 "Photo: Ty Cobb")
According to a former White House adviser, the United States is a "house of cards that could tumble at any moment."
Domestic issues such as social security payouts and foreign issues such as America's fear of its allies have caused the country to embody a fragile state. Stephen Studdert, a former senior White House adviser to U.S. Presidents Ford, Reagan and Bush Sr., spoke at the Hinckley Caucus Room on Feb. 28 about the threats the country is facing and what the government should do about them. The former adviser also spoke about his new book "America in Danger: What You Must Know to Protect Yourself" during the presentation.
Studdert identified key threats our country is facing in its future, both foreign and domestic. On the home front, Studdert said the biggest threats to the economy are "time bomb" pensions, social security payouts and the loan market, which has increased the population's debt significantly. He said the future "credit crunch" would create the largest number of bankruptcies our country has ever seen.
"Our political system today is rife with problems," he said.
Politically, Studdert said money has corrupted elections by giving incumbents distinct advantages over challengers. He also spoke at length about America's foreign policy issues, mentioning that many countries that are friendly with the U.S. in appearance are enemies behind closed doors, including China, India and Russia. Studdert said America has a fear of its ally, India, because of India's high Muslim population, its possession of nuclear weapons and its ongoing conflict with Pakistan.
Besides Pakistan and India, Studdert said the threat of radical Islamic teachings in Saudia Arabia and Iran have the possibility of creating turmoil in the countries' futures.
"It won't be very long until that rising generations of Saudis rises up and overthrows the Saudi government," he said.
Studdert also mentioned the possibility of Iran possessing nuclear capabilities as being one of America's biggest threats.
"(If) Israel is forced to take a preemptive attack, what happens then in terms of the United States when that happens?" he asked. "We are instantly engaged in a much broader regional conflict. The elements of a perfect storm of destabilization and crisis are really all about us."
Sheldon Wardwell attended Studdert's presentation at the Hinckley Institute of Politics.
"I'm definitely gonna go out and check out his book," said Wardwell, who is a political science major.
As a solution to these problems, Studdert said his message was "a call to arms, not an indictment of our country," and offered some advice.
"We have to demand of those who we send to public office at every level some accountability," he said. "It's time for a little less political correctness and a little more political courage."
d.treasure@chronicle.utah.edu
