We Will Not be Perfect, But We Will Be Better
by Susannah Johnson,
April 7, 2011, page 2.....

I try to use the word “perfect” seldom. In my short life I’ve worked with lots of different people in many different places. And I have come to the sad conclusion that the world will never be perfect. The United States, like every country, has problems deeply concerning to young people. Yet our voices are rarely heard. Here’s my voice.
In my opinion the priority issues are those that involve the overall well-being of people: the economy, renewable energy and health care.
The Economy – Since the recession began in 2008, the economy has splintered. Thousands of people lost their jobs, lost their homes and found themselves struggling to pay for things like housing, college tuitions, even food on their tables. In response to the recession, President Obama created the Recovery Act, which helped create three million jobs. The law helped avoid another Great Depression. But it is important for the President to face all aspects of the economic crisis and create a new plan for a “new era of responsibility” (his words). The plan needs to include the creation of more jobs, a strategy to keep families in their homes and, finally, a plan to get credit flowing again so that small businesses can reform and hire workers so families are able to pay for their children to go to college.
Energy – Renewable energy is another long-term goal President Obama needs to focus on. So far, the President’s programs have helped provide short-term relief to families who struggle to pay for gas at the pump, produce one million plug-in hybrid cars that get up to 150 miles per gallon, and has told America that by 2012 10% of our electricity must come from renewable sources. These actions have helped lead the country in the right direction. But more steps need to be taken. It is important for us to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. The U.S. should also become the world leader on climate change. The more people that are aware of the issue and its effects, the more ideas people will have about how to resolve it. Creating jobs that are “green” is also a strategy that would be beneficial.
Health Care – More and more Americans have lost their health insurance over time. They just can’t afford good medical care. There should be no debate whether health care reform is necessary – it is. Period. Nearly 46 million Americans have no insurance, and this needs to change. It would be beneficial to create a health insurance program that would be an option for all Americans. It’s very unfair that there are people who don’t qualify for health insurance because of “pre-existing” health conditions. A program needs to be created in which nobody is discriminated against, regardless of health history.To create a program that does these things will be expensive, so the President needs to be creative and figure out where this money will come from. He’s smart, he can do it.

Susannah Johnson