[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Pages 1243-1244]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         VERMONT ESSAY WINNERS

 Mr. SANDERS. Mr. President, I ask to have printed in the 
Record winning essays written by Vermont High School students as part 
of the Third Annual ``What is the State of the Union?'' Essay contest 
conducted by my office.
  The essays follow.

      Caroline Braun, Champlain Valley Union High School (Winner)

       There is no simple cure for the abundant issues plaguing 
     our nation. Not only are we recovering from a recession, but 
     we also are confronting challenges related to climate change, 
     healthcare, and education. While our efforts to address these 
     issues are noble, our failure to solve them reflects a more 
     concerning societal problem.
       On December 14, 2012, twenty children and six faculty 
     members were fatally shot in Sandy Hook Elementary School in 
     Newtown, Connecticut. Not only did this devastating tragedy 
     leave close friends, family, and the local community in 
     shock, but also the nation. Though it is remarkable that our 
     country embraced the friends and families of those killed, we 
     only seem to value such a strong sense of community after a 
     crisis. The dramatic increase in violence in the past decade 
     raises new questions about our current societal values and 
     priorities: have we forgotten what's truly important in this 
     new age? While we enjoy the many luxuries that accompany 
     technology and contemporary life, has the lure of modern 
     convenience eclipsed our fundamental human need to take care 
     of and support each other, our families, and our communities?
       Perhaps it is time we recalibrate who we are and who we 
     want to be as a country so that the fundamental values on 
     which our country was founded can once again flourish. How 
     can one pursue happiness without access to basic healthcare, 
     food, or the ability to spend time with the ones we love? 
     Certainly when our forefathers declared our right to bear 
     arms, their intent was not for corporations and special 
     interest groups to profit from its citizens being armed with 
     assault weapons intended for war. Instead of unbridled greed 
     and big business dominating our economy, it is imperative we 
     support small businesses so they can thrive once again. 
     Environmentally, we have yet to replace our dependence on oil 
     with renewable energy resources and reduce our effects on 
     climate change. And while we all agree educating our children 
     is a requisite investment in our future, teachers continue to 
     earn, on average, 12 percent less than other workers with 
     similar education and work experience.
       As a world leader and role model for democracy and peace, 
     we need initiatives that not only connect people and 
     communities, but also ones that will act as catalysts for 
     change. Increasing awareness of issues related to social 
     justice will spark larger movements for societal change; 
     whether it is reducing community violence, practicing 
     business ethics, implementing renewable energy sources, 
     advocating for mental health care, or investing in our 
     teachers and schools. Instead of businesses and special 
     interest groups being the sole influence on policies and the 
     direction of our country, now is the time, once again, for 
     all citizens to be heard, cared for, and respected. Although 
     as a nation we have made and continue to make advances that 
     were inconceivable just a century ago, our penchant for the 
     new shouldn't trump our commitment to older values and 
     fundamental human rights.

          Emily Ellsworth, Colchester High School (2nd Place)

       Social mobility is essential to the development of the 
     American character. The ability to overcome class 
     distinctions and succeed economically through hard work 
     equates to opportunity. Yet current U.S. taxation policies 
     are harming the middle-class and widening the gaps of income 
     inequality, thus narrowing the window of opportunity for 
     Americans. Federally enforced legislation such as the Bush 
     Tax Cuts and the income tax on capital gains provide a 
     disproportionate amount of benefits to the wealthiest 
     Americans. This leaves a majority of citizens possessing less 
     means to increase their income, obtain education for higher 
     paying occupations and provisions for the next generation.
       It is necessary to consider the purchasing function and the 
     insurance function of wealth. The quality of a child's 
     education and neighborhood is dependent upon the volume of 
     wealth the parent has access to. Children also receive a very 
     different set of choices and opportunities upon entering the 
     adult world depending on their family's economic status. To 
     combat the further detriment to future generations, taxes 
     must be raised in areas which will inflict minimal harm, and 
     produce the most beneficial results. America is experiencing 
     the largest disproportion of wealth since 1928, and current 
     taxation policy not only aids in widening the income gap, but 
     harms the accumulation of government tax revenue.
       The sale of stocks and bonds are called ``capital gains.'' 
     Until the 1990's, the capital gains tax was at 28%. Today its 
     current level is 15% which enables less revenue gained from 
     any individuals whose main source of income comes from stocks 
     and bonds, such as wealthy businessmen. In 2006, for 
     instance, Warren Buffett paid 17.7 percent in taxes on the 
     $46 million he booked that year, while his secretary paid 30 
     percent of her $60,000 salary to the government. Simple 
     practices such as restoring tax rates to past levels are 
     essential to the aid of our country's recovery and to improve 
     the state of the Union.

        Gena Chiola, Mount Abraham Union High School (3rd Place)

       Today, we face problems concerning the environment, war and 
     conflict, as well as lack of resources. In these times, more 
     than ever before, the solution to these problems lies in 
     global communication. If we put our heads together, and help 
     each other, we can create a plan to reduce climate change. If 
     we increase our efforts to work out conflicts between 
     countries, through effective communication, less people will 
     lose their lives through unnecessary wars. Sharing of 
     resources can occur when we effectively communicate between 
     countries, which will reduce poverty worldwide. All it takes 
     is effective global communication to resolve global issues.
       One major global problem is conflict between nations. There 
     will always be conflicts between people, it is part of being 
     human,

[[Page 1244]]

     but how we deal with these conflicts is what makes the 
     difference. Today, approximately 60 countries are involved in 
     a war. Millions of people die each year from these conflicts. 
     This fighting and killing is indeed a form of communication, 
     but it is not effective in solving world problems. We 
     accomplish nothing by killing people. We need to stop 
     thinking of ourselves as being separated by national 
     boundaries and focus on how to break down these walls. By 
     communicating and working towards the same common goal, we 
     will improve the planet. If we think globally, we will have 
     more of a chance of communicating globally, and resolving 
     conflicts through peaceful means, rather than war.
       Enter Climate Change conundrum. Climate Change is the 
     increased temperature of the atmosphere due to human carbon 
     emissions. Our use of gasoline to run cars, and oil to heat 
     our homes contributes to the heating of the climate. We are 
     slowly destroying our environment, and creating an 
     increasingly dangerous habitat for all living thing. It is no 
     question that this is a dangerous issue that needs 
     addressing. And in order to address it, we must work 
     together. Bill Mckibben, of Vermont, helps us do this. He 
     organized 350.org, which is a global campaign to solve 
     climate change. The mission of 350.org is ``building a global 
     grassroots movement to solve the climate crisis.'' He 
     organizes global rallies and projects to bring the world 
     together in the face of this crisis. He helps us communicate 
     as a world to get the job done, since it can be done no other 
     way.
       Earth's lack of resources needs to be addressed and solved 
     through global communication. 25,000 people die from hunger 
     every day. Other poverty induced diseases, like AIDs, cause 
     millions of deaths worldwide. However, by globally 
     communicating, we can reduce poverty. Global communication 
     can help us redistribute the resources. Some places are 
     brimming over with resources, such as fresh food, water, and 
     technology while others suffer. The U.S.A. has an abundance 
     of resources. If we use global communication to be at peace 
     with one another, we can share what we have, so that less 
     people suffer. If the United States were to share resources 
     with poverty stricken countries of Africa, people in Africa 
     would have happier lives, while people in the United States 
     would still have enough to live comfortably. This can all be 
     achieved through effective global communication.
       Global communication is the answer. If we all put our 
     hearts and heads together, and forget our differences, we can 
     change the world for the better, which is always the ultimate 
     goal. Whether it's to prevent wars, bring the temperature of 
     the atmosphere down, or to redistribute resources, it's 
     undebatable that communication is what we need. Let us come 
     together, and work together and never forget the importance 
     of global communication.


                              Bibliography

       Mckibben, B. 350.org. January, 2013, http://www.350.org/en/
 mission
       Poverty.com. January, 2013, http://poverty.com/
 Wars in the World, January 2013, http://
www.warsintheworld.com/?page=static1258254223
       Statistic Brain, World Poverty Statistics. January, 2013 
     http://www.statisticbrain.com/worldpoverty-statistics/
 Henson, Robert. The Rough Guide to Climate Change: page 1-
     10. New York, USA: Rough Guides Ltd, September 2006.

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