4 - Tuesday, September 9, 2008 EL74 tIC t an al Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan since 1890. 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI48109 tothedaily@umich.edu I-F The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com ANDREW GROSSMAN EDITOR IN CHIEF GARY GRACA EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR GABE NELSON MANAGING EDITOR Unsigned editorials reflectthe officialposition of the Daily's editorialboard.Allother signed articles and illustrations represent solely the views of their authors. A semester away Semester in Detroit will launch soon. It should succeed. P articipation - that's what usually keeps good ideas from becoming great programs. Student groups, academic pro- grams and movements frequently sprout up and fizzle out not long after, not for lack of ingenuity but for lack of widespread effort. Students shouldn't allow Semester in Detroit - a University program that will give students a chance to learn, live and work in the Motor City - to join the graveyard when it launches next semes- ter. A great idea with a lot of potential to help a city and the Univer- sity, Semester in Detroit promises to be a great success - but only if students remain excited about it. If the cost of milk had risen as fast as the cost of college since 1980, a gallon would be $15." -Rep. Peter Welsh (D-Vt.), commenting on the rising cost of tuition during a roundtable discussion with lawmakers and more than two dozen college presidents, as reported yesterday by The New York Times. ELAINE MORTON I W EATURE CAL EE-MAIL ELAINE AT EMORT@UMICH.EDU WHAT rare Sm. oiinl4xe c;-.tS ,loin ? ereainry h ~i t 00 (40) Remember that war we lost After months of hard work on the part of dedicated students, University professors and administrators, the Semester in Detroit program is ready for its inaugural run next semester. The program hopes to recruit 25 students to take classes at the University's Detroit center and live at Wayne State Uni- versity. While taking three classes tailored to the program, students will also par- ticipate in an internship with a city-based organization that will help students learn and improve the city. Though Detroit is close to Ann Arbor, most students have yet to experience - let alone understand - the city and its story. Detroit's story is fundamental to the Ameri- can story. It's an example of the pain that Northern racism caused and continues to cause. It's a warning to governments every- where about the dangers of over-reliance on one industry. And it's home to about 900,000 people. As such, there is perhaps just as much to learn from Detroit as from any city abroad. Semester in Detroit is a pro- gram as valuable as a study abroad program but just 45 minutes away and at a fraction of the cost. More importantly, this program provides the opportunity for a mutually beneficial relationship between Detroit and the Uni- versity. Detroit is in a precarious situation and needs help revitalizing itself. The pres- ence of more hard-working, enthusiastic college students who want to make a differ- ence could do a lot of good for the communi- ty. And the more that students are exposed to Detroit, the more they will care about the city's future; this program could even motivate students to devote their talents to Detroit and Michigan after graduation and strengthen the educated workforce so nec- essary to the state'.economic future. Even the Unive'ity standsto gain from this program. Students who are engaged in the city, promoting the values that the University espouses, will serve as a vital resource in the effort to recruit students from Detroit. Detroit is home to a large number of underrepresented minorities who will now see that students from Ann Arbor care about making Detroit a bet- ter place. Program participants can act as ambassadors to prospective students, effec- tively conveying that the University still wants underrepresented minorities to feel welcome in the wake of the state's ban on race- and gender-based affirmative action. Considering the program's potential, the people who put so much work into getting Semester in Detroit off the ground should be applauded. Students now have a less expensive option to study outside the Uni- versity that will still offer them a once-in-a- lifetime experience. Detroit will gain a new outreach program to improve the city. And the University will have a more substantial presence in an urban center that needs to understand Ann Arbor's continuing com- mitment to diversity on its campus. Now all the program needs are students who want to make a difference in one of the country's largest, most stricken cities. Stu- dents who are ready to embark on a Semester in Detroit - or who would just like to learn more about the program - should attend one of two meetings at 7p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 11 or Tuesday, Sept. 16 in Angell Hall Aud. C. Do it for yourself, for Detroit and for the University that strives to instill such com- munity values in each of its students. O April 19, 2007, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said what all Demo- crats were thinking at the time: The war in Iraq was lost., "This war is lost and the surge is not accomplishing any- thing as indicated by the extreme vio- I. lence in Iraq yes- terday," Reid said. A . prudent ALEX observer could eas- PRASAD ily have countered that Reid's com- ments, at least regarding the surge, were a bit premature. The troop buildup wasn't set to peak until July, and offensives using the new troops couldn't start until then at the earli- est. Yet it was easyto follow Reid's train of thought. The Democrats had just scored a resounding victory in the midterm elections, President Bush had made an unpopular decision to increase troop levels just months before - seemingly against all logic - and violence in Iraq had spiked. So with the wind at his back,.Reid took a very small leap of faith. He was in good company. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) were right with him, opposing the surge and promising to get all of the troops out of Iraq within 16 months ... no matter what. An unlikely Republican joined the chorus of criticism but called for a different approach. From the out- set of the war, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) believed that the small foot- print philosophy of former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld would lead to sectarian violence, and it cer- tainly did. The Sunni-Shiite violence was so intense that Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.), Obama's pick for vice presi- dent, decided the best solution was segregating Iraq's three major ethnic groups - the Kurds, Sunnis and Shi- ites - into three separate countries. Segregation didn't work in the United States but supposedly could in Iraq. Luckily for Iraqis, Bush had announced a surge of U.S. combat troops in January, a decision sup-. ported by McCain. It was a desperate . act but one that had been called for repeatedly by the eventual Repub- lican presidential nominee. Now, almost 16 months later, the opinion held by Reid, Pelosi and Obama could only, in the friendliest terms,, be called an error in judgment. So what do we have to show for this surge, long opposed by the Democrat- ic leadership and long supported by McCain? Well, an 80-percent reduc- tion in violence since July of last year,, for starters. According to the Iraq Coalition Casualty Count, this July saw the lowest casualty totals for US troops (just 13) since the invasion began. But when the facts put Demo- crats in the politically untenable situ- ation of declaring defeat in a time of progress, they jumped on a new band- wagon: the benchmark bandwagon. The liberal Center for American Progress's blogsaid it best in January: "The purpose of the surge was to pro- vide the 'breathing space' for political reconciliation to occur. Yet over one year later, political progress has been scant, and what progress has been made is not durable." Indeed, at the time, only 3 of 18 of the benchmarks set forth by Congress had been met. Today 15 of the 18 have been met, and some of the unfulfilled bench- marks have been met in different ways. Though the Iraqi parliament has not passed an oil-sharing bill, oil revenues are being shared among Iraq's provinces evenly, and produc- tion is nearly identical to what it was before the war. And remember the electricity problems that the media cried so much about? According to the Associated Press, the, average Iraqi gets 3.3 hours more of electric- ity than they did under Saddam Hus- sein by the most ambitious pre-war calculations. More Iraqis have land- lines and cell phones than before the war, and more have access to potable water than ever. Criticism that vio- lence would skyrocket after surge troops pulled out has also been qui- eted, and troop levels are now near pre-surge levels. The man behind the surge that saved Iraq. Of course, it hasn't been all, peach- es and cream in Iraq. There have been many deaths, much strife, mass exodus and refugee problems. But despite overwhelming criticism, McCain - not Bush - led this coun- try on a path to victory in Iraq. After watching Obama challenge McCain on national security issues at the Democratic National Convention with the line, "If John McCain wants to have a debate about who has the ... judgment to serve as the next com- mander in chief, that's a debate I'm ready to have," I would expect that McCain, will- ingly and ably, will stand on his record of judgment. Alex Prasad can be reached at atprasad@umich.edu. EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS: Harun Buljina, Emmarie Huetteman, Emily Michels, Kate Peabody, Robert Soave, Imran Syed ISSUES. 2008 ON THE ECONOMY " C n b tt f fl t y h e :OLLEGE DEMOCRATS ! E T .COLLEGE REPUBLICANS VEWP: NT An economic plan for everyone Recovery through competition Eight years of President George W. Bush's eco- on oil companies and would involve an imme- Our economy is on the path toward recovery. ages this kind of investment and job creation. omic planhave destroyed our economy, which diate $1,000 check to every American family to Whileit mightnotbe obvious,our economygrewby At 35 percent, our nation's corporate tax rat vas the envy of the world, and laid waste to a deal with increased costs. 3.3 percent in the last quarter. Last week, though, the highest among the 30 countries in the Org udget surplus built up by President Bill Clin- Obama would also invest in our national the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that isation for Economic Co-operation and Devel on. John McCain supported this plan every infrastructure to help state budgets and cre- unemployment is at a five-year high, underscor- ment. This is why we are losing our competit ailing step of the way. Wages have remained ate the foundation for a post-carbon economy. ing that our economy still needs to be fixed. John edge and our jobs to other nations. McCain at while the price of fuel and other commodi- This investment in solar technology would cre- McCain offers an effective solution to our nation's pledged to lower corporate taxes by 10 p ieS have risen substantially. Over the past five ate "green jobs" in many fields, including heavy economic problems thatwill create additional eco- cent, making it cheaper for companies to stay ears, the cost of attending an in-state college machinery, the auto industry and cutting-edge nomic growth and much-needed recovery. the United States while remaining competit as increased, on average, by 35 percent. companies and interests. These jobs would McCain's plan focuses on the long-term recov- abroad. But while the middle class is squeezed tight- replace our lost manufacturing jobs. ery, growth and competitiveness of our economy. McCain is not your typical Republican. Af r and tighter, McCain and the Republican Obama also believes that government should We need an environmentally friendly path to eight years of high and wasteful spendi e is an- bp- ive has er- in ive ter ng, Party have sought only to reduce the burden of the wealthiest among us. A government that once provided its citizens the tools for eco- nomic success has now abandoned the average American. To correct these problems, it is essential that we create an economy that works for everyone, not just the wealthy or the well-connected. This is where Barack Obama's promise - and plan - for economic change become vital. The first step is middle-class tax relief. That will include a tax cut for more than 150 million workers and a tax increase on the wealthy so that they pay their fair share. But it's not just about taxpayers: It's about the corporations that ship jobs overseas and use loopholes to get out of paying American taxes. Obama supports ending tax breaks for all companies that out- source American jobs (transferring those tax credits to companies that create jobs at home) and enforcing our trade agreements to make sure other countries play by the same rules. It is unacceptable that workers who lose their jobs because of outsourcing aren't receiving the help that they need to find another well- paying job. While these plans will bring relief in the long run, most people need help now. This is why Obama is proposing a second economic stimu- lus package to help average Americans deal with the rising costs of food and gas. The pack- age would be funded by a "windfall profits" tax provide workers with the tools necessary to compete in our new economy. This is why he believes health This is part one insurance should be affordable for all Amer- by College. icans and supports sub- sidies and regulation of Republica the insurance market i-s to cut costs and provide important iss quality care for every Elec American, making our industries more com- petitive on the world stage. This new economy also demands an edu- cated workforce, which is why Obama sup- ports recruiting new teachers with better pay and offering students a $4,000 tax credit in exchange for community service to make college more affordable. This election presents us with a clear choice. We can choose four more years of economic disaster, or we can choose an economy that will take on the challenges of the future and deal with the real issues that Americans face today. Barack Obama will provide the leadership to carry our country back to prosperity. This viewpoint was written on behalf of the University's chapter of College Democrats. in a Den ns th ues tion maximizing economic growth that will cre- ate new businesses and jobs and fund vital five-part series social and economic programs. With the iocrats and economic hardships that face many Ameri- 1at looks at cans today, the clear path towards recovery leading up to lies in the pro-growth Day. principles McCain advocates. Low taxes are essen- tial to creatingthis pro- growth environment. That's why McCain has pledged to make perma- nent the tax cuts passed in 2001 and 2003. Now is not the time to raise taxes, and allowing these tax cuts to expire would result in one of the biggest tax increases in our nation's history. That is some- thing our nation can't afford right now. In addition to extending these tax cuts, McCa- in's plan includes fixing tax loopholes for oil com- panies, phasing out the Alternative Minimum Tax to prevent millions of families from paying higher taxes, raising tax deductions for families with dependents and cutting corporate taxes. These changes are designed to encourage investment and the creation of new businesses, which will create new jobs and encourage economic growth. Raising taxes, even on the wealthiest Americans, discour- McCain's commitment to fiscal discipline doesn't sound like Republican policy. McCain has made a career of being a maverick reformer, fighting wasteful spending that costs American taxpay- ers billions of dollars and breeds record-high deficits and corruption. He broke with his party in 2001 and 2003 to oppose the tax cuts because they would lead to greater deficits. He continues to break with his party on spending earmarks, which further increase the deficit. McCain's fis- cal responsibility is not.only helping taxpayers save money; it is also bringing the Republican Party back to its conservative roots. Barack Obama's plan appears to be more progressive, but it shows little concern for the economy. Our economy needs real, workable solu- tions, not a fortune-cookie plan that's catchy yet detrimental to the economy. With an economic plan focused on tax increases (raising taxes on two-thirds of the tax base and allowing tax cuts to expire), increased government spending and more government regulation, Obama's economic plan reads like a laundry list of items designed to kill economic recovery rather than spur growth. That's not change we can believe in. We need to rely on experience, not just hope. As we continue on the path to economic recovery, we need a plan that caters to pro-growth ideas that work. Let's enrich individuals, not government. This viewpoint was written on behalf of the University's chapter of College Republicans.