Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Dear John McCain

“How did you get that scar on your neck?” my classmate shouted. Silence as twenty pairs of eyes turned to stare at my throat. It was the question they had all been waiting to ask. I responded “I was cutting a bagel with a really, sharp knife and my hand slipped!” Giggles and murmurs of doubt erupted as the teacher told everyone to take their seats. Should I have told them the truth? Could they handle the truth? “I’m a cancer survivor. My throat was cut twice to remove what was first thought to be a benign mass, but turned out to be a malignant tumor on my thyroid.” The truth was I didn’t care. I was a freshman entering a new high school and just wanted to move on.
The whispers would begin as soon as I entered a room, “He’s been out for months due to cancer.” It was clear that my peers felt sorry for me. They’d address me with a polite, but uneasy, tone while trying to escape the awkwardness as soon as they could. I was different, someone who didn’t belong. Slowly, I became introverted, avoiding unnecessary social contact, frequenting the path of least resistance. I was just another penny in the jar, and I was content to be there. When called upon, I would regurgitate the most common response. At lunch, I would sit at the end of the “cool” table using the status of the jocks as social camouflage. My freshman year sputtered to a forgettable end.
Enter election 2008. The television was tuned to CNN as the primary debate ensued. Mitt Romney championed his business expertise while Rudy Giuliani explained his most recent affair. As my interest faded the camera panned to Senator John McCain. The honesty and clarity of his answers riveted me. Here was a man who had risked his life and well-being to serve the people. I could see the dedication and passion in his eyes, alongside the scars lining his tired face.
The next day, a bracingly cold January morning, as usual I shuffled into my sophomore history class. The bell rang as we took our seats. “Did anyone catch the debate last night?” my teacher asked. I scanned the room--a couple kids looked down at their phones; others glanced out the window. I leaned back in my chair, waiting for the teacher to proceed. Then I remembered McCain. The ferocity with which he served his country pierced my mind. Didn’t he deserve my acknowledgement? “I saw it Ms. Fleming” I said, stopping her before she moved on. The students glared at me. I hesitated; should I go on? Again, I thought of McCain and continued. I gave my analysis of the debate speaking softly as first, and then louder and more confidently as I spoke of McCain. With an air of surprise my teacher commended me, “Very good Merrill, thank you.” My chest swelled with pride.
Until that morning my bout with cancer had left me with a profile that no one would want. I was the boy to whom no one could relate. I needed a new identity, a niche, and I finally found it-- politics. I became the resident political expert. My hours at home were spent immersed in the archives of realclearpolitics.com. School no longer bored me, as I scoured every class for an opportunity to showcase my newfound passion. My days at the “cool” table were over. Instead I spent my lunch hour attending a Political Discussion club meeting, in the presence of people who appreciated me for who I was.
Sophomore year turned to junior year. I created a Young Republican’s club, and volunteered after school for the McCain campaign. Students and teachers interested in politics turned to me for advice. Through my group, New Jersey Teenage Republicans, I got them involved in the process. I stood in as the McCain advocate for our school’s mock debates. McCain’s sense of civic duty had infused me with inspiration. I woke up each morning eager to start the new day.
Now when asked about my scar I answer proudly and directly, “I am a cancer survivor.” Cancer is a part of my life that I will never be able to forget, nor would I want to. The developmental challenges I faced upon entering high school—peer pressure, physical changes—paled in comparison to what I had already accomplished in battling my illness. McCain showed me that it is not our experiences that define us, but how we handle them. In serving his country dutifully McCain has enriched the lives and well being of others. Without his willingness to embrace his differences and break away from the pack, he would not have been able to accomplish all that he has. We all have scars, whether from the field of battle, from the operating room, or from life. We should not let them hinder us in our pursuits, but acknowledge them for all they bring to our character. I seek a life that will further the interests of a cause greater than me, the cause of government. I am lucky to have found that drive at such an early point in my life. I owe my awakening to cancer and John McCain.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

The Rise of China

After the fall of the British Empire the world began a process of power relocation. The British were entangled in conflicts across the globe, riddled with government debt, and were relying on imports to feed their increasingly consumer based society. Their tenure as world superpower had been long and fruitful, but the end of their dominance had arrived. Across the Atlantic a new country, the United States, began to prosper. It had cheap labor costs, booming industrial production, and a massive trade surplus (Workman, 1). This country used increasingly free global markets to ship its cheaper, more efficient products to over developed countries like Britain and France (Workman, 1). The United States, at this time, was truly unified with a sense of patriotic collectiveness that perpetuated the ideals of sacrifice and hard work (Denoon, 67). The United States used these redeeming characteristics, coupled with a little bit of luck, to rise to power over a 40 year span. After an extended period of world dominance the United States is at a crossroads. Its society and culture have begun to mirror the ones that they seized power from hardly a century ago. In Asia, a new country is beginning to emerge, one that alarmingly mirrors the early successful model of the United States. This does not bode well for the United States as the coexistence of two powers is not a long-term solution. The rise of modern China will be coupled with a decline in the United States global dominance.
China’s massive trade surpluses, coupled with American trade deficits, are relocating the economic epicenter to the Asian superpower. Over the past two decades China has seized control of the global trade markets, dictating the highest trade surplus of any country in the WTO (Workman, 1). Not only do they have the highest trade surplus, they also are the number one recipient of United States dollars with the total coming in around 162.9 billion dollars a year (Workman, 1). This means that every year the United States is losing 162 billion of its own currency to a foreign competitor. This allows China to take foreign dollars and invest it in domestic infrastructure while modernizing their industry. These innovations are at the expense of the foreign dollar which allows them to become even more competitive on the global level. Over the past 20 years China’s export to GDP ratio has increased 48 percent- a miraculously quick rise in the modern market (Haugen, 83). This ratio is well beyond the ones in the United States and even China’s Asian counterpart, Japan. The significance of these trade numbers are only reaffirmed when looking back at modern history. When the United States began its rise the trade numbers were leaning in their favor (Workman, 1). America was able to funnel British money into their economy, through this trade, which led to the rise of the nation as a whole. This is exactly what China is doing with the United States today. That type of continuous trade deficit will eventually catch up with the United States, and will drive them out of their position as top nation.
China’s ability to use its cheap labor to produce quality, inexpensive goods will make the United States manufacturing sector obsolete and drive production towards China. The key to producing cheap goods is having low production costs. The largest component of production cost is labor. Being able to pay your workers a fraction of the competitor’s workers is a defining advantage. It allows them to put more money into their product which means higher quality and profit. This is exactly what is going on in China and this labor development is the foundation of all other economic expansions. When American companies first began courting China as a possible production outpost they saw an under developed country with a communist form of government. The one redeeming quality of the country was its incredibly cheap labor expenditures. American companies, such as Wal-Mart, realized that producing goods in China and shipping them to the United States would still put their prices significantly below the competitors. The companies that opened plants in China realized amazing returns and forced the people within their industry to follow their lead if they wished to maintain competitive. This snowball effect began to drain jobs from the United States economy and put them in the hands of hard working Chinese civilians who thought of dollar an hour as a good wage. The United States loses hundreds of thousands of jobs every year to China and this rate is only increasing (Haugen, 81). Even with increased demand the salary of the average Chinese worker has not risen due to the large applicant pool (Haugen, 82). Additionally, China has begun to allow women into the workforce as their total employment has risen by 30 percent which is very similar to the increased amount of women in the American workforce during the early 1900s (Denoon, 45). Since workers generally have few rights, the amount of unions in China is low. Workers are not encouraged to stay in one job and are able to move between industries with fluidity. This fluidity is vital for the workforce as the ability to swiftly relocate to a booming industry benefits both the individual worker and the economy as a whole. These labor advantages are the foundation of a successful economy and are found in abundance in China.
China’s ability to move capital swiftly with limited government interference or regulation allow for it to adapt to increasingly frequent market realignments. In order to make money off an investment one must have initial capital. They also must have the financial mobility to get that capital to the right place at the right time without having to worry about government interference. Since China’s economy is in the early stages of development, its financial regulations are lenient (Denoon, 129). China has this vital ability and is learning how to use it to their full advantage. This has led to a remarkable growth of 9.8 percent a year on average. In order to cement their position as a global leader they must improve their tier four economic involvement. This entails learning to evaluate and choose which markets and companies are going to succeed. With the loss of manufacturing jobs in America accelerating this tier is one area where the United States clings to their dominance. Many of the countries brightest minds go into the investment sector and have the potential to earn millions of dollars. This allows America to produce large amounts of wealth since they are still seen as the global leaders in this field. If China is able to expand into this industry, they will be in control of both the upper and lower rungs which will lead to expanded economic prosperity (David, 67). Although they are not to that point yet, China is making sound economic decisions and understands the loan industry very well (Denoon, 93). China’s ability to locate and relocate capital will aid in their global ascension.
The Chinese cultures’ emphasis on key values has aided in the nations rise to economic power. In any society the effectiveness of governmental policies is contingent on civilian cooperation and enthusiasm. Without public support and dedication, attempts at change and innovation will be unsuccessful. That is why China’s cultural values of self-sacrifice and responsibility are so important (Denoon, 72). After the oppressive Mao era Chinese civilians were eager to be free and fought for their right to work and keep their wages (Denoon, 78). Since this oppression was a mere 40 years ago, the majority of the population remembers the period or has a parent who does. The memory of the regime is fresh in their heads and motivates them to work hard and seize the self-reliance they desire. The importance of this value cannot be overstated. Many critics of modern America claim that the general public is to far removed from the revolutionary roots and have forgotten how valuable freedom truly is (Mueller, 1). This has made the public blasé towards their work and unwilling to put forth the effort that is necessary to be successful individually, and as a nation. On the other hand the Chinese are the complete opposite of this; they are in a partially communist government and long for the full benefits of democracy. They recognize the value of that system and are willing to make personal sacrifices in order to achieve their goals. This value and general conviction are central parts to Chinese culture, and help to explain why their labor force is willing to get paid less, and still be efficient making them extremely competitive on the global level.
China’s increasing ability to be resource self-sufficient will allow it to remain immune from the resource conflicts crippling the United States economy today. In today’s modern society access to vital resources at an affordable price is a necessity. Without this a nation can be placed at the whim of a foreign supplier and have their economy potentially manipulated. The Chinese have sizable amounts of two key natural resources located within its borders: coal and oil. China has over 20 oil fields and produces, on average, 200 million tons of oil a year (Perkins, 1). This amount is enough to keep China’s oil purchases from outside their country at a relatively low level. It also protects them from the UAE and OPEC who are known to limit the supply of oil in order to drive up prices. China also has a rich abundance of coal. The total coal supply within the country’s borders is estimated to be 900 billion metric tons which is roughly three times the amount in the entire United States (Perkins, 1). Coal is a major resource used in electricity production and is vital in fueling China’s increasingly electric society. This large amount of coal also attracts more refining companies increasing both the jobs in the country and the taxable income levels for the government. This is another area where Chinese domestic reliance insulates their country from the ups and downs of electric and oil prices while the United States is forced to rely on the good will of South American and Middle Eastern nations. Fortunately for the United States, China will not be able to maintain their self sufficiency much longer. China’s SEPA director, Mr. Pan, is worried about the consequences of increasing city populations and usage, “Our natural resources will soon be unable to support our population.” (Haugen, 46). Mr. Pan is not overly alarmed as he believes that even once their consumption exceeds their production the exposure to foreign energy markets will remain limited. He is also pleased to see emerging Chinese cities, such as Beijing, adopting energy efficient forms of public transportation (Haugen, 47). This will help China remain as self sufficient as possible. Although China may have to start purchasing resources from other countries, their reliance will be nowhere near the dangerous addiction levels displayed by the United States.
The establishment of China as a legitimate military superpower forces other nations to respect them and legitimizes their economic position. In order to maintain global respect and obedience from surrounding countries, China had to develop an assertive army. So far the country has been successful in this endeavor using its massive population and nuclear proliferation exemption to develop a strong military and nuclear arsenal (Denoon, 98). Although the Chinese military has developed to a point where it can compete on a global scale, the government is being very conservative when it comes to involving itself in foreign conflicts (Denoon, 43). Although China supports the United States’ war on terror it has yet to commit any type of military aid in either Afghanistan or Iraq (Denoon, 51). China is choosing to take an isolationist route and focuses its resources on internal issues. It tries not to concern itself with petty conflicts and remains relatively popular in the eyes of all countries (Denoon, 53). It has this luxury, in part, because of its relatively secure borders with no major threats surrounding China on any side. During some of the United States most prosperous economic periods, like the roaring 20s, the country’s foreign policy was isolationist (Haugen, 134). In times when the country drifted from that policy the economic climate was much more foreboding. With the recent conflict in North Korea it will be interesting to see how the young country handles a threat with the potential to impact China at home. If China is able to maintain the neutral precedent it has effectively set they will not be looked at to handle global disputes. The burdens of that job will continue to fall in the lap of the United States, forcing the country to ship its resources across the globe and ignore their domestic situations.
China’s immense holding of United States debt gives them the power to potentially ruin the American economy. In September of 2008 Chinese investment in United States Treasuries surged to 585 billion dollars up from 48.5 billion putting the total Chinese investment in the United States government at roughly 800 billion dollars. This makes China far and away the leading holder of United States debt surpassing Japan’s total of 585 billion (Faiola, 1). Chinese investment in the United States government is propping up the value of the dollar while making the Chinese currency, the Yuan, weaker. This allows for the trade balance to remain tipped in the Chinese’s favor as the Yuan is not strong enough to purchase expensive United States goods. The Chinese take in the strong dollar and use it to purchase more treasuries to keep the process going. This is slowly reallocating the wealth to China as the Americans send dollars to pay for goods while also paying off the interest rates on the Chinese loans. Eventually China will get to the point where it is able to rely on domestic spending to finance its country and will begin scaling back its investments in treasuries in order to strengthen its own currency (Faiola, 1). China will have the option of either ceasing to purchase treasuries or even worse, selling of United States debt. Both options will cause massive inflation as the market will be flooded with U.S. treasury notes. With the increased supply will come a decreased demand which will force the United States into offering higher interest rates on new treasuries in order to pay off debtors who will demand repayment from the increasingly weak looking country (Faiola, 1). By the time the dust settles on this economic war the Chinese government will have emerged as supreme and the Yuan will have become the new standard for global currency. The United States will appear weak and unreliable and will find a hard time receiving the loans necessary to maintain the current Stimulus package and defense budget (Faiola, 1). Hopefully the Chinese will chose not to flood the market and will sell off its holding slowly. Even in this scenario the results would not be good as the United States would be losing a major client in its bond buying market. This potential threat is one that looms large and is central to the Chinese’s global ascension.
Every day the United States maintains their policies, while China continues to expand puts American one step closer to global decline. The Chinese economy is expanding in seemingly every area, while the United States economy is contracting across the board. The Chinese are dependent on United States for their consumer market at the moment, but are showing cultural and economic signs of increased self- reliance. The United States has a small window of opportunity to stop this vicious cycle before it is too late. Americans must realize that the only way to preserve their countries standing is by committing to the nation as a whole and electing to sacrifice when necessary. The United States Federal Government must stop onerous spending, regain control of the deficit, take back control of its currency, and begin repaying its debtors. By bucking the flow of interest back to China the United States will force the Yuan to rise which will unleash the massive potential of the Chinese consumers and allow American industry to regain its competitiveness in the global trade market. Without the swift implication of the stated policies the United States will continue down the slippery slope and watch as history repeats itself while China takes the throne as global superpower.

Sunday, June 7, 2009

American Arrogance

When Theodore Roosevelt came to power, the United States was a young country teetering on the brink of economic explosion. The foreign policy of the time, and throughout the country’s history to that point, was one of isolationism and foreign restraint (U.S. History, 1). However, Roosevelt saw this policy as obsolete and championed the idea of the United States as world police and protectors of democracy abroad. This policy revolutionized the country’s foreign outlook as most presidents had maintained the policies set forth in George Washington’s farewell address. As the country grew, so too did its foreign ambitions. The country began to involve itself in matters that would have been previously viewed as beyond American jurisdiction, whether it was in Central America or the West Pacific. Roosevelt had turned the page on Washington and begun the new age of imperialism. Throughout the century, and into the next, this policy extenuated itself across the globe. Foreign interventions cost the United States unnecessary lives and money while creating a precedent that is impossible to maintain. The United States foreign policy of world police is a presumption that has and will harm the country domestically while reinforcing the international image of America as arrogant.
American Exceptionalism is the idea behind modern policy and causes the United States to view their perspective as permanently supreme, and to feel the necessity to spread the idea across the globe. America is a country built by white Anglo-Saxons and for a while ruled solely by them. They enforced the idea, sometimes through legislation, of whites being supreme. This helped to build a sense of entitlement that would later come to play in foreign policy, specifically in nations with Latino or dark skinned backgrounds, such as Cuba. It breeds a sense of jingoism as it is self serving and hypocritical. By proclaiming one type of people inherently better than another it excuses the abuse of that seemingly inferior group. This entitled belief was put into law by two policies which became pillars of United States foreign policy; the Monroe Doctrine and the Roosevelt Corollary. The Monroe Doctrine was passed after the War of 1812 and was used as means to assert United States power by threatening retaliation (Caridi, 50). It was originally interpreted as basic and was viewed as a self defense measure rather than an aggressive document with imperialistic underpinnings. Under the Polk administration, the meaning and functionality of the document changed in a way that would shape its usage in modern United States policy. When Britain attempted to seize control of the Yucatan peninsula Polk added a corollary, “it should be distinctly announced to the world as our settled policy that no future European colony or dominion shall with our consent be planted or established on any part of the North American continent.” (Caridi, 43). This policy essentially gave the United States territorial jurisdiction over the entire hemisphere and gave them the right to deny treaties to be made between two independent countries. This policy encouraged foreign interventionism and laid the foundation for further manifestation of the belief.
The Roosevelt Corollary was an extension of the Monroe Doctrine and served to further entitle the United State’s foreign outlook. Theodore Roosevelt was a very powerful man who believed in stern advancement of United States interests above all. He saw Central and Southern America as inferior enclaves loaded with resources vital to continued American growth both militarily and economically. The Roosevelt Corollary established the precedent that the United States had the right to intervene in Latin American governments if they felt that the government was not functioning correctly. This gave Roosevelt, and all subsequent presidents, the right to seize control of any Latin American country if their actions displeased them (Caridi, 50-51). Feeling that the United States has the right to control foreign independent countries is the exactly type of entitlement that has led to such an intrusive and overbearing policy.
Unilateral preventative foreign military invasions are both internationally pretentious and economically draining. After the end of World War II, with the previous superpowers laden with debt and economic deficiency, America took its place as leader of the free world. It moved to create an international regulatory body which is referred to as the U.N. or the United Nations. This body was supposed to move with global support against countries, such as Nazi Germany, that were out of line and posed a systemic threat to the surrounding countries and overall world peace. Although this body sounds good in theory, it has many flaws that contribute to its failure to operate effectively. One of the problems, which were especially prevalent during the cold war era, is that enemies, such as Russia, have the power to block measures against each other which essentially makes them immune to international law. This meant that oftentimes the United States would be forced to move unilaterally to fight a battle that should be handled by the appropriate United Nations body. Although the United Nations did help out during the Korean War, it was essentially an American war as 90% of the troops involved were American and the lead United Nations general was also American. After the war much of the economic responsibility for the region fell onto the United States as the world looked to the new superpower to fill the role. By accepting the responsibility and spearheading the organization of the new South Korea the United States established the precedent that would guide foreign expectations from that point forward. The United States was now officially seen as the nation oppressed people could turn to. This was backed up by the Truman Doctrine which stated that the United States would provide support to any nation threatened by communism (Bundy, 231). Providing aid at the level necessary to maintain that policy is taxing on the American domestic economy. Policies such as Truman’s began stretching United States resources across the globe even when it was not a direct threat to homeland security.
The wars in Vietnam and Iraq furthered the broken policy while turning vital global support against the United States. When the United States decided to militarily commit to the conflict in Vietnam it began a war that drained both the public’s and world’s appetite for global regulation. The world began to see America as an arrogant nation willing to sacrifice innocent Vietnamese lives along with young American solders for a cause that could hardly be declared as an imminent threat. It was viewed rather as a cold, calculated move that blatantly disrespected the lives of the people fighting the war. Roughly 30 years later a different president, George W. Bush, decided to dive into another foreign entanglement without weighing the long term ramifications. This reinforced the global view of the United States as both arrogant and ignorant. Although some may ask why Americans should care about foreign attitude towards their policies, the reasons are important. In the modern technological age the United States has shifted into a consumer economy which is almost entirely dependent on importing and exporting goods. Maintaining a good relationship with a foreign trade partner allows for reciprocal trade agreements and lower tariff rates which equal more return to American businesses. Overall entanglements, such as Iraq, do very little to achieve the set goal and end up having more severe effects on the United States.
Massive global intervention leads to military overextension and domestic neglect. Throughout United States history politicians have been forced to choose between military action and their domestic agendas. This debacle is always a tough decision for a leader to make as shipping out money to fight overseas is sometimes necessary, such as during World War II, and domestic sacrifice is necessary. Although this is the case some of the time it is hardly a regular occurrence. Most modern decisions are between practical domestic programs, which can be anything from a higher education budget or providing the public with larger tax cuts. Today the United spends roughly four percent of its (GNP) or gross national product on defense (Rourke, 56). For a country with such a high overall GNP that is a lot of money that goes toward causes that could have been avoided. For example, during the late 1960’s President Lyndon Johnson was working towards the legislation for his “Great Society”. He saw the country in a state of decay and wanted to invest in domestic infrastructure in order to revitalize the country. Many people disagreed on the details of his polices but both sides recognized that his plan involved keeping U.S. money within the country. After committing to Vietnam, Johnson was forced to sacrifice many of his programs in order to feed the bottomless stomach of the army. He was also forced to send tax dollars abroad which weakens the country and decreases the value the taxpayers were getting for their dollar. Presidents who try to accomplish both domestic plans, and carry out a foreign agenda suffer severe ramifications. This was done during the Reagan era when the federal government put trillions into National Defense while executing massive tax cuts. This lead to a tripling of the national deficit and added a greater strain to the country’s economy (Z- Facts, 1). The issue of committing domestic money abroad is one that is vital to opposing modern foreign policy and is hotly contested.
The standing of the United States is being threatened by irresponsible and arrogant foreign policy. The country is placing itself above international law which is tarnishing its image in the eyes of the world. Once considered a beacon of hope and prosperity, America is turning into a country that legislates morality across the globe. In order to regain the respect and admiration, while preserving the country’s economic standing, America must make sacrifices and learn to end its hypocritical policies and respect other nation’s dilemmas. Although every nation is expected to protect its own interests, the way for the United States to do that is through restricting foreign intervention, not increasing it. This will allow for money to stay within the country and alleviate the world’s burdens from the shoulder of the American taxpayer. The U.N. must be fixed in order to ensure that international law can be enforced without constant United States intervention. This will lead to a prosperous domestic society while allowing the United States to focus its resources on the people living within its borders.

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Equality

I found this Short Story and it was very interesting. Obviously it is overplayed for Dramatical purposes by the underlying themes are alarmingly relevant. How far does can the idea of equality go and where does it fit in the American Dream?

http://instruct.westvalley.edu/lafave/hb.html

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

The Denigration of Intellectual Integrity

Ridgewood High School is a renowned institute of education known for producing some of the finest and productive students in the country. From the moment one enters the high school, the idea of getting into a good college is drilled into a students’ head until asking a friends GPA is as casual as asking the score of the Yankees game from the night before. While walking through the lunch room students discuss their polished resumes and how they believe they have a good shot of getting into their dream schools. Yes the drive for success is present, but at what cost?
Once a vital part of adolescent development, the art of actual learning is dying. In an effort to keep up with the standards set forth by the colleges, GPA and SAT, students put scores before knowledge and pursue the end goal while sacrificing the journey. Learning has become obsolete and is no longer the quickest way to achieve success, and is viewed rather as an unnecessary detour. The deteriorating values of the generation in general have allowed the problem to manifest. It has become acceptable to cheat; an act once looked down upon by students and teachers alike. Not the traditional “let me see your paper” cheating but rather in the form of lackadaisical work ethic. Instead of putting in the time necessary to learn students glaze through work looking for the fastest and easiest way to the end. Some may ask, “Why should I care how I get there? The ends justify the means.” Anyone who has followed the news within the last year should know the answer to that question. Corporate moguls made the decision to reach their end goal, money, without consideration for the consequences. They sought the easy way to success even though they understood the possible ramifications. The United States must realize that the reason for this crisis was not poor economics but rather poor values that have been reinforced from an early age. Why should the country expect a different result if the future leaders are using the same corrupt means to rise to power?
In a country largely built upon the ideal of self regulation and responsibility, it is up to the individual to step up when the system fails them. Although the temptation of cheating is all around, students must rely on their intellectual integrity to do the right thing. Do not go through high school in pursuit of a hollow goal, make something of your time and pursue extended learning opportunities while maintaining the core values that will allow you to achieve meaningful success. The ideal of honesty and integrity is greater than the individual and is worth upholding above personal reward. As Sophocles once said, “I would prefer even to fail with honor than to win by cheating”