Tuesday
Oct142008
What you need to know that the Candidates aren't telling you
Tuesday, October 14, 2008 at 1:46PM
In what may be the longest running presidential campaign in U.S. history, the focus has changed from the economy to foreign affairs and back again. The "Opportunity 2008" hosted a discussion at the Brookings Institution on examining some of the important policy concerns that the candidates and the debates have left unexamined. The discussion touched on topics such as education, immigration, North Korea's nuclear program and U.S. relations with China.
Senior Fellow of the Hoover Institution, Peter Berkowitz, spoke about what the next president will have to do to improve our education system. He said that it's not so much about "No Child Left Behind" as it is about implementing new strategies to improve our education programs. "We need to make college more attainable, encourage university's to track college costs, better funding for sciences and math, and make sure foreign languages are implented stronger throughout high school and college," Berkowitz said. Berkowitz believes that foreign language is a staple to our society because of the high amount of immigrants coming to the United States. The lack of translators in embassies and the state department is one major issue Berkowitz believes needs to be adressed soon. "Foreign language opens doors to cultures, gives respect to the vast amounts of immigrants in our country, and allows to jobs to be made. President Bush had a good start to foreign language but we can still do better," Berkowitz said during the discussion.
Senior Fellow of the Brookings Institution, Audrey Singer, spoke about immigration reform. Singer said that both candidates aren't touching on the immigration issue in English as much as they are in Spanish. "What it all boils down to is who cares more about the Latino group more. Both are blaming each other for not getting the immigration reform passed last year," Singer said. Singer believes that both candidates don't necessarily have a good solution for immigration other then what has already been implemented. Singer said that since 2000 more immigrants have come illegally than legally making up 12.5 percent of our total population. Singer believes that the next president should allow state and local muncipalities to governor what to do with their illegal immigrants.
Senior Fellow of the Center for Northeast Asian Policy Studies, Richard Bush, spoke about the growing concern over North Korea and their nuclear weapons. Bush believes that neither candidates differ when it comes to North Korea as they both see North Korea as a "very difficult foreign policy plan." "North Korea is a hostile environment, they have no allies, and their nuclear weapons give them great bargaining advantages," Bush said commenting on the difficulties we face with North Korea. Bush says that when Kim Jong il dies, his power will most likely flow to their military and an economic collapse may happen. With that being said, Bush believes that this would be the time when the U.S. forms together with South Korea and Japan to plan out what to do with North Korea.
Senior Fellow of the Hoover Institution, Peter Berkowitz, spoke about what the next president will have to do to improve our education system. He said that it's not so much about "No Child Left Behind" as it is about implementing new strategies to improve our education programs. "We need to make college more attainable, encourage university's to track college costs, better funding for sciences and math, and make sure foreign languages are implented stronger throughout high school and college," Berkowitz said. Berkowitz believes that foreign language is a staple to our society because of the high amount of immigrants coming to the United States. The lack of translators in embassies and the state department is one major issue Berkowitz believes needs to be adressed soon. "Foreign language opens doors to cultures, gives respect to the vast amounts of immigrants in our country, and allows to jobs to be made. President Bush had a good start to foreign language but we can still do better," Berkowitz said during the discussion.
Senior Fellow of the Brookings Institution, Audrey Singer, spoke about immigration reform. Singer said that both candidates aren't touching on the immigration issue in English as much as they are in Spanish. "What it all boils down to is who cares more about the Latino group more. Both are blaming each other for not getting the immigration reform passed last year," Singer said. Singer believes that both candidates don't necessarily have a good solution for immigration other then what has already been implemented. Singer said that since 2000 more immigrants have come illegally than legally making up 12.5 percent of our total population. Singer believes that the next president should allow state and local muncipalities to governor what to do with their illegal immigrants.
Senior Fellow of the Center for Northeast Asian Policy Studies, Richard Bush, spoke about the growing concern over North Korea and their nuclear weapons. Bush believes that neither candidates differ when it comes to North Korea as they both see North Korea as a "very difficult foreign policy plan." "North Korea is a hostile environment, they have no allies, and their nuclear weapons give them great bargaining advantages," Bush said commenting on the difficulties we face with North Korea. Bush says that when Kim Jong il dies, his power will most likely flow to their military and an economic collapse may happen. With that being said, Bush believes that this would be the time when the U.S. forms together with South Korea and Japan to plan out what to do with North Korea.
Reader Comments