for better or for worst

Erica Robinson
Mr. Varner
Comp 102
1 March 2014
For Better or For Worse

Ted Halstead is the found and CEO of the New America Foundation. He received his bachelors from Dartmouth College, and his Masters Degree from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. Halstead’s specialities are environment, economics, and energy. He has written articles and books on these subjects. In 2003, Halstead wrote an article in The Atlantic Monthly entitled The American Paradox. In the article Halstead tells his readers how America is “the richest, most powerful, and most creative nation on the planet,” and more business start-ups per capita than almost every other advanced democracy. Yet America still falls very short when he comes to insured citizens, and the emission of greenhouse gases, and social equality. Halstead attempts and is successful in convincing his audience that because of America’s unbalanced state… A new social contract is in order. Halstead mentions how America has far more uninsured citizens than other countries. In 2003, the United States was the only industrialized country in the world that did not offer its citizens guaranteed health coverage. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in the same year (2003) the number of uninsured Americans rose to 45 million, an increase of over 4 million over a five year span. There was also another 16 million who were thought to be underinsured. The Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) was signed into law to reform the health care industry by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010 and upheld by the Supreme Court on June 28, 2012. ObamaCare’s goal is to give more Americans access to affordable, quality health insurance, and to reduce the growth in health care spending. Halstead seen the need for this act seven years before it was planted. In his article Halstead states that “on a per capita basis the United States emits considerably more greenhouse gases” that other countries. In 2003, The United States emitted a total of 6,967,960 Gg CO2e greenhouse gases. Significantly higher than the average of 91,931.00 Gg CO2e in other countries. The world’s two largest polluters the United States and China have since come together to accelerate action to reduce greenhouse gases by advancing cooperation on technology, research, conservation, and alternative and renewable energy. In 2009, President Obama announced a new national policy and set tough new Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFÉ) standards that would increase fuel efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions for all new cars and trucks sold in the United States starting 2012. There are plenty of good achievements to mention about the United States, but in agreeance with Halstead there is also a lot of bad. He said “ to improve the nation’s social health and economic vitality at one and the same time will require a new social contract for America”. It may not happen rapidly, but any change is a start in the right direction.