Cut, Cut, Cut

In search of blog-spiration this week, I took to the Internet to search for the outrageous, a good debate or some fascinating Public Diplomacy news. Unfortunately, Justin Bieber’s new haircut (bowl cut be gone!) does not count as world-quaking news, so I moved from Perezhilton.com to Paul Rockower’s blog at http://levantine18.blogspot.com. Anyone who describes themselves as “one of a dying breed of Bohemian, Orientalist Zionists,” and later lists both Amelie and Transformers as favorite movies deserves a read through.

As I perused Rockower’s blog I stumbled across a post called “American Ostriches.” Rockower notes that Florida’s governor had turned down funding for a high-speed rail system and questions Americans awareness of infrastructure in the United States. A few days later Rockower follows up on his post with an excerpt from a piece by Charles Blow. Blow also comments on the status of the United States in the eyes of the people. Blow notes that Americans wish to “view our eroding empire through the gauzy vapors of past grandeur.” Included in his article, Blow notes that the current budge submitted by the Republicans would cut nondiscretionary spending desperately needed by the U.S.

I heartily agree with both Rockower and Blow’s comments. The United States continues to climb out from under the dark cloud of the economic recession and American citizens are still balancing a precarious load of taxes, rising costs of living and limited paychecks. However cautious the American people and the United States must be in its spending and saving, slashing non-security programs will not bring renewed respect to the States by the international or domestic community. During the Great Depression America “went to work” on its infrastructure. During this time the American people built bridges, roadways and dams, bringing work, respect and a stronger base for the growth of America. An article published on February 21, 2011, “Danger Pent Up Behind Aging Dams,” in the New York Times states that over 4,000 of the nation’s dams are susceptible to failure. This type of failure could bring economic, geographic and societal devastation. These types of spending cuts have the possibility of quite truly opening up the floodgates to the destruction of American infrastructure.

Not only will the cuts in domestic non-security spending make a deep impact on the image of America, cuts in non-security spending in the area of foreign aid, where the submitted budget has proposed to cut $48 billion (FY 2008 levels), will do nothing to improve America’s image abroad. America’s foreign aid provides programs and services in places that might normally only hear of America’s use of bombs and guns. Engaging the international community through aid has been a highlight of the past years U.S. foreign policies, cutting this will do nothing but set back the steps the United States has taken to peacefully help in the development of other nations.

Naturally, one cannot be too frivolous with spending, as a college student, I am well aware of this. However, it is important that dollars are spent where they are most needed. Right now it is important that the strong base of American ideals is fortified, with roadwork, dam-maintenance, societal programs and foreign aid. Perhaps the United States could even engage its own cultural diplomacy by hiring artists like was done after the Great Depression, where WPA artist (including Jackson Pollock and Ansel Adams) painted murals and photographed the brilliant and beautiful parts of America, maybe then we will get to the art of the matter.