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Nancy Pelosi | Full Address | Oxford Union
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May 15, 2013
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18:45Now PlayingNancy Pelosi gives her address to the Oxford Union Society.
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Nancy Pelosi begins her speech by highlighting the union's 190th anniversary saying 1833 was an exciting time to be alive as so much change was taking place. She highlights the diversity of people within Congress.
She says that the House of Representatives goals is to reignite the idea of the American dream, by which she means creating opportunities for hard working responsible people. The way to achieve this is to strengthen the 'middle class'.
Nancy quotes Arnold J Toynbee saying that societies thrive if they meet their challenges and that the challenges the US are currently trying to overcome is to the strength of the middle classes. Arnold J Toynbee also wrote that at the beginnings of a country being formed the small governing minority will strive toward achieving societies goals but as the country grows larger a shift in thinking will occur in the governing body prioritising wealth and self-preservation above the welfare of the countries people. When this change happens society start to decline.
One of the challenges is income disparity. In the 1970's CEO's of the top 102 companies in America earned 40 times what the average worker made. Today the average CEO compensation is 367 times that of the average worker. CEO salaries went up, worker salaries went down but productivity remained the same making the gap
Another challenge is the issue of money in politics. She states that the forefathers of America sacrificed their lives, honour and civil liberties to form a country with a democracy of the many, not a democracy of the money. However this is now what America is evolving into. She says the answer is to lower the importance of money and to empower the people by providing good paying jobs to more citizens.
Filmed on Monday 22nd April 2013
ABOUT NANCY PELOSI:
Nancy Pelosi is the Democratic Leader of the US House of Representatives. From 2007 to 2011, she served as the first woman Speaker of the House and is also the first woman in American history to lead a major political party in Congress. Leader Pelosi has led House Democrats for a decade and has represented San Francisco in Congress for 25 years.
Leader Pelosi led the Congress in passing historic health insurance reform, key investments in college aid, clean energy and innovation, and initiatives to help small businesses and veterans. She has been a powerful voice for civil rights and human rights around the world for decades.
ABOUT THE OXFORD UNION SOCIETY:
The Union is the world's most prestigious debating society, with an unparalleled reputation for bringing international guests and speakers to Oxford. It has been established for 189 years, aiming to promote debate and discussion not just in Oxford University, but across the globe.
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