IP Blog

Your final exam will ask you to revisit the following texts:
1.  Bacon and Berkeley
2.  Jefferson
3. Madison and Ford
4.  Washington and Adams.

Created by Lauren DeSieno and Rachel Belletiere

China leads the world in so many different races. In order for us to become the leading country again, we must surpass them. Period.
By: Neil Clark, John Gardus, Stephen Oliver, and Albert Safi

I just sat down from standing in front of my refrigerator.  I stood there for awhile and I thought to myself, “That is a lot of food.  I wonder how it got here…” Ok, so I know that my mom had to of went grocery shopping, but the question is, where did it come from after it was delivered to the store? 

There are so many different types of food in the market today, it is unfathomable to think that our ancestors or the first hunter-gatherers once had to go find their food and learn how to make it work.  In Guns, Germs and Steel, a novel written Jared Diamond, he discusses all of the different factors it takes to produce one simple thing; proper climate, resource availability, and applicable soil.  Common sense to the hunter-gatherer knows that good soil, lots of resources and long growing seasons results in a successful crop.  Poor soil, no resources, no water, and a short growing season tell them that they better travel somewhere else.

However, the hunter-gatherer could not produce the quality of products he wants without his domestic animals.  Keeping in mind the suitable climate, it also has to be just right for animals to live and do quality work.  Not only were certain animals good for their meat and hide (Diamond, 90), but also their labor.  “…the largest domestic mammals interacted with domestic plants to increase food production by pulling plows and thereby making it possible for people to till land that had previously been uneconomical for farming.” (Diamond, 88).

Diamond focuses on the area known as the Fertile Crescent; “One advantage of the Fertile Crescent is that it lies within a zone of...a climate characterized by mild, wet winters and long, hot, dry summers.  That climate selects for plant species able to survive the long, dry season and to resume growth rapidly upon the return of the rains.” (Diamond, 136) Diamond shows the reader that this really is the ultimate and perfect climate for a successful growing season.  With high quality food being produced, it created calories to sustain life in the Fertile Crescent. 
Using the Fertile Crescent as an example, other countries with the same requirements can also become successful and grow; “All those other areas became food producing as a result of the spread of crops, livestock, and knowledge of how to grow them and, in some cases, as a result of migrations of farmers and herders themselves” (177).  These countries, “The peoples of areas with a head start on food production, thereby gained a head start on the path leading toward guns, germs, and steel” (103), are resulting in today’s more “successful countries”. 

If developing countries today, adapt the things that worked then, possibly everyone can one day be on the same page; on the road to success and prosper.

Created by: Stacy Brown, Katherine De Menno, and Kailey DeOliveira

Since World War II, the United States has been the leading world power.  As time passes, we are gradually being surpassed by China.  China has a massive population, with which they can teach and train children of the future in technology and military.  The population also gives them the opportunity to produce much more than other countries with the human power they possess, taking the Chinese economy to new places, while the rest of the world is stagnant.

Represent… a simple word, yet the meanings for any individual can be endless. For me one memory comes into mind:
My mom owns a daycare center where I have grown up and her daycare has come a second home to me.  I work there now which is a rewarding feeling.  But what makes me happy is seeing adults that come in with their kids, but those adults have gone to the daycare center when they were younger.  When I see a mother or father walk in with their child I can see how the child represents the parent.  I can see certain traits or certain behaviors that the parents themselves carry.  “The children are our future,” I absolutely agree… in fact that’s the daycare’s motto.

Why is the United States of America a leading power?

Because of our spirit.

Because of our strength.

Because of our freedom.

Because of our ambition.

Because of our companionship.

Because of our LOVE.

By: Lori Schadler and Emily Wasek

I believe America’s future is going to be determined by two things.

Teachers

AND

Children/ Students

America’s future can best be represented by the success of its children.  Because they are the leaders of tomorrow, what they do today will be an indication of their future success.  A solid education opens up the pathway for a successful future for our country.  We feel that this image depicts the embodiment of future success in America.

Johnny Soler, Mike Hamory, Alex Guttman, Matt Cialkowski

For America to remain as Emerson saw it, we must follow the 4 notions that he gave us.

Beginnings of a Bright Future:

Projects such as “Zero-Energy” Home to provide us with cleaner air and a healthier planet:

Read an Article from a local Seattle Newspaper

Read More About Zero-Energy Homes

Designs for a Stronger Nation:

Expectations of Grander:

The United States of America has been the world superpower for almost a century now, but we are witnessing the fall of Westernism.  If you mark the Spanish-American war as the demonstration of American power, the exact count is about one hundred and nine years, but it is questionable whether we still remain the super-power.  Today we are threatened by China and Japan for the top power, with many countries close behind.  They, China and Japan, are slowly taking over our markets, and through trade with America, depleting our economy.  The root of the problem is America’s gradual change from a goods-producing economy to a service economy.

So what is a service economy?  For those of you who don’t know, a service economy is based on the idea of providing a service, like healthcare and restaurants, rather than manufacturing or agriculture.  The US today is considered a service economy because more than half of US workers are service based.  What’s the problem with service economics?  Well lets examine the flow of money.  A person goes to the store and buys a sweater.  The retailer makes a small amount of money on the sweater, but that sweater was made in China, since there are few American manufacturers.  Therefore, we are funneling money out of our economy on trade with other countries while just switching money between people in the US.  It’s not that I am against importing goods, but we don’t export very much.  In 2006, the US reported a trade deficit of over $800 billion.  This is money that could be benefiting American people, but instead is being sent overseas.

To fix this loss of money, we need to examine how the US became one of the richest nations in the world the first time.  Ralph Waldo Emerson urged Americans in his work “The Young American” to use nature and the resources of the land to regain power.  The wealth of America, according to Emerson, is in the land.  “We must regard the land as a commanding and increasing power on the citizen, the sanative and Americanizing influence, which promises to disclose new virtues for ages to come.” I encourage you to take another look at the self-reflective picture.  The reflection shows the very thing that has made America less powerful.  We have become separated from the very land that entitled us this great power by an inch thick piece of glass.  We no longer trust our land to provide for us.  The first step to regaining power is to use our land, and wisely.

We must then use the resources from the land to manufacture goods.  These goods can then be traded.  They will bring money into the US, allowing the US to gain wealth.  In today’s world, money is power.  Emerson said “Trade is an instrument in the hands of that friendly Power which works for us in our own despite.” With this increased trade, we will finally take back our former power.  Besides bringing us wealth, trade will strengthen ties between the US and other nations. 

The true key to regaining power is to balance the use of the land, manufacturing, imports and exports.  Only when these are all in balance does America have the power to start projects and designs.  This balance gives Americans the expectations of a safe and happy future.

Without freedom, nothing is worth fighting for. Not even a future.

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1. The format of “The Young American” is opinion from the author. He speaks of trade and technology the way he sees it in America as well as in Europe. This article is propaganda about how great America is.

2. The article’s thesis is “America is the country of the future; it is a country of beginnings, of projects, of designs, and expectations.”

3. I would believe that alot of people would agree with Emerson because America is a nation that came together numerous times in history and succeeded. During this time period, many people took it upon themselves to become independent from England. America is a generous and powerful nation and many people would agree with Emerson on that. Pain, Jefferson and Adams are a few who would believe in Emerson.

Extra Credit: Whitney Houston: Greatest Love of All - I believe that this song was played because the line “I believe that children are our future” is very powerful. This can be compared to the development of America because our founding fathers had a vision and made it a reality. America has advanced in many ways and the children are truly our future. They decide where our nation goes, how it advances and if our powerful and intelligent reputation continues. 

Completed by: Kelsie Gregory and Brian Ludrof
For America to remain/reinvent itself as the country of the future it needs to take a step back. Many American scholars say that the greater the technology a country has the greater the chance they have of becoming a world power; however, this technology is in turn causing people to become too dependent on technology. Citizens’ minds are becoming too brainwashed with the technological aspect of society and are not taking the time to develop their own minds. People are letting technology do too much for them. For example, if a business were to cut back on technology they would be less efficient, but the employees would have to think for themselves, resulting in a more intellectual society. 
Maybe its time to go back to pen and pencil; that is when great minds really flourished. We are not saying that technology has completely destroyed our minds, but the best ideas come from inside the head, not the monitor. So the bottom line is that for America to reinvent itself as the country of the future it needs to sit back and take a look at the minds of its citizens rather than its microchips.
Completed by: Kelsie Gregory and Brian Ludrof

In the wise words of Lindsay Hoolehan ‘The best form of representation is pure democracy’

REPRESENT YOURSELF! VOTE NOW!

Courtney Loomis, Megan Cassel, Shelby Naughton, Lindsay Hoolehan