Febuary Blog

Washington's Farewell Address in summary:

• A strong and united federal government is necessary for the country to have a strong future.

• The two-party system caused people to constantly argue with others in opposite parties rather than work together.
  

• Morality and religion are very important, especially in court.
  

• Government should not borrow too much money, especially from other countries.
  

• Permanent foreign alliances are bad because it puts the neutrality of the United States in danger.
  

• An over-powerful military establishment is not good because it can be turned against the people.
  

Eisenhower's Farewell Address in summary:

• Work for the better of the country, not for politics.
  

• Don't assume that one correct answer or solution will instantaneously resolve a crisis.
  

• Balance is essential to solving all problems.
  

• Be careful to not overspend.
  

• Be careful of the special interests do not take over our government.

Washington believed an over-powerful military establishment is not good because it can be turned against the people. Overspend on Yesterday's War is an article written by Mark Thompson and found on Time.com. Most importantly, this article stated that, as of 2008, 4.5% gross domestic product should go toward defense. This is not factoring in wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Also, Navies, Armies, and Air Forces are requesting billions of dollars for the funding of new weapons, ships, and aircraft. So, 4.5% of all gross domestic product is going to American Defense in peace-time. This is clearly that Washington warned against, because the government is overspending and causing the military to become too powerful.



Eisenhower believed that it is important not to overspend. Congress Urged to Raise Debt Limit is an article found on Reuters.com. This article is stating that the government must soon raise the debt ceiling because we will soon be in debt surpassing the current debt ceiling, which is 14.3 trillion dollars. Because we have overspent so much, we are in huge amounts of debt, and must soon raise our debt ceiling. The article predicted that by the end of March 2011 we would hit the debt ceiling. This article shows how Eisenhower's warning has gone unheeded, because our country is now in so much debt we must soon raise the debt ceiling.