A Letter to AmericaA Letter to America boldly faces the question of how long the United States, with only six percent of the world's population, can remain a global superpower. University of Oklahoma president David Boren explains with unsparing clarity why the country is at a crossroads and why decisive action is urgently needed. He draws on his experiences as the longest-serving chair of the U.S. Senate's Select Committee on Intelligence and as a state governor and leader of a major public university. America is in trouble because its people are losing faith in the country's future. What the country needs, Boren asserts, are major reforms to restore the ability of our political system to act responsibly. We have shared values, and we should use them to replace cynicism with hope and the determination to build a better future. Bipartisan cooperation on behalf of national interests needs to replace destructive partisanship, and we should not rule out electing a president independent of both existing parties. We must fashion a post-Cold War foreign policy that fits twenty-first-century realities--including several contending superpowers. We must adopt campaign finance reform that restores political power to the voters, rather than special interests. Universal health care coverage, budget deficit reduction, affordable higher education, and a more progressive tax structure will strengthen the middle class. Boren also describes how we can renew our emphasis on quality primary and secondary education, revitalize our spirit of community, and promote volunteerism. He urges the teaching of more American history and government, for without educated citizens our system cannot function and our rights will not bepreserved. Unless we understand how we became great, we will not remain great. The plan Boren puts forward is ambitious and hopeful. It challenges Americans to look into the future, decide what we want to be and where we want to go, and then implement the policies and actions we need to take us there. |
Contents
ONE The United States and the World | 19 |
TWO The Destructiveness of Partisanship | 43 |
THREE Campaign Corruption | 55 |
Copyright | |
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action Ameri American history asked Battle of Yorktown become believe better bipartisan blueprint Bruce Cole campaign candidate century challenges citizens Cold Cold War committee Concord Coalition Constitution contributions cost create culture cynicism David Boren David McCullough deficits democracy Democrats economic strength election example face feel forces funds future George H. W. Bush grassroots democracy groups health insurance higher education important income increase infrastructure institutions intelligence Iraq lead leaders leadership live major Marshall Plan members of Congress middle class middle-income military million multipolar never nomic organizations ourselves PACs partisanship party percent of Americans political system president presidential problems programs Republicans role scholarship share social society Soviet special-interest spending superpower teaching terrorist threat tion U.S. Senate understand United University of Oklahoma volunteer vote World War II