Is it just me or have we become increasingly more cynical & pessimistic? Sometimes it's good to take a break from the news & politics. I did this for the summer so that I could refresh & come up for air. However, I am back & it seems that not much has changed since I've been gone. It's still mostly about death, corruption, & bashing one another. No wonder there is road rage, anger management classes, people don't smile or say thank you anymore.
What do we do? Can it change? I am hopeful, ever the optimist when it comes to these issues. I have to be. My daughter's are young & I want a better America, a better planet, a better human race for them!
I think I have said this before, that we are getting worse & not better. I seem to lose hope when I watch the local news or national headlines. The interesting part is that it seems more & more Americans are watching "Reality TV" to get out of their own heads & become voyeurs as they watch the lives of others. I didn't understand this as much until recently. But, do we have to be "dumb-ed" down in the process? It sure seems that instead of solid, informative news the juicy news of sex, lies, & drugs will continue to prevail.
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Trayvon Martin - racism or vigilantism?
The Trayvon Martin case has made national & international headlines. More information comes out about this case almost on a daily basis. Hopefully more information will lead to a clear picture of what happened that day.
There are so many issues within this case. The media, racism, vigilantism , the "stand your ground law", etc.The Media has sensationalized a horrible situation, as they always do. If you listen to liberal media the picture is painted one way, conservative media paints it a different way.
On radio program Hannity, he was mentioning the case. He mentioned that a British family was upset with Obama for not mentioning their son's death/killer as he mentioned Trayvon. Their son was killed & the murder is behind bars...they said they wrote the President several times.
This made me think --- so the president has to now mention every case or he's a bad president? There is lots of coverage surrounding violence & children. The media picks up on the most sensational cases. There are often children who are kidnapped, raped, murdered who live in the projects or poor neighborhoods, but these kids are never mentioned. There's no way the President can address or mention all cases.
At the end of the day the most disturbing part of the Martin case is the fact that he was a kid. Zimmerman was a grown man & if he had followed the 911 Dispatcher's instructions not to follow Trayvon, then Trayvon may be alive today. There is information coming out that Martin was beating up by Zimmerman, thereby giving Zimmerman the right to self defense -- if true it may be that Martin was scared, he didn't have a gun & he saw/felt that a man was following him. There is a new video releases of the police taking Zimmerman into custody & from what it looks like on this video it doesn't seem Zimmerman was assaulted.
I hope for the family's sake we will get closure to this case.
There are so many issues within this case. The media, racism, vigilantism , the "stand your ground law", etc.The Media has sensationalized a horrible situation, as they always do. If you listen to liberal media the picture is painted one way, conservative media paints it a different way.
On radio program Hannity, he was mentioning the case. He mentioned that a British family was upset with Obama for not mentioning their son's death/killer as he mentioned Trayvon. Their son was killed & the murder is behind bars...they said they wrote the President several times.
This made me think --- so the president has to now mention every case or he's a bad president? There is lots of coverage surrounding violence & children. The media picks up on the most sensational cases. There are often children who are kidnapped, raped, murdered who live in the projects or poor neighborhoods, but these kids are never mentioned. There's no way the President can address or mention all cases.
At the end of the day the most disturbing part of the Martin case is the fact that he was a kid. Zimmerman was a grown man & if he had followed the 911 Dispatcher's instructions not to follow Trayvon, then Trayvon may be alive today. There is information coming out that Martin was beating up by Zimmerman, thereby giving Zimmerman the right to self defense -- if true it may be that Martin was scared, he didn't have a gun & he saw/felt that a man was following him. There is a new video releases of the police taking Zimmerman into custody & from what it looks like on this video it doesn't seem Zimmerman was assaulted.
I hope for the family's sake we will get closure to this case.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Super PACs
The case Citizens United help open the door for Super PACs. It seems that Americans love many things super sized, their cars, homes & now their politics! Should there be a limit on the amount that someone can give? It seems that now more than ever we do need limitations. Corporations, individuals, and unions are able to give Super PACs unlimited amounts of money as long as there is no correct coordination with a candidate. But, what does direct coordination mean? It seems that even if a former employee, good friend, or big donor heads a super PAC it's okay. Does that seem right?
Was this how the Supreme Court envisioned the outcome of the Citizens' United case? I think many would argue no! We want there to be a true democracy which means that there has to be equal access for everyone and not just the few. The people who have the most wealth therefore have more access than ever before, as money is the key to access in politics. Take Newt Gingrich's campaign, he received through a Super PAC started by a wife & husband $10 million which kept on the race. As NPR recently discussed isn't this keeping & enforcing candidates beholden to certain people or interests?
These new PACs are only going to make people already skeptical about politics & voting even more skeptical. The adage "My vote doesn't count" has never been a viable excuse to me, until now?
Was this how the Supreme Court envisioned the outcome of the Citizens' United case? I think many would argue no! We want there to be a true democracy which means that there has to be equal access for everyone and not just the few. The people who have the most wealth therefore have more access than ever before, as money is the key to access in politics. Take Newt Gingrich's campaign, he received through a Super PAC started by a wife & husband $10 million which kept on the race. As NPR recently discussed isn't this keeping & enforcing candidates beholden to certain people or interests?
These new PACs are only going to make people already skeptical about politics & voting even more skeptical. The adage "My vote doesn't count" has never been a viable excuse to me, until now?
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Who will win the Republican nomination?
There is only one sure thing in elections - there are no absolutes. Elections have so many different facets depending on the candidate & their personality, their campaign strategy, the current issues of the time, & so on.
Will the Republican party be helped by the close race or hurt? What will the recent speech by Gingrich do for the race? And is Romney playing it too safe?
This has been one of the most interesting Republican races in a while. With the new RNC rules on delegates it's going to make the race similar to the Democratic race in '08. Down to the wire. This could help the party, as it helped Democrats in '08, or it could pull them apart. Republicans have done well in the past in coming across as "unified", they've done this better than Democrats in the past, but in the past years there has been lots of disharmony among the Republicans & infighting.
It's going to be very interesting!
Will the Republican party be helped by the close race or hurt? What will the recent speech by Gingrich do for the race? And is Romney playing it too safe?
This has been one of the most interesting Republican races in a while. With the new RNC rules on delegates it's going to make the race similar to the Democratic race in '08. Down to the wire. This could help the party, as it helped Democrats in '08, or it could pull them apart. Republicans have done well in the past in coming across as "unified", they've done this better than Democrats in the past, but in the past years there has been lots of disharmony among the Republicans & infighting.
It's going to be very interesting!
Monday, January 16, 2012
Medical Costs
As I am at the doctor's office & just dished out $40 co-pay for a specialist --- it makes me think about all the students & families who have no insurance or can not afford the hefty co-pays. I paid $40 to speak with the doctor for all of 7 minutes. What?!
Is medical insurance a privilege or a right? I have asked this of my on-line students before & I've heard good arguments for both sides. It's hard for me when I personally have many medical ailments as does my mother. I've seen suffering for those with & without insurance. Maybe I'm not asking the right question, but maybe the whole medical field needs an overhaul.
Is medical insurance a privilege or a right? I have asked this of my on-line students before & I've heard good arguments for both sides. It's hard for me when I personally have many medical ailments as does my mother. I've seen suffering for those with & without insurance. Maybe I'm not asking the right question, but maybe the whole medical field needs an overhaul.
Friday, January 13, 2012
First Week of Classes
Blogging for class will help to express yourselves on issues in politics. You will be given the ability to have "free blogging" where you can write about anything political. And it MUST be political --- it can't be about sports, or mundane issues. It must be an issue related to government, politics, economic, or social issues that are affected by government and/or have a political slant or concern.
Then there will be blogs where you will be given a topic or theme. You must then write your blog centered on that topic or theme.
You will find the basic requirements & instructions on blackboard under "Assignments". Use these blogs to show me who you are, what you believe, and what you stand for.
Then there will be blogs where you will be given a topic or theme. You must then write your blog centered on that topic or theme.
You will find the basic requirements & instructions on blackboard under "Assignments". Use these blogs to show me who you are, what you believe, and what you stand for.
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