"We must restore this country's leadership of science and technology."
Posted by matt
Bill Clinton, speaking from a packed house at the University
of Missouri's Student Recreation Center, issued this challenge to over 1000 mid-Missouri
voters shortly after 5:00 PM on Saturday. Though alluding to his years in the White
House, Clinton primarily spoke on the themes of his wife's candidacy: healthcare,
education, the Iraq war, and improving the world's view of America.
As the child of a lifelong teacher and an educated person myself, I firmly believe that a country's vitality is directly proportional to the standard that the education of her citizens is held. Our universities and research institutions have always been a hotbed for innovation and progress, save for this past decade:
- Unemployment is at a record high as more and more jobs are outsourced overseas.
- New technologies are being increasingly developed in Europe, Asia, or emerging markets such as Korea and Brazil.
- Politics have poisoned several innovative research opportunities, such as stem cells, in deference to special interest groups.
Hillary Clinton's campaign outlines the following steps towards making higher education not only available, but affordable, to every child in America (reprinted from her official campaign website):
- Create a new $3,500 college tax credit.
- Increase the maximum Pell Grant.
- Strengthen community colleges through a $500 million investment.
- Create a graduation fund to increase college graduation rates.
- Increase to $10,000 the college scholarship for those who participate in AmeriCorps full-time for one year.
- Get rid of the red tape in financial aid.
- Hold college costs down and hold colleges accountable for results though an online college cost calculator, a college graduation and employment rate index, and truth in tuition disclosure.
- Challenge selective colleges to expand access for students from low-income communities.
Only by educating more Americans can we restore our position as a global leader. We could continue to inject more money into the military machine, or we could educate ourselves with the aim of fixing the problems that cause many wars today.
What carriers more weight: to command respect, or to earn it?
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Related Links: Article (Columbia Missourian) HillaryClinton.com |