Blog Post #1 - Kevin Scifres - Global Issues

    When reflecting on my knowledge of politics I feel I am generally more well informed than the average American. The keyword here is of course American, as our worldview is shaped so much by the places we live. My political knowledge consists almost entirely of news within the United States of America, with relatively little knowledge of how global issues are seen in different countries. Therefore, I feel I must amend my original statement to be that I am generally more well informed about American politics than the average American. It is important to note that I am not criticizing my amended statement, as nobody can be a true expert on every country's political views, nor should they be. In fact, one of the major appeals of traveling abroad is to gain these valuable insights beyond online news articles or headlines. 

    With the background laid out, and the assurance that I am by no means an expert on the German political climate, I can begin my analysis of Germany's approach to a sustainable future. The world is a very large place, however it is as interconnected as ever today. What happens in one country can greatly impact people in another country. A great example of this is the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which led to sanctions being levied against Russian natural gas and oil. These sanctions greatly harmed Germany, who was a major consumer of Russian natural gas, being on the receiving end of the Nord Stream 1 and 2. Due to this unforeseen conflict, German citizen's energy prices skyrocketed, and Germany had to look to alternative means for energy. One of the places they ultimately turned to was the United States of America. The decisions our politicians and gas companies made about gas export prices and tariffs therefore would directly affect the lives of every German citizen. This recent example is meant to detail how decisions made in one country can play major roles in the lives of foreign citizens, even if we don't think about it. Specifically, America plays a large role on the international stage. We have the largest GDP, military, and are one of the most populated countries. Decisions made by our government have direct implications on many European countries and Europeans know it. When visiting the European Parliament, we heard speakers talk about the likes of the United States and China as great industrial powers with whom many Europeans wish to replicate on some level.

    Americans nowadays should not be content with simply knowing about American politics, as it places us at a major disadvantage. Without knowing at least somewhat of the global state of affairs, how can we truly keep our representatives responsible for the decisions they make, which directly affect America's image on the world stage? It is time to start paying attention to global news and becoming better educated global citizens, rather than keeping our heads buried in the sand of the American political system.