ASSIGNMENT | That Used to Be Us

In the video about That Used to Be Us, Friedman and Mandelbaum suggest four challenges the US faces if it is going to remain a global power. These challenges are: globalization, the revolution in information technology, the nation’s chronic deficits, and its pattern of energy consumption.
Link for video-
https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4550099/user-clip-tom-friedman

Please watch the video, and as you’re watching take notes on the challenges and the authors’ suggestions to overcome these challenges.

After watching the video, choose the one challenge that you think is the most important challenge for the US to overcome. Using your notes, write a 1-2 page reflection* that addresses the following questions.

1. Which challenge do you think is the most important for the US to address?

2. Why did you choose this challenge? Be specific in your response.

3. How do the authors suggest the US can overcome this challenge? Give specific suggestions.

4. In your opinion, do you think these suggestions will work? Why/why not? If they will not work, what would you suggest instead?

SAMPLE SOLUTION

That Used To Be Us
If asked to identify the biggest problem that faces the U.S. today, what would you mention? After watching the “That Used to be us” video by Tom Friedman, I think the biggest challenge facing the United States today is the nation’s chronic deficits. Reasonable people may differ with this answer and, in turn, cite the threats caused by global strategic adversaries such as Russia or China, or the information technology revolution (evolution of nuclear weapons), including energy consumption patterns. I am not saying that these are not serious challenges to the country, but I believe there is not much that the country can do that is not already being done. Again, I do not think the…