Over the course of this summer, my interpretation of what it means to be a part of Generation O has evolved. At first, it just referred to the young(ish) generation that is living through the many “firsts” of President Obama’s administration. Now, it has come to encompass the great diversity in how we feel, how our nation is changing, and pretty much anything else that falls into “how someone feels and how it relates to the public and world.” It’s a great term, and I hope it will stick.

My top 5 primary issues this year have been (among others) education, the war(s), healthcare, stem cell research, and the economic crisis. When reading my grades, please understand that my school is known for its lack of grade inflation and I’m holding our President to the same standards. This is in no particular order, but here are my “grades” for BHO:

-Education: not much action has been taken to reform education when compared to other issues, but I can understand why. A lot of other, more pressing concerns have come up, and education is something that is already working and just needs some help shaping up. President Obama’s proposed reforms, like merit pay for teachers, removing ineffective teachers, and the expansion of public charter schools are all excellent ideas that I can only hope will be put into action and expanded upon as his term continues. 
Final grade: C+ with an eye towards improvement.

-The War(s): he pulled out troops as promised from Iraq, and put more forces in Afghanistan. He is handling issues now regarding Bush’s administration and the CIA very well; his choice to move past old problems and avoid any in-depth investigations is a sign of maturity and wisdom. He knows that any focus on the past takes energy away from fixing the future. Additionally, Al Qaeda recently stated that they are feeling stress and the American strategy is “winning,” which is a very unusual admission for them and a sign that (hopefully) Obama’s choices are making a difference. 
Final Grade: A-

-Healthcare: a lot of people have been comparing their hopes for American health care to what Canada has now. Here is why that won’t happen, ever: Canada purchases pharmaceuticals at a discount because of its large purchasing power, as it pools the aggregate demand for all Canadian residents. It acts like Wal-Mart in purchasing goods from suppliers. Drug companies that spent the enormous fixed costs to create new drugs are charging relatively high costs in the United States and other free market countries to recoup their fixed cost and make a profit. If we all tried to be Canada, the system wouldn’t work because nobody would be paying those fixed costs. Drug companies in general sell to the Canadians at a slightly lower costs reducing the amount that they need to charge us. This creates an illusion that the Canadian system is cheaper when we are actually subsidizing them by paying their portion of drug development costs. Any promises by any public official that costs will one day be rock-bottom cannot be trusted. Even as the American mindset has been changing over the decades to understand the need to help others and move away from straight-up capitalism, this country as a whole still has trouble accepting fully regulated systems, since it is seen as relinquishing personal control to a higher power. Obama gets a solid E for Effort, but if dramatically reduced costs are the goal, then he gets as a  
Final Grade: C+

-Stem Cell Research: this issue is personal to me in part because of my home life (several physicians in my family, and serious scientific research projects in high school) and partly because it actually affects the health and happiness of one of my closest friends, whose father was diagnosed with MS when we were 12 (that’s 8 years ago, for those who are keeping count). Obama early on overturned Bush-era limitations on funding for stem cell research by the NIH, and opened up other avenues for federal funding of scientific research. He recognizes the importance of learning about and investing in America’s future, both for educational and medical purposes. Way to go, BHO.
Final Grade: A

-Economy: I know this is a rough and confusing topic, but bear with me. Obama’s first economic action as President was the appointment of Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner. Geithner has led the government’s mission to rehabilitate the country’s troubled financial sector. He has injected public capital into banks in order for them to remain solvent as they take write-downs directly related to financial derivative losses. Although financial companies may not be finished altering their long-term business strategies, it seems that the temporary blind panic is over. In terms of the “real” economy, Obama has taken dramatic action; he ushered in the bankruptcy of Chrysler and General Motors, approved a $787 billion government spending stimulus, and has taken steps to encourage private spending with programs like the Cash Allowance Rebate System - colloquially known as ‘cash for clunkers.’ All of these actions seem to be guiding America in the right direction, equity markets have bounced higher since Obama’s inauguration and, although economic indicators like unemployment and consumer confidence are still dismal, these drops have lagged and seem to be bottoming out. Critics will find fault with Obama’s stoking of populist outrage over Wall Street compensation and the large amount of debt issued to finance his recovery programs, while on the other hand, this has led to a hasty repayment of TARP funds by many financial institutions and I have no doubt that the economy is better off with government stimulus than if spending had remained stagnant. There is much more reform work to do, but Obama’s crisis management has been solid.
Final Grade: A-

Now, on to our farewells. I spent this summer working days at Merrill Lynch and nights as a bartender, and visiting friends on the East Coast. In a few days, I leave for a trip to Italy with my best friend from high school, which we’ve been looking forward to for a long time. When I get back, I’ll head straight upstate to get back into the swing of things at Cornell, where I have 2 years left before (hopefully) either law school or a job. It’s been wonderful having the opportunity to share my (sometimes limited) thoughts with everyone, and I appreciate the comments when they come! All the best,

Michelle

[Note to readers: the remarks made here are not in reaction to the proposed bill(s), but to commentary I hear from others around me.]

Health care is easy to consider a right because it is essential to maintaining life, which is one of our most basic and easily understood rights. However, this does not make it one. Health care is a combination of simple commodities (the drugs, treatments, and other tangible, purchasable goods), professional and patient interaction (time with doctors, nurses, and other caretakers), and myriad other aspects that make it too complex a concept to be dealt with in one simple change. Rather than simply deciding to “make health care free for everyone” (as so many want to do), why not find a more sensible - if more complicated - solution? (This is not to say that my ideas are absolutely right; I’m not a professional in any of the fields related to this debate, other than my excellent ability to use my chosen healthcare plan.)

It is true that each community has a right to maintain the safety of its members. This safety certainly includes good health for everyone involved, and the protection that good health brings from dangerous viruses and infections.  I can personally vouch for the wisdom of free vaccinations. Living in upstate New York, where the winters last about 9 months and are absolutely brutal, does plenty for your respiratory system (and it isn’t fun). The addition of crowded quarters at school makes for an exceptionally unpleasant flu season. My school has a program that offers free flu vaccinations to anyone who shows up to specifically appointed hours, and I make a point to take advantage of them (and force anyone I spend more than 20 minutes a day with to do so as well). While it seems that the private sector has free vaccinations in hand (some companies provide for their employees, and some pharmacies offer free seasonal vaccinations to customers), I’d like to see the government get a little more involved. Children whose parents can’t afford health care shouldn’t be denied a chance at success by the simple fact that they never got their first chicken pox shots.

What about a multi-level healthcare system? I know I’m not the only person that thinks this is a feasible option- in fact, I think I’m pretty late in the game. If the government provided hospitals and other facilities to anyone who asked, but there was still a private insurance option, and further still a private practice option as well, wouldn’t we all get some kind of healthcare? This can be paid for through local taxes (in a system similar to education taxes; you pay for the schools in your area, even if you don’t use it). Additionally, someone recently suggested to me a ROTC-style program for medical schools. The government finances a medical student’s education, and in turn gets his or her commitment to work in a government-run facility for a certain amount of time.

I have only skimmed the surface here, in part because I am clearly out of my depth (in terms of policy-making, healthcare, taxation, and statistical knowledge) and in part because I am honestly not sure what will work the best for the American people as a whole. I do feel it is fairly obvious that some of the radical healthcare options being proposed will not be accepted by most Americans; to me, it makes more sense to find another answer than to keep hammering away with this impractical idea.

-Michelle

The following post was written by a close friend of mine who has, in the past, invited me to guest-post on her blog. Her name and other personal details need to remain unknown for this website, but her personal experiences lately have resonated more with me as purely “Generation O” than any of my own. Enjoy:

My most vivid memory from the morning that President Obama announced Judge Sonia Sotomayor’s historic nomination was a brief comment from a CNN anchor. The image of the President, Vice President, and the nominee sharing the stage as equals was, to the commentator and everyone in the room watching with me, was a true representation of the new America. With the Hispanic population growing by leaps and bounds, our nation will be majority-minority in little more than forty years. The President’s cabinet is already the most diverse in American history, and, with many agency appointments still open, the federal government’s racial composition could be radically reshaped by the end of his term.

As one of the minorities hoping for a shot at federal government service after finishing college, the news is very exciting for me. My father was born in South America, but became the best American citizen you’ll ever meet; my mother grew up in the same DC-area community that I did. Both influences endowed me with a tremendous sense of rootedness to the United States. Growing up, I eschewed the tendency to hyphenate my nationality, since my sole allegiance is to the United States, not either of the ethnic backgrounds that make up my heritage.

Thus, Sonia Sotomayor’s nomination resonated with me much more as an American than a fellow “wise Latina woman.” That morning was the first day of my Washington, DC, internship this summer, so I watched the speeches with all my new colleagues. Most of our department had come to assemble around the TVs, with the senior staff emerging from their offices and standing at the periphery of the room. They are a fairly racially homogenous group of Capitol Hill veterans, many with decades of experience in Washington. Several had deep ties to rural areas that weren’t quite the microcosms of America that my hometown was. In stark contrast to them was the junior staff, mostly recent college graduates with campaign experience, who looked a little more like me. However, we all shared in the moment equally, applauding and crying at the same comments. We were all proud supporters of the President and thrilled that the nation was embracing his exceptional choice of nominee. 

Later, watching her confirmation hearings, I thought deeply about the meaning of “racial transcendence” in Obama’s America. To me, the best example of racial transcendence was the joy our whole department shared that morning, regardless of our backgrounds. To me, Sotomayor’s story of rising from humble origins through hard work, intelligence, honest effort, and integrity is one all Americans can celebrate, not just the ones who look like her. Her careful answers reflected a rock-solid comprehension of major issues; she remained calm and even-keeled in the face of the weightiest controversies. I believe that kind of temperament is one all Americans should strive for in our public life. I certainly try to be that way, but Michelle can tell you I’m not always even-keeled.

Truly, I am proud of Sonia Sotomayor as an American, not just as a Latina. Our office will again assemble around the television next Tuesday when the Judiciary Committee votes on her nomination. We’ll each bring our own personal reasons for why she means so much to us, and most of them won’t be racial. Regardless, we’ll all be beaming when she makes it through.

It has always intrigued me that Independence Day (aka “the Fourth of July,” “the Glorious Fourth,” or just “the Fourth”) is within 3 days of Canada Day (aka “Fête du Canada” or previously “Dominion Day”). July 4th commemorates a piece of paper, same as Canada Day, but the 4th is typically remembered as the end of a long battle, whereas Canada Day is simply a celebration of the unification of Canada. Several other countries, including Iraq, South Korea, France, Venezuela, and Rwanda, also celebrate their independence during the month of July.

That short list (there are more where it came from) begs the question of just what we consider “independence,” exactly. Almost every recognized country in the world has a day that it considers its national holiday or day of liberation. It might be the day a national hero was born, or the day a significant battle occurred, but it always marks an important event. But patriots in the US might think that some of these nations are deluded; some countries that celebrate an independence day are places that Americans traditionally consider undemocratic (or just unstable). How can such an oppressed, miserable people celebrate a day of independence when We Patriotic Americans know that they are truly repressed and sad?

I know from personal experience that many expatriates from around the world like to focus their personal celebrations around alcohol. However, each place has its own traditions: in Canada, there are concerts, parades, and various activities particular to each area; in America, we favor fireworks, cookouts, and baseball games. In France, Bastille Day is also celebrated with fireworks, extra-hard work by the French representatives in the Tour de France, a military parade and a practical joke by the students of l’École Polytechnique. In Israel, Yom Ha’atzmaut is a divisive holiday; it is commemorated with a ceremony on Mount Herzl, which is followed by picnics and street parties for some. Others (Arabs, anti-Zionist Jews, and different sects of Judaism) have different ways to remember that historic day.

Americans like to consider themselves extremely patriotic. Every once in a while, I find myself embroiled in a debate about what it means to be patriotic. The general consensus (between both my liberal and conservative friends) seems to be that patriotism manifests in different ways, but it is ultimately a love for one’s country- in our case, for the US.

I think that, regardless of a culture or person’s definition of “patriotism,” it is truly something that is felt when a person loves his or her country. Enjoying something traditional, like a baseball game and hot dog in the US or a concert and some hockey in Canada, is what brings people back to that core feeling of belonging and hope.The belief and faith that there is a bright future for a nation’s people is what gets that nation through its darkest times, and that is, in part, what “independence” is.

So, Americans, enjoy the Fourth! (And let others enjoy their celebrations, too.)

-Michelle Kremer

As a rising junior in Cornell’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations, I am used to puzzled looks and falsely sage head-nodding whenever an acquaintance learns of my major. “Ah yes, ILR, good major, sounds very interesting, you must love it.”

And I do. There have been good classes and bad classes, but all certainly as “interesting” as they seem to sound. Having grown up with a staunch women’s rights activist as a mother and a pure East Coast Democrat as a father, the study of workers’ rights, negotiation, and economics does interest me. Considering how much my parents love their jobs, it is only natural that I was raised in the mentality of “find something you love, and be the best at it.” It’s always seemed the only way to really enjoy adulthood, without starving to death (since my interests also include lazing around and making iTunes playlists).

Now, in the midst of this recession, articles and interviews and television specials galore are being produced about this specialty mechanic and that geotechnical engineer and some small town’s experienced welding population. These men (and women) chose something they enjoyed doing or were just plain excellent at and made careers out of them. They didn’t waste their time learning things that didn’t interest them—like so many of my peers in colleges across the country—just to make as much money as quickly as possible. It’s simply unreasonable to think that every single person in the nation can be an i-banker or lawyer or doctor.

Of all the promises I have heard politicians make over the years, “a return to American values” is one that both parties think everyone wants to hear. For a long time, my reaction to that was to consider how diverse America has always been and snarkily shout “what values did you have in mind, sir?” at the television.

Now, however, I think about the one thing America has had since its inception: a solid working class. I understand that this might be particular to someone who gets blasted with pro-labor ideals 24/7 at school, but it seems to me that the one thing that might be considered “purely American” would be to follow your dreams. If those dreams take you to the NBA or to law school, to ILR or to third-world countries to develop irrigation systems, then the most American thing to do would be to just go. Do it!

Consider our current President. He has all these taglines attached to him by the media and by everyday citizens around the world, and he ignores them. He grew up with a dream of helping people, and this is the best way to help them he could think of. Is there any message more patriotic than his?

Be yourself, follow your dreams, do what’s right. Get it done.

-Michelle