[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Pages 1310-1312]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        VERMONT ESSAY FINALISTS

 Mr. SANDERS. Mr. President, I ask to have printed in the 
Record finalist 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. These 8 finalists were selected from over 300 
entries.
  The essays follow.

       Sydney Alderman, Mt. Abraham Union High School (Finalist)

       Today we often face the problem of excessive violence 
     between people, starvation, and economic problems. People 
     aren't all getting what they need and something needs to be 
     done. What would fix everything, broaden our universal 
     communications skills and get things done quicker would be to 
     unite globally. By working as an entire unit we can all 
     communicate and work toward the same goal we all crave: 
     peace. Uniting globally can solve conflicts causing violence, 
     starvation, and economic problems.
       Uniting globally will benefit the people of the world 
     immensely. By uniting globally it would be much easier to 
     distribute the necessary resources to sustain everyone, such 
     as food, water, and energy. When everyone is on the same page 
     and communicating thoroughly between territories, you can 
     maintain fair trade and further discuss what laws and human 
     rights need to be established as well. When we're all united 
     for a common goal, let's assume peace amongst all people, 
     discussion is more productive and conclusive and proper 
     action can be taken at a faster pace. Actions such as 
     bringing food and water to those who have none, and also 
     getting the area with these conditions re-established for 
     suitable living conditions. Everyone benefits from a united 
     world.
       The U.S. economy will be heavily benefitted by uniting 
     globally. When we unite globally, trade is faster and we can 
     simply work faster because communication is quicker and more 
     conclusive than when we're all thinking separately. Trade 
     will therefore be quicker and we can be more productive about 
     it with such open communication. It would be easier to 
     discuss the distribution of currency amongst countries and 
     people and how we can fix the current economic problems. 
     Uniting globally will solve the biggest problems of the 
     world. It will broaden the communication between territories 
     and will help us resolve conflicts causing famine, violence, 
     and economic problems universally. When we all band together 
     we can accomplish anything and finally bring a new era of 
     peace.

         Tyler Bradley, South Burlington High School (Finalist)

       Our country needs to invest in clean sustainable energy and 
     decrease our dependence for oil from other nations. Our 
     nation should be investing in wind and solar power. Wind is a 
     renewable source of energy, which will last forever. It does 
     not pollute our environment and is all natural. Solar energy 
     also provides us with clean energy, with no combustion. It 
     too is renewable and causes no greenhouse gases. Although 
     wind and solar, as energy sources, may prove to be expensive, 
     it is a small price to pay for the health and safety of our 
     environment. In contrast, we are eventually going to run out 
     of oil and the high cost of transporting oil and our 
     dependency on other nations needs to be eliminated.
       We need to stop relying on foreign nations for our energy 
     supply. If foreign governments continue to control oil 
     profits they can use that money to fund terrorism mischief. 
     In addition, these energy rich countries can restrict the oil 
     supply and therefore make the United States a hostage to 
     their demands. We need to end this cycle and invest in more 
     sustainable energy sources.
       We need Congress to work harder to obtain sustainable 
     energy tax incentives like the Investment Tax Credit and 
     Production Tax Credits. These credits will help reduce the 
     cost of wind and solar projects and in the long run help 
     reduce global warming. All across our earth we currently see 
     record heat waves, melting glaciers, rising sea levels and 
     extreme droughts and floods. The United States must lead the 
     world in reversing global warming, to preserve a safe planet 
     for our children and grandchildren.

          Annie Arthur, Woodstock Union High School (Finalist)

       To be a democracy, our country must be able to hear the 
     voices of every citizen individually and the population as a 
     whole. People all over the world are sacrificing their lives 
     for the hope of the right to vote. In the United States, 
     eligibility is simple. To vote, one must be a citizen of the 
     United States and be 18 or older. However, a country as great 
     as ours does not seem able to succeed in a very seemingly 
     simple task: vote freely. The State of our Union is teetering 
     on the edge.
       In the 2012 Presidential Election, only 57.5% of the entire 
     eligible population cast their ballots. About 93 million 
     citizens did not participate in this most basic foundation of 
     democracy. How is the United States supposed to run as an 
     effective democracy if so many citizens remain silent in such 
     a crucial time to make their voices heard? Granted, part of 
     this lack of voting is caused by laziness, indifference or 
     belief that one vote will not change the outcome. However, 
     there are many citizens who want to vote but restrictions 
     imposed at the state level have either attempted or succeeded 
     to suppress participation in this election. In this recent 
     election there were laws passed to hinder voter participation 
     by making it difficult to register to vote, requiring voter 
     photo identifications, miscommunication of date and

[[Page 1311]]

     times, and threatening voters with imprisonment for voter 
     fraud. Officials also succeeded in cutting early voting 
     periods, voting by mail, polling hours and number of 
     locations. Even though courts temporarily struck down many of 
     these efforts, there is no reason to believe that state 
     officials will be deterred from imposing more voting 
     restrictions in the future.
       This national issue should not be determined at state 
     level. Restriction on voting is a federal problem and should 
     be addressed by federal powers. This is too important an 
     issue to leave to individual state governments as clearly 
     demonstrated by the blatant attempts to deny citizens their 
     right to vote. The solution is to simply create basic 
     standards on voting. The federal government could pass a bill 
     with minimum guidelines for states to follow on voting laws. 
     This legislation does not need to be a complex list of 
     restrictions; this bill would be freeing up voting laws by 
     listing only what needs to happen to achieve successful 
     voting. Each state would then have the freedom to expand on 
     these basic requirements. This bill could facilitate 
     registration, polling hours and ability to mail in votes. It 
     is an American's right to be able to vote. As the world's 
     greatest democracy, no political party should be able to 
     obstruct voting. The United States, a nation for the people, 
     of the people, by the people needs to set a better example as 
     the standard bearer of democracy.

   Jeannine Bissonette, Champlain Valley Union High School (Finalist)

       Ever since Woodrow Wilson was elected in 1913, it has been 
     a tradition for Presidents to address the nation with their 
     State of the Union report. As President Obama prepares to 
     present his State of the Union address, many politically 
     concerned citizens begin to ponder the thoughts of what will 
     be produced in the next four years.
       With a current national unemployment rate of 7.9%, the 
     numbers appear to be much lower than the 10% that the United 
     States endured during October of 2009. Although these rates 
     suggest a recuperating recession, they have not yet reached a 
     level in which the nation can sit back comfortably. These 
     high unemployment rates understandably result in a greater 
     necessity for more families to reach out to social welfare 
     services such as food stamps and local food shelves. 
     According to a local press interview with food shelf 
     coordinator Mary Ann Castimore, the Vergennes Congregational 
     Church found themselves serving a total of approximately 
     fifty to sixty new families. People are struggling to find 
     and hold steady jobs; feeding their families continues to be 
     growing concern.
       Corresponding with the current economy, the United States 
     could certainly do more to address the concerns of the young 
     people. With the lack of vacant positions in the working 
     world, young adults are learning quickly that it does not 
     matter so much what they've majored in, but what is 
     available. As a high school student of Vermont, I have become 
     increasingly aware of my school advisor's push for me to look 
     into which fields are in need of laborers, rather than those 
     that suit me best when determining an occupation. As the 
     pursuit for jobs lengthens, it is important that the 
     government restricts outsourcing jobs to other countries and 
     create said jobs within the nation. Instead of outsourcing 
     jobs, the United States should provide incentives to retain 
     these positions in America.
       As the United States adapts to the most severe recession 
     since the Great Depression, the American citizens' fear of a 
     failing economy is justified. Major issues such as the 
     nearing fiscal cliff or changes in Social Security are 
     becoming more common parts of American conversation. As 
     January approaches, politicians in D.C. are running out to 
     time to make the decision of who will be taxed in the coming 
     years. By taxing Americans making over two hundred and fifty-
     thousand dollars, more taxes can be gleaned by the federal 
     government. Additionally, more citizens being taxed results 
     in more equitable terms. As a federal insurance program, 
     Social Security is praised highly for the benefits it 
     provides the retired population. Since American citizens are 
     now living into their eighties, a shortage in Social Security 
     money has materialized. The inadequacy of funds has led to an 
     extended retirement age which is predicted to continue 
     increasing into the future. The United States must continue 
     to raise the retirement age in order for Social Security to 
     continue operating. It takes time and multiple strategies to 
     solve any major issue: there is no one perfect solution.

               Jonah Blatt, Milton High School (Finalist)

       Good Evening America,
       There are several issues that need to be addressed here 
     tonight that will benefit our nation in one way or another. 
     First off, I'd like to touch on the topic of unemployment. 
     The unemployment rate has dropped significantly. The rate was 
     10% in November of 2009, which was the highest from January 
     1st 2009 to January 1st 2013. In the middle of that, the rate 
     bounced up and down between 9% and 9.5% from 2010 to 2011. 
     Now here we sit today on a continuous, steady decline all the 
     way down to 7.7%, and I assure you it is not over. Jobs were 
     being created at a rate of 151,000 per month in 2012 and we 
     look to raise that number this coming year. My new plan 
     allows workers who have lost their job to be placed on 
     temporary jobs as trainees for short periods to retain their 
     skills or gain new ones while still receiving benefits. This 
     was released on April 19th where the unemployment rate was 
     8.2% and now it is 7.7%. It's working, America.
       Cannabis, or better known as marijuana has become a major 
     topic of discussion these days in America. Is it a medical 
     miracle or an addiction amongst many? The Office of National 
     Drug Control Policy and I have stated that we oppose the 
     legalization of marijuana and other drugs since legalization 
     would increase the availability and use of other illegal 
     drugs. Their legalization would bring more health and safety 
     risks closer to your homes. The legalization and selling of 
     marijuana could bring some positive to our attention. A 
     potential boost for the economy if it was sold and taxed 
     heavily. However in the end I strongly oppose the 
     legalization process and it should only remain available for 
     medical use only. The risks strongly outweigh the positives.
       Over 50 years ago we created a strong, close relationship 
     with Israel. We have done joint military planning along with 
     military research and weapons development. We have 
     continuously assisted Israel with $3.1 billion in security 
     assistance and I will not be the president to stop that 
     trend. The only way for Israel to achieve peace with their 
     neighbors is to begin with a clear and strong commitment to 
     the security of Israel. They are also a big export consumer 
     to our economy. We must stand by our ally through these tough 
     times between them and the Palestinians. We will look to both 
     sides to find a common ground to install peace back into the 
     world between these rival nations. I am in support of 
     resumption of the aid to the Palestinian government with a 
     condition that the government renounce terrorism. Israel has 
     a right to defend themselves from these Palestinian rocket 
     attacks, but we will look to peace first in order to draw 
     this to an end. Israel is an important ally in all 
     perspectives. We must help them.
       Thank you and good night America.

       Allie Bull, Champlain Valley Union High School (Finalist)

       The United States of America is known as the land of 
     profuse opportunity for all who come here. Throughout the 
     history of this country, there have been events to be proud 
     of and events that were not too glorious. As the world 
     prepares for the new year of 2013, it is a good idea to 
     reflect as we explore the state of this union, and gain 
     insight into how this country is running.
       Congress is seemingly dysfunctional right now. The current 
     Congress has passed the least number of bills in history. 
     This statistic is shocking and embarrassing. The system of 
     checks and balances within our democracy is designed to 
     prevent an abuse of power. It is also a known fact that our 
     system takes longer to pass bills and get things done; 
     however, the current state of gridlock is not okay. The 
     nation is frustrated with the leaders and the lack of 
     compromise in Washington. Congress needs to become a leader 
     of the whole nation, and not individual leaders of each 
     political party. The wall between each party needs to be let 
     down and national issues need to be addressed. It is hard for 
     congressmen to make decisions that could affect reelection; 
     yet, the lack of progress being made is not making the 
     constituents any happier. It is better for these leaders to 
     leave the nation stronger and prosperous than when they 
     arrived, as opposed to an unchanged, struggling country.
       In the shadow of the Sandy Hook Massacre, gun control 
     debates have resurfaced. This is a topic that needs to be 
     addressed, swiftly and promptly. Semi-automatic weapons are 
     completely and utterly unnecessary in the United States of 
     America. There is no reason that a person should need or 
     desire to own one. These weapons are killing machines and 
     should be banned. Americans have the right to bear arms, but 
     there is no need for weapons other than hunting weapons. Any 
     weapons that do remain legal in this country need to be 
     regulated and controlled with very thorough background 
     checks. However, the fact that semi-automatic weapons are 
     available isn't the only cause of these tragedies. Hollywood 
     portrays gun violence as exciting and desirable. That, in 
     combination with violent video games, leaves imprints in the 
     brains of impressionable young people (including the mentally 
     ill). Semi-automatic weapons should be banned, and violence 
     movies and games should be regulated. In this country there 
     is freedom of speech and expression, but the production of 
     these movies and games results in harm to other citizens. All 
     of these factors need to be addressed. Politicians who agree 
     with this stance need to step up and speak out despite the 
     possible damage to their reelection. The safety of the people 
     should be more important than reelection.
       America is a bright and prosperous place. There are a few 
     issues dragging it down, but with the known strength of this 
     nation, these problems can be solved. The only way to fix big 
     problems is to lay down political barriers and work together, 
     hand-in-hand.

[[Page 1312]]



       Emma Davitt, Champlain Valley Union High School (Finalist)

       The current state of our Union is multifaceted, filled with 
     diverse opinions and numerous obstacles. Our Union faces an 
     interesting future ahead, either a prosperous and promising 
     future, or a destructive and deleterious future. It is up to 
     us, the people of the United States, to do everything we can 
     to ensure a brilliant future, to promise fortuitous and 
     successful lives for our succeeding generations.
       We are currently coping with the most intense, severe 
     recession in our country since the Great Depression. 7.9% of 
     the people in the United States are out of work, struggling 
     to find jobs and earn a living. Detrimental taxes are 
     traumatizing families, college graduates' degrees are rarely 
     helping them secure jobs and, throughout these unfortunate 
     situations, many Americans are still focusing on abortions 
     and gay marriage rights. It is time for our nation to accept 
     individuality, embrace the freedom our country was founded 
     upon, and fix the major problems facing the people of the 
     United States of America.
       The unemployment rate is uncomfortably high. In 2008, many 
     businesses closed, numerous workers were laid off and the 
     unemployment rate began to rise. As a result, jobs have 
     become more valuable, and at a time where few were 
     comfortable with their living situations and current bank 
     accounts, taxes rose. To address this situation, taxes must 
     be lowered for the lower and middle-class families while 
     returning the economy to a peaceful state, encouraging 
     businesses to grow and expand in the United States.
       The economy is not only affecting the working class of our 
     nation, but also the children--the future. If children watch 
     their parents and older siblings with college degrees 
     struggle to find a job, what will make them want to go to 
     college? What will convince them that attending college is a 
     wonderful and beneficial experience? The young members of our 
     national community will one day be responsible for our 
     country and our only option to ensure a bright and promising 
     future is to nurture, teach and help this younger generation. 
     With this in mind, it should be of great importance to the 
     United States to make college education more affordable for 
     the young population. Through grants, aid and scholarships, 
     many more students will have the opportunities to attend 
     universities, and with an economy on the mend, we can look to 
     the future with great hope in the highly educated body that 
     will one day run the country.
       Contemplating these issues, our Union has a lot to focus 
     on. We have run ourselves into a deep economic and 
     educational rut and it is our job to work together to climb 
     out of it. The future of our country rests solely in the 
     hands of the upcoming generation, however, how can we have 
     faith in the subsequent decades if our current society 
     struggles to find jobs and attend college? The answer is 
     rather simple, the young people of our country have the 
     chance to make groundbreaking decisions and be amazing 
     leaders, if given the opportunities.

       Taryn Druge, Champlain Valley Union High School (Finalist)

       In an idealistic world we would work for a common good. 
     Countries wouldn't consider money, land, or rivalry. They 
     would only see how they could create peace and maintain it. 
     As Franklin D. Roosevelt said, ``A point has been reached 
     where the peoples of the Americas must take cognizance of 
     growing ill-will, of marked trends toward aggression, of 
     increasing armaments, of shortening tempers--a situation 
     which has in it many of the elements that lead to the tragedy 
     of general war . . . Peace is threatened by those who seek 
     selfish power.'' It is my opinion that, in this world, we are 
     not driven by the ambition for peace but instead by the 
     ambition for wealth and power. We, the U.S., are no 
     different, as much as we would love to believe otherwise and 
     see ourselves as the peace bearers of the world. We must open 
     our eyes to the truth. Wealth and power must be relevant in 
     our dealings with foreign nations because these are some of 
     the only factors that will drive negotiation.
       An example of the struggle for wealth and power is the 
     United States relationship with China. Currently, the U.S. is 
     deeply uneasy about China, to whom we are deeply indebted, 
     for they are our greatest supplier of goods. It is 
     frightening to think that China's withdrawal could destroy 
     our entire economy, yet our withdrawal from China would 
     cripple them as well. Instead of the dependence creating 
     unity among our nations, it has created discomfort and 
     hostility. The power complex each country has creates the 
     belief that dependence upon one another weakens us. When 
     Thomas Jefferson said, ``Dependence begets subservience and 
     venality, suffocates the germ of virtue, and prepares fit 
     tools for the designs of ambition,'' Jefferson could never 
     foresee that U.S. dependence would extend overseas due to our 
     economies' desire to manufacture cheaper and thus more 
     profitable products.
       China and the U.S are two great superpowers, and each is 
     just as self-destructive as the other. Without a strong and 
     desirable alliance with China, the U.S. becomes weakened to 
     possible foreign attacks and a collapse of the economy. The 
     U.S. is feeling out of balance right now: so many goods are 
     being manufactured overseas at the expense of U.S. jobs being 
     taken away. This balance could be found when the U.S comes to 
     the realization that we cannot completely isolate China, and, 
     at the same time, we must create a political environment that 
     nurtures U.S. businesses that manufacture products 
     domestically.
       In an ideal world the bonds and alliances of countries 
     would surpass the separation of race, religion, class and 
     culture. We must work towards this ideal world, because in it 
     we will find a far better future we could not possibly 
     foresee today.

                          ____________________