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High Tide

Staff

ILLUSTRATION BY COOPER LOVANO

EDITORIAL

Editorial staff vote Against In favor

Should 16 the U.S. try to be more selfsufficient? What we think Foreign-made goods and products might seem like a cheap alternative, but our depence on foreign countries comes at a hidden cost. Becoming more self-sufficient would strengthen our economy as well as leave us in a more secure position for the future. The iconic image of the red, white, and blue of the American flag flapping in the wind has been stirring feelings of patriotism in proud Americans for decades. However, according to recent estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, over 90 percent of the country’s American flags are imported. Not surprisingly, the vast majority of these imported flags come from none other than China, the largest communist country in the world. From American flags to fossil fuels and food, an immense amount of goods are imported into the United States each year. This lack of American self-sufficiency not only inhibits American economic growth, it also places America in a very vulnerable po-

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sition for the future. The current international economy is one of interconnectedness, and international trade will always be a hallmark of the U.S. economy. There is no sensible reason, however, for the U.S. to be as reliant on foreign countries as it currently is. The American manufacturing sector is in crisis, largely thanks to the fact that the market is flooded with cheap international goods. If American consumers were to make an effort to avoid imports, the manufacturing sector would have an opportunity to expand, providing jobs along the way. It is an economic reality that consumers will be reluctant to pay more for a domestic product when a cheaper foreign alternative is available. The cost of international production is rising, however, and industry leaders such as Apple are realizing that it makes economic sense to shift at least a portion of their production back to America (CNN.com). An item beng produced in America no longer means it’s necessarily more expensive. In addition to the financial reasoning, promoting “Made in America” products is more socially conscious and safety orientated. The working conditions in foreign countries can be abominable, as the prevalence of suicide in Chinese factories suggests (NYTimes.com). Furthermore, it is impossible to ensure that imported goods are up to American safety standards. Over the past decade, everything from imported cars with defective brakes to children’s toys coated with lead

RUHS student vote Against In favor

83%

17%

*out of 104 students

paint have been recalled. Human lives are at stake, so promoting American manufacturing makes sense on every level. The need for self-sufficiency, however, is even more pronounced when it comes to the topic of energy. The appeal of American independence from fossil fuels is so apparent that it actually has bipartisan support. On the campaign trail both Mitt Romney and Barack Obama would frequently point out that our dependency on oil imported from the Middle East leaves us in an extremely vulnerable position. Investment in home-grown biofuels, natural gas, and off-shore drilling in projects such as the Keystone pipeline have all been celebrated as possible solutions to the problem, but to truly have an impact we must cure our oil addiction. Whether it is through pursuing sustainable energy sources or by reducing our energy consumption, becoming more independent from fossil fuels is a key component to making America selfsufficient. From energy to manufacturing, America’s dependence on foreign goods is putting the country behind. The U.S. is currently facing many difficulties, both in national finances and beyond and while becoming self-sufficient will not instantly solve all of our problems, attempting to foster the production of domestic goods is an excellent first step toward improving both our economy and society as a whole. At the very least, maybe the production of American flags could be moved to the country that they are intended to glorify.

Editor-in-Chief: Julia Tran Managing Editor: Emma Uriarte Writing Director: Tricia Light Design Director: Taylor Ballard Sports Director: Tatiana Celentano News Editor: Andrew Czuzak Opinion Editor: Mannal Haddad Health Editor: Cedric Hyon Features Editors: Taylor Brightwell; Shivaani Gandhi; Kylie Martin; Haley Meyers; Alejandro Quevedo Sports Editor: Allegra Peelor Photo Editors:Vitoria Magno-Baptista; Diana Luna Copy Editors: Hana Ghanim; Ilana LaGraff; Navikka Dasz Cartoonist: Cooper Lovano Online Editors: Vivian Lam; Kayla Maanum; LeAnn Maanum Staff Writers: Victoria Artaza; Alina Bieschke; Joseph Bieschke; Jewell Black; Kenneth Bowen; Kira Bowen; Kolbie Brightwell; Ted Cavus; Deborah Chang; Edwin Chavez; Caitlin Cochran; Yasmeen El-Hasan; Micah Ezzes; Zoe Ezzes; Anna Fauver; Stella Gianoukakis; Anacristina Gonzalez; Nageena Hamraz; Natalie Hardiman; Katie Hill; Haris Khan; Chance King; Angela Kim; Justin Lee; Daniel Loveland; Shawn Mallen; Nicholas McCarthy; Romy Moreno; Alida Newson; Kayla Nicholls; Susan Nieves; Rachael Orford; Lindsey Pannor; Cameron Paulson; Jene Price; Jason Rochlin; Molly Rood; Shelby Salerno; Beth Shallon; Laura Smith; Cole Stecyk; Savannah Stern; Karissa Taylor; Claire Tisius; Grace Zoerner Adviser: Mitch Ziegler The High Tide dedicates itself to producing a high-quality publication that both informs and entertains the entire student body. This is a wholly student managed, designed, and written newspaper that focuses on school and community events. The High Tide is published by the journalism class at Redondo Union High School, One Sea Hawk Way, Redondo Beach, CA 90277. Signed commentaries and editorial cartoons represent the opinions of the staff writer or cartoonist and in no way reflect the opinions of the High Tide staff.