True compassion is more than flinging a coin at a begger

Today I am doing something different. As I mentioned yesterday, I wanted to include more detail regarding the dialogue of the discussions. So instead of writing my reactions, I am rather going to include my notes taken during the sessions.

Foreign Policy for the next president.
Forum on the foreign policy that the next president might consider.

Jeff Beadely (R) - Former NH congressman
Dr. Bob King (D) – Foreign relations committee

Dr. Bob King

Major Issues
1) Iraq
a. By involving ourselves in Iraq we have jeopardized our sphere of influence all over the world
b. The United States must leave the vicinity in a way that would maintain the stability of the region and preserve the balance of power.
2) Afghanistan
a. Shifting military resources to the Iraqi theater has created a void in the Afghan region which has inversely harbored a society that fosters the
drug trade.
3) Pakistan
a. Relations with Pakistan are essential to the eradication of radical Islamic fundamentalists from the region. Furthermore, Pakistan has nuclear
weapons and in this time of regime supremacy, nuclear weapons have the potential of falling into the hands of rogue individuals.
4) The United Nations and other multi lateral organizations
a. The international community has isolated the United States.
b. Participation and cooperation with other friendly states is imperative to the growth of the US economy.

5) Nuclear Purification
a. Iran (we do not want Iran to possess any kind of nuclear materials)
b. DPRK we know they possess nuclear weapons
6) Energy
a. Consumption of foreign oil has made us hostage to radical regimes in the Middle East and Central America.
b. We must base our foreign policy around alternative energy methods.
7) Iran
a. What holds Iran in check
i. The Taliban in Afghanistan
ii. The threat of war with Iraq
b. The United States has taken care of both of these buffers of Iranian expansion so Iran is able to export its terror freely into western interests.
c. Tools we possess to counter suspected Iranian nuclear arms
i. Multi lateral diplomacy.
ii. Economic sanctions

Bradely

Major Issues
1) Protect and defend America’s foreign interests while observing constitutional rights.
2) Terror is the number one threat to America, not rogue states possessing nuclear weapons.
3) Our foreign policy creators must contrive a way to remove partisan politics from our policy formation tactics.

What we need to do to improve our foreign defense

1) Improve our anti nuclear missile defense.
2) Recognize that our technological advancement is out one largest defense against terror.
3) We must observe the issues surrounding the Israeli/ Palestinian confrontation
4) Russia and China
a. Bring Russia under control using missile arms agreements
b. Devalue the Chinese economy.
c. We must maintain an intimidating navy to counter Chinas rising naval fleet.
5) Iran
a. Diminish our role in Iraq, than deal with Iran and their nuclear development.
b. Economic sanctions and Oil embargoes may thwart Iran’s efforts to export terror. 
c. The international community must place more pressure on Iran to become more transparent, let the west come in and see what is
happening

Ben Cohen: Federal Budget Priorities

Attendance: 65 students
: 1 Mike Gravelle
He talked about the federal budget and the amount of money we spend on the maintenance of our nuclear weapons. Furthermore, Mr. Cohen talked about the necessity for the vast amounts of nuclear weapons that our nations possess to act as a deterrent against foreign nuclear aggression.

Institutional lag
The inelasticity of the federal government to spend as much as is required rather than the continuation of spending a pre established amount. We keep spending money on things we don’t need.

Mike Gravelle

Attendance: 134 students

Our military budget should only be two times as much as the budget of our enemies
I spoke with Mr. Gravelle for about ten minutes before the speech
Mr. Gravelle winked at me during his introduction, I don’t know how to feel.
We should let Iran and any other nation possess nuclear weapons to use as a deterrent against foreign aggression.
Economic sanctions do not have any political purpose, rather they only harm the poorest of te poor and using them against tyrannical dictators is a
sin.

Myself and Mr. Gravelle

We need to amend out corrupt, immoral system of taxation
Shannon D. asked a very good question and the question was not dodged by Mr. Gravelle. This was impressive because he is the first candidate that
has not dodged a question from Shannon.
Venues for change

o The government

o The people

Sarah Dallon with Mr Gravelle

So thats it for today, tomorrow should be less packed. Good bye for now!