Nixon/Carter paragraphs.

What the real threat to America is, according to Carter, and is that threat still with us today?

According to Carter, the real threat to America is confidence. "The threat is nearly invisible in ordinary ways." "deeper than the gasoline lines or energy shortages, deeper even than inflation or recession." "The erosion of our confidence in the future is threatening to destroy the social and the political fabric of America." "Our people are losing faith, not only in government itself but in the ability as citizens to serve as the ultimate rulers and shapers of our democracy."  So, the real threat is our own confidence in ourselves, each other, and the future is dwindling, fast. "Confidence in the future has supported everything else- public institutions and private enterprise, our own families, and the very Constitution of the United States." He says that it is possible for us to fix it. "There are two paths to choose. One is a path I've warned about tonight, the path that leads to fragmentation and self-interest. Down that road lies a mistaken idea of freedom, the right to grasp for ourselves some advantage over others. That path would be one of constant conflict between narrow interests ending in chaos and immobility. It is a certain route to failure. " " the path of common purpose and the restoration of American values. That path leads to true freedom for our Nation and ourselves. We can take the first steps down that path as we begin to solve our energy problem. " I think the threat is still with us. With the economy the way it is, and the way it affects everyone and everything we don't have any confidence in anything we do or may be able to do. 

Summarize what Carter is saying about American Society and analyze America today against his critique.

"In a nation that was proud of hard work, strong families, close-knit communities, and our faith in God, too many of us now tend to worship self-indulgence and consumption." "Human identity is no longer defined by what one does, but by what one owns." Carter is saying that American Society has changed from being hardworking, neighborly, and having faith in God, to selfish, worrying about self-indulgence rather than their friend who might lose their job. Americans became self-interested. I think what Carter is saying about American society is right and correct to this day. Even though we, as a whole, have found that owning things does not satisfy our longing for meaning, we still do it. It's like a ladder, the more things someone owns, the higher up on the ladder they are, the less stuff they own, the lower down they are. 

How do President Obama's plan and Carter's plan differ and how are they alike? How do their plans reveal what they think the problem really is?

"intolerable dependence on foreign oil threatens our economic independence and the very security of our Nation."

"it is worldwide"   

"never use more foreign oil than we did in 1977--never." 

"to ensure that we meet these targets, I will use my residential authority to set import quotas... I will forbid the entry into this country of one drop of foreign oil more than these goals allow."

"energy security... most massive peacetime commitment of funds and resources in out Nation's history to develop America's own alternative sources of fuel... creation of an energy security corporation to lead this effort to replace 2.5 million barrels of imported oil per day."

"creation for the Nation's first solar bank, which will help us achieve the crucial goal of 20% of our energy coming form solar power by the year 2000."

"asking Congress to mandate, to require as a matter of law, that our Nation's utility companies cut their massive use of oil by 50% within the next decade and switch to other fuels, especially coal, our most abundant energy source." 

"To make absolutely certain that nothing stands in the way of achieving these goals, I will urge Congress to create an energy mobilization board which, like the War Production Board in World War II, will have the responsibility and authority to cut through the redtape, the delays, and the endless roadblocks to completing key energy projects. "

"I'm proposing a bold conservation program to involve every State, county, and city and every average American in our energy battle."

Carter says that by obeying his energy plan it is considered an act of patriotism. 

 "Every gallon of oil each one of us saves is a new form of production. It gives us more freedom, more confidence, that much more control over our own lives. "

The big difference between Carter's plan and Obama's plan is that Carter asks more of the Americans than Obama does. Obama is doing more on his part and putting more money out there, whereas Carter asked the Americans to participate and was  relying on us more than Obama is. Obama's plan goes straight to the cars, making them more energy efficient instead of making the citizens do an active part. Both plans support breaking the Nation's dependence on oil. I think the real problem is the cars and technology that give off the emissions, and our dependence on oil.

1. WHAT DO YOU THINK IS CHANGING IN AMERICA, FROM ARCHIE'S POINT-OF-VIEW?

Inter-racial relationships. Blacks and whites are being shown kissing on television. He's stunned and can't believe that the world has come to that. 

People can choose their religions, like Sammy being Jewish, Archie finds that odd. Minorities are being moved to "white countries", when they shouldn't because "God would've put us al together if he wanted us to be together"

2. IN WHAT WAYS ARE YOUNG PEOPLE (HIS DAUGHTER AND SON-IN-LAW IN THE CLIP) AND MINORITIES CHANGING SOCIETY FOR ARCHIE?  

They make his point of view (prejudice) stand out and make him look like the odd man out. The society is becoming more accepting of minorities. When Archie says that he was always against slavery, the daughter and son-in-law and other man start singing, and making fun of him because he really wasn't and if just sucking up to Sammy. 

3.  WHAT IS CHANGING IN AMERICAN SOCIETY IN THE CLIP BELOW?

Black Americans are moving up in society. They get to move into a new apartment on a higher floor and a higher position in the economy.