Transitions – 1990s to 2000sTransitions – 1990s to 2000s Computers led to Computers led to

GlobalizationGlobalization – increasing – increasing interaction and integration interaction and integration among various societies, among various societies, economies, and cultureseconomies, and cultures

Some Impacts:Some Impacts: Increased # of products Increased # of products

and services availableand services available Outsourcing - wealthier Outsourcing - wealthier

nations losing nations losing manufacturing jobs to manufacturing jobs to poorer nationspoorer nations

Economic problems spread Economic problems spread easilyeasily

Pollution and workers’ Pollution and workers’ rightsrights

Service Economy…Service Economy…

A Changing EconomyA Changing Economy

Service EconomyService Economy - Service - Service jobs increasing faster than jobs increasing faster than production jobsproduction jobs• Examples: teachers, Examples: teachers,

researchers, lawyers, food researchers, lawyers, food service, customer service, sales service, customer service, sales representativesrepresentatives

Gap – highest and lowest Gap – highest and lowest paid workerspaid workers

Decline in union members in Decline in union members in U.S. mirrors the decline in U.S. mirrors the decline in manufacturing jobsmanufacturing jobs• 35% in 1945 to 15% in 200035% in 1945 to 15% in 2000

Workers’ average wages Workers’ average wages have fallenhave fallen

Customer Service Jobs

Food Service Jobs

Changing DemographicsChanging Demographics Immigration Act of 1990 results in Immigration Act of 1990 results in

largest wave of immigrants in U.S. largest wave of immigrants in U.S. HistoryHistory• 1 million per yr between 1990 1 million per yr between 1990

and 2000and 2000• Primarily Latinos and AsiansPrimarily Latinos and Asians

Controversies:Controversies:• Pro-Immigration: Pro-Immigration:

They work tough jobs that They work tough jobs that Americans won’tAmericans won’t

Contribute to economy (U.S. Contribute to economy (U.S. birth rate declining)birth rate declining)

Tradition: We are a nation Tradition: We are a nation of immigrantsof immigrants

• Anti-Immigration:Anti-Immigration: Take jobs away from Take jobs away from

AmericansAmericans They are not assimilating They are not assimilating

fast enough (English)fast enough (English) National SecurityNational Security

1992 Election1992 Election Clinton won for several Clinton won for several

reasons:reasons: Economic RecessionEconomic Recession Bush broke campaign pledge Bush broke campaign pledge

of “Read my lips. No new of “Read my lips. No new taxes”taxes”

Ross Perot, an independent Ross Perot, an independent party candidate, took votes party candidate, took votes away from Republicansaway from Republicans• 43% Clinton, 37% Bush, 19% 43% Clinton, 37% Bush, 19%

PerotPerot Clinton cast self as a Clinton cast self as a

moderate “New Democrat”moderate “New Democrat” Democrats won control of Democrats won control of

House and SenateHouse and Senate

Ross Perot

1994 Midterm Elections1994 Midterm Elections Contract with AmericaContract with America

led to a strong voter led to a strong voter turnout for Republicansturnout for Republicans

Republicans won control Republicans won control of House and Senate of House and Senate

Newt Gingrich (Speaker of Newt Gingrich (Speaker of House) led the strategy:House) led the strategy:• Term limits for Members of Term limits for Members of

CongressCongress• Reduce size of federal Reduce size of federal

government government • Balanced budget Balanced budget

amendmentamendment• Tax cutsTax cuts• Strong defense and law Strong defense and law

enforcmentenforcment• Welfare ReformWelfare Reform Former Speaker of the

House, Newt Gingrich

2000 Elections2000 Elections Too close to call? Bush had 327 Too close to call? Bush had 327

more votes in FL more votes in FL Automatic machine recountAutomatic machine recount Controversies: Controversies:

• FL Sec. of State Katherine Harris was FL Sec. of State Katherine Harris was Co-Chair of Bush Campaign Co-Chair of Bush Campaign

• 1000s people excluded from voter lists1000s people excluded from voter lists• Machine irregularitiesMachine irregularities• Hanging chads, dimpled chads, etc.Hanging chads, dimpled chads, etc.

Hand Recount Controversy:Hand Recount Controversy:• Gore asks only for some countiesGore asks only for some counties• Republicans sue to prevent recountRepublicans sue to prevent recount• Gore v. BushGore v. Bush – – Supreme Court stops Supreme Court stops

recountrecount Results? Gore wins popular vote, Results? Gore wins popular vote,

but Bush wins Electoral Collegebut Bush wins Electoral College

Counting Chads…

Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003)Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003)

Reasons for Invasion:Reasons for Invasion: Sadaam’s imminent ability to deploy Sadaam’s imminent ability to deploy

WOMDsWOMDs Violating UN resolutions on weapons Violating UN resolutions on weapons

inspectionsinspections Sadaam sent money to the families of Sadaam sent money to the families of

Palestinian Suicide Bombers Palestinian Suicide Bombers End Human Rights AbusesEnd Human Rights Abuses Spread Democracy – End the regime of Spread Democracy – End the regime of

Sadaam HusseinSadaam Hussein Some officials made claims of ties to Al Some officials made claims of ties to Al

Qaeda (no evidence ever found)Qaeda (no evidence ever found)

Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003)Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003) Controversies:Controversies: No Connection to 9/11 AttacksNo Connection to 9/11 Attacks (no evidence ever found) (no evidence ever found) Diverting Troops and $Diverting Troops and $ from fighting Al Qaeda in from fighting Al Qaeda in

AfghanistanAfghanistan Destabilize the region?Destabilize the region? (Kurds? Shiites? Iran strengthened) (Kurds? Shiites? Iran strengthened) Evidence against WOMD claimsEvidence against WOMD claims – Hans Blix (UN) – Hans Blix (UN) Valerie Plame ScandalValerie Plame Scandal: seeking uranium in Niger? Joe : seeking uranium in Niger? Joe

Wilson, Scooter Libby, Karl Rove and Richard ArmitageWilson, Scooter Libby, Karl Rove and Richard Armitage No WOMDs foundNo WOMDs found (Weapons depots not guarded?) (Weapons depots not guarded?) Human Rights?Human Rights? (Chemical warfare, DU & sanctions) (Chemical warfare, DU & sanctions) Spreading Democracy by War?Spreading Democracy by War? Hearts and minds? Hearts and minds? Bush DoctrineBush Doctrine (preemptive strike) A dangerous precedent? (preemptive strike) A dangerous precedent? Global protestsGlobal protests – Millions of people (“No Blood for Oil”) – Millions of people (“No Blood for Oil”) NIE report (2006)NIE report (2006) – Iraq War increased terrorist group – Iraq War increased terrorist group

activity in Iraq?activity in Iraq? Senate Intelligence Committee (June 08)Senate Intelligence Committee (June 08) – Bush Admin. – Bush Admin.

misused intelligence reports on Sadaam’s ties to terrorists misused intelligence reports on Sadaam’s ties to terrorists and on WOMD claims)and on WOMD claims)

Several Bush Admin. Officials resign and criticize BushSeveral Bush Admin. Officials resign and criticize Bush on on Iraq (Sec. O’Neill and Richard Clarke say Bush was looking Iraq (Sec. O’Neill and Richard Clarke say Bush was looking for reasons to attack Iraq long before 9/11 attacks)for reasons to attack Iraq long before 9/11 attacks)

Iraq OccupationIraq Occupation

QUESTIONS:QUESTIONS: Should we have invaded Iraq?Should we have invaded Iraq?

What responsibility did Congress have in What responsibility did Congress have in the run-up to war? Did they meet their the run-up to war? Did they meet their responsibilities?responsibilities?

Sadaam was captured, tried, and executed Sadaam was captured, tried, and executed in Iraqi court. So where do we go from in Iraqi court. So where do we go from here? (withdraw or stay?)here? (withdraw or stay?)