liberal agenda'' that some 
     in Congress like to criticize. It's a common problem that is 
     hurting our common home, and it's up to all of humankind to 
     deal with it. That can't happen if the political charades are 
     continued in Washington, D.C.


     ELLERY HARKNESS, CHAMPLAIN VALLEY UNION HIGH SCHOOL (FINALIST)

       My fellow Americans, there are many important issues 
     burdening our world today; in order to fix these problems, we 
     need an education system that produces well educated leaders 
     to solve these issues. Our education system as it stands 
     today needs to be modified and socioeconomic factors 
     hindering education need to be addressed.
       Education should be an equalizer, so that anyone, no matter 
     their circumstances, can realize their potential; this isn't 
     the reality though. The truth is that kids from disadvantaged 
     families have a far lower chance for success. Inequality due 
     to wealth and race are huge problems; the disturbing school 
     to prison pipeline is one outcome of this. Only 1 in 12 
     children in poverty will graduate from college today and 
     almost half won't graduate from high school. Studies have 
     also found that African American and Hispanic high school 
     graduation rates are 10% lower than the U.S. average. 
     Education can raise people out of poverty, while ignoring 
     these problems only continues to perpetrate a horrific cycle 
     of poverty and create more economic problems.
       Consider that by 2020, 65% of U.S. jobs will require a 
     postsecondary education, according to Georgetown Public 
     Policy Institute. Yet only 1 of 4 students are ready for 
     college in the 4 core subjects when graduating high school, 
     according to U.S. news. Regrettably, the education system not 
     only isn't preparing students for college, it also forces 
     students to bear an unreasonable financial burden in order to 
     go to college. With free or reduced tuition programs, college 
     education would be more accessible.

[[Page S343]]

       There is no single fix for the educational problems 
     plaguing our country yet it is clear that major reforms need 
     to take place. Potential solutions are policies that provide 
     family support so that students grow up in places that 
     encourage learning. Since teachers are the most important 
     aspect of education, more resources could be put into teacher 
     programs and salaries that incentivize job growth. Congress 
     could also work towards bipartisan policies that ensure 
     schools around the U.S have equal quality and access to 
     resources through more funding. In 2015, 55% of government 
     funding went to the military, while only 6% went to 
     education. An increase in education funding is a justifiable 
     change that could dramatically help broken systems.
       With a better educated workforce, people will have better 
     jobs and rely on government less, benefiting the U.S. 
     economy. Opportunity gaps in education would also decrease 
     and the U.S. would become more competitive as a result. This 
     is another incentive for making education a priority to those 
     in Washington.
       Our combined futures are dependent on the youth of today; 
     but our nation's children are only as good as the education 
     they are provided with. As Nelson Mandela said, ``Education 
     is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the 
     world.'' Let's take advantage of it.


          MEGAN HUGHES, CANAAN MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL (FINALIST)

       As many Americans know, we are very blessed to have 
     colleges available in our country. College allows a young 
     adult to further his or her knowledge of the world around 
     them so they can be ready to enter the workforce. College 
     tuition used to be affordable, so that everyone could further 
     their education. This is important because more educated 
     people means a stronger growing economy. At the same time, 
     the cost of tuition rises dramatically each year, and 
     families with more than one child find themselves in tough 
     financial situations. Most of the time people use loans, and 
     end up paying back student debt for years. Every American 
     deserves to have a college education, which is why state 
     colleges should be tuition free.
       Elementary and high school is mandatory for all American 
     citizens. Parents who refuse to send their children to school 
     have to pay large fines or even serve jail time. If early 
     education is this important to Americans, why is college not? 
     Why should the emphasis just be on getting a primary or 
     secondary education? More and more jobs today are requiring 
     higher than just a high school diploma. In an article by Adam 
     Davidson, he says that ``Workers with more education are more 
     productive, which makes companies more profitable and the 
     overall economy grow faster.'' This is true, more educated 
     people means more jobs are being done correctly and 
     efficiently, and as a result boosting the economy.
       In an article by Steven Goodman he said ``Two-thirds of 
     American undergraduates are in debt. This year, student loan 
     debt will grow to more than a trillion dollars, outpacing 
     credit card debt for the first time.'' This article was 
     written in 2011, meaning only four years ago student debt was 
     already in the trillions. When young adults leave home and 
     enter the work force, they have to deal with adult 
     responsibilities for the first time. On top of that, they 
     usually need to pay off student debt. If college were to be 
     tuition free these people would not have large debts. The 
     money they make could go towards paying bills, and saving 
     money for their future or retirement. It would also help 
     attract those who were never thinking about going to college 
     because of the high costs. All this leads to more people 
     buying and selling goods which is important for a country to 
     prosper.
       State colleges should be free because the economy will grow 
     faster with more educated people, and young adults will not 
     be paying college debt for half their life. How exactly this 
     would be done is simple, put higher taxes on the wealthy. 
     With the top class distributing their money towards 
     education, everyone can have the opportunity to further their 
     education. People can use their hard working money on other 
     things, like purchasing a house or providing for a child. 
     That is why it is important to have free college tuition 
     because it creates an educated population, less debt, and 
     saving for other necessities.


      TORI JARVIS, MISSISQUOI VALLEY UNION HIGH SCHOOL (FINALIST)

       Since the recent crimes committed by the terror group ISIS, 
     hate crimes against Muslims have skyrocketed. Recently, ``an 
     Arab-American man was brutally attacked by two white men . . 
     . (who) also taunted his daughter, who wears a hijab, making 
     references to ISIS . . . The attackers called (them) `r--
     head' and said, `Go back to your country.' '' Wrote Tom 
     Carter for an article on the World Socialist Website. 
     Obviously, these men attacked the man and his daughter for 
     their race and religion, equating the fact that they were 
     Muslim with terrorism even though there was no sensible 
     reason to. People are so scared of terrorism that they lash 
     out at anything they can associate with it.
       People in power or who wish to be in power are using this 
     fear to convince them that Muslims are the ones to be feared. 
     The most recent--and most dangerous--example is Donald Trump, 
     who wants to ban Muslims from coming into the country. This 
     move has not only heightened the fear of ISIS, but made 
     people believe the Muslims currently in our country are 
     associated with terrorism, creating more violence. Encouraged 
     by Presidential candidates like Donald Trump, some Americans 
     blame the entire religion of Islam, and anyone who follows 
     it, for all of our country's problems. They believe that 
     because these terrorists are following a distorted version of 
     the Qu'ran and the religion of Islam, that anyone else who 
     worships the peaceful religion is a terrorist as well. 
     Unfortunately, people don't realize that Muslims are not 
     terrorists. Muslim athlete Muhammad Ali once said; 
     ``Terrorists are not following Islam. Killing people and 
     blowing up people and dropping bombs in places and all this 
     is not the way to spread the word of Islam. So people realize 
     now that all Muslims are not terrorists.'' Muslims are too 
     often oppressed, even violently attacked by Americans who 
     blame them for terrorism. Muslims in America today are now 
     experiencing racism the way black people used to, and are 
     violently and verbally abused by white people who are looking 
     for someone to blame.
       Jermaine Jackson, one of Michael Jackson's siblings, has 
     pointed out ``Muslims have become the new Negroes in America. 
     They are being mistreated at airports, by the Immigration--
     everywhere. Islam is a religion of peace. They are wrong.'' 
     People who wear hijabs seem to have a target placed on them. 
     Muslims are ``randomly selected'' for full body searches at 
     airports, forced to prove they're in this country legally, 
     and attacked by people who have different religious opinions. 
     The violence against Muslims must end, whether it physical or 
     mental. As the civil war in the Middle East is creating 
     unlivable conditions for its inhabitants, they're counting on 
     us to take them in and keep them safe.
       America is trying to divide and conquer--focusing on 
     conquering Muslims as a whole rather than just ISIS. Rather 
     than attacking the Muslims in our country, we should be 
     focusing on the actual members of ISIS, and not people who 
     have no association with the organization.


    ALEXIS MANCHESTER, GREEN MOUNTAIN TECHNOLOGY AND CAREER CENTER 
                               (FINALIST)

       Today in America, people are going to prison wasting 
     countless economic resources and potentially ruining the 
     lives of people all because of the recreational use of 
     marijuana.
       While people often say marijuana is a gateway drug, I 
     strongly disagree. There are more people that drink a glass 
     of milk per day and become addicted to more serious drugs, 
     than those who use marijuana. It is not uncommon to hear 
     echoes of this sentiment in other contexts as well, 
     particularly, the media and Presidential candidates. In fact, 
     Senator Sanders himself suggests that marijuana should be 
     legalized: ``I suspect I would vote yes. And I would vote yes 
     because I am seeing in this country too many lives being 
     destroyed for non-violent offenses. We have a criminal 
     justice system that lets CEOs on Wall Street walk away, and 
     yet we are imprisoning or giving jail sentences to young 
     people who are smoking marijuana. I think we have to think 
     through this war on drugs which has done an enormous amount 
     of damage.'' I strongly agree with this statement because 
     there is not one reported death from an overdose of 
     marijuana. In fact, 88,000 people have died from alcohol use. 
     I personally have never heard of somebody murdering someone 
     because they were under the influence of marijuana. Alcohol 
     on the other hand, has been proven to impact our culture 
     negatively.
       Facts don't lie. 58% of Americans think marijuana should be 
     legalized, including me. Around 40% of Americans admit to 
     already using marijuana. If marijuana was legalized, we could 
     tax it and allow citizens who choose to use it to benefit our 
     communities in more effective ways than keeping it illegal. 
     Marijuana is a safer drug than others and there is a very low 
     risk of abuse. Marijuana can be safe and useful for instance. 
     Legalizing marijuana will bring the nation's largest cash 
     crop under the rule of law, creating jobs, and economic 
     opportunities in the formal economy instead of the illicit 
     market. Washington, Alaska, Oregon and Colorado haven't had 
     any major issues with their legalization. Washington State 
     raked in more than $70 million in taxes its first year of 
     legal regulated marijuana sales. In Colorado the total of 
     marijuana tax and license cash funds is the total of 
     $11,290,012 annually. Alaska stands to make between $5.1 
     million and $19.2 million in tax revenue from commercial 
     marijuana in 2016, according to the preliminary estimate by 
     the Alaska Department of Revenue. Oregon's first week of 
     recreational use of marijuana sales top $11 million dollars. 
     Clearly, the taxes incurred would positively benefit our 
     state and country should we choose to jump on board.
       In closing, I hope you can appreciate my ideas, although I 
     am just one voice. America is a progressive kind of people 
     and we must do what we can to continue to demonstrate the 
     values that make us great. Thank you for your time.

                          ____________________