With President-elect Barack Obama’s impending inauguration on Jan. 20, I thought it would be best to examine a couple of his cabinet choices.
First, Obama’s choice for secretary of education, Arne Duncan. Duncan is a Harvard alumnus and former CEO of Chicago Public Schools. As the secretary of education, Duncan will be the head of the Department of Education, which is responsible for establishing federal funding programs for public education.
Although little has been said about Duncan’s plan for his first term, politicos have already speculated that he plans to put an end to the faltering No Child Left Behind Act. President George W. Bush said in response to a potential elimination of the act, “No Child Left Behind is working for all kinds of students in all kinds of schools in every part of the country.”
The odds of Duncan limiting or getting rid of the No Child Left Behind Act are high due to its limited success. Evaluating students solely with standardized tests is ineffective and the Department of Education can almost certainly find a better solution.
Second, the unsurprising pick of Hillary Clinton as secretary of state. Whether you like her or not, she is certainly qualified for the position. With her experience in the Senate and as first lady she should be able to do a satisfactory job, but only time will tell for sure. Clinton and Obama have decided to keep two of President Bush’s top officials, a sound affirmation that political parties should not intrude on good judgment.
Obama’s cabinet picks have surprised conservatives and liberals alike. From a liberal standpoint, I have been extremely impressed. Keeping Robert Gates on as secretary of defense was an educated move, given his support from both parties. No good presidency should rely on a one-party cabinet, as proven by the Bush administration. However, Americans should not expect immediate results from the Obama administration’s first term. It will take time for this cabinet to adjust and firmly grasp its surroundings.
Given the country’s current turmoil, improvements cannot be easily made and many precautions should be taken before any major decision-making occurs. Truthfully, we just have to hope that these new appointments are able to turn things around for the United States. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and the Bush administration’s failings will be just as difficult to repair.
Editor’s Note8212;Casey Elliott is vice president of the U College Democrats.
Casey Elliott