Crisis of Confidence: Questions
Crisis of Confidence: Questions
- In his speech, President Carter contends that Americans are losing some of the values that have made them great. In particular, he is critical of materialism and consumerism, explaining that "owning things and consuming things does not satisfy our longing for meaning." (34) Do you think America as a nation is becoming too materialistic today? Explain your reasoning.
- Reflecting on your own sense of confidence in the United States, do you think the next five years will be better than the last five? Explain your reasoning.
- Think about Carter's word choice in critiquing the American people. He comments that "two-thirds of our people do not even vote." (32) He says that "the productivity of American workers is actually dropping, and the willingness of Americans to save for the future has fallen" […] (32) If you were his speechwriter, how would you have phrased these concerns to better appeal to the American people?
- Vice President Walter Mondale was opposed to Carter delivering this speech, arguing that the problem was not psychological but material, and that Carter should address concrete concerns like inflation and unemployment in order to rally the American people. Do you agree with Mondale? Why or why not?
- Critics of this speech, especially Republicans like Ronald Reagan, labeled Carter's comments as the "Malaise Speech" or an "exercise in navel-gazing." Considering American consumption habits in 1979, do you think these criticisms are justified? Explain your reasoning.
- In addition to specific policy proposals, President Carter calls on the American people to ration and conserve their resources. He goes as far as calling simple actions, like cutting down on unnecessary trips or using public transportation, "acts of patriotism." (63) Is President Carter justified in asking Americans to conserve and ration gasoline, even if reduces their quality of life?
- Why do you think Americans reacted negatively to the contents of this speech?
- This speech marked President Carter's fifth major speech on the need for energy independence. Why do you think Americans have been slow to transition away from gas and other fossil fuels, despite the fact that we know these are limited resources?