The "Equal Opportunity To Govern" Amendment

Article II, section 1, clause 5, of the US Constitution declares: "No person except a natural-born citizen, or a citizen of the United States at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President." I believe that naturalized citizens should be eligible for things such as governors and senators but I don't think they should be able to run for President. "The natural-born-citizen clause is discriminatory..." I completely agree with this point. It's not equal, if the citizens can serve in the military, their required to pay taxes, endure hardships along with the rest of Americans, etc. ..... then they should have the same rights as a native born. However, when it comes down to a role as great as President, things change. I don't think they should be able to run for President. UNLESS, they have spent a majority of their life living in America.

If I were President and I had the power to pardon....

If I were President and I had the power to pardon I would have to say that I wouldn't use it. Although, yes I would I'm sure be sympathetic to many cases - I don't believe it's my "job" has President to look at all these letters and decided who can get out. There are just way to many factors that should be considered when making this decision. Some factors include: criminal history, background, reasoning for their action....and many small details that should be factored in. The President has other issues to be concerned with rather then investigating. Personally, I think there should be a designated committee that goes through a process and come out with a selected set number in which they cannot exceed and THEN it should go to the President to review and sign.

Most Important Helper

The President has quite a few important helper's - it just depends on the time and situation. There is no way that any ONE person can stay up to date on everything or know about every topic or policy. That being said, there are many important ones for each group. At this point in time I believe the most important should be the Economic and Security advisers. Right now that is a major issue - the economy. We need to address and fix the damage - there IS a light at the end of the tunnel we just have to strategize and prioritize. Obama really needs to be meeting with the economic advisor. Once this begins to get resolved we can move on to another topic or situation.

Post Election Reaction

Although I was leaning more towards McCain to win, congratulations to Obama! This election is definately a major change in history, being the first African American president. It was a long, difficult race and I am sure both candidates are relieved that it is over. This election is definately a major "milestone" in history and the entire world knows that. The day after the election (along with the rest of the world) went out and bought 3 different newspapers to have as a keepsake in my scrapbook, along with other memorabilia that I collected during the election from various rallies I attended. According to a CNN.com article, "Newspapers were flying off the rack" the day after the big news. Newspapers were rushed to print thousands of extra copies to meet the high demand.
I kind of was expecting Obama to win, however I kind of wasn't. Yes, if you watched the polls of course you would think that Obama was going to win. Then I started thinking maybe this is just what the media wants us to think...there's no doubt that our media has more of a democratic view - I mean this is what allows them to do what they do, not having to be conservative allows for more stories, for opinions, etc.
No matter who won I will stand behind them and support them. I am not mad nor am I against Obama - and I wish everyone in the world had this attitude. Even my parents said, "Yes we wanted McCain to win but the fact is, is that Obama won. He is our new president. We will stand behind him and support him." There's no use in bashing him. Will that get us anywhere in life? No. It won't help things get better, it's not going to change things. People on both sides need to be wise with their reactions to this situation. Republicans don't need to "hide under the covers" for the next 4 years, they don't need to go against Obama and bash his thoughts. That's immature and not respectable. Democrats don't need to be in Republican's faces rubbing it in, we're not in 3rd grade anymore guys...- also, democrats don't need to be bashing McCain. Again, that would be immature and not respectable. We all need to unite and support each other, if we don't do that then how will we move forward and accomplish great things? That being said, it was a long campaign, a long 20 month process that both candidates dedicated so much to. It was a race well fought.

The speeches that night were both well done, after hearing them I feel as though both were genuine. McCain's speech was good and did a good job in having faith in Obama. However, when McCain mentioned Obama the crowd would "boo" - this I thought was very rude. McCain then tried to hush the crowd by saying "please please...".
Obama's speech was excellent as well. There were two parts of his speech that really stood out to me. "The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America -- I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you -- we as a people will get there..." This stood out to me because it shows that he recognizes that he has to deal with some serious issues, he has his work cut out for him and alot to prove. It also shows his enthusiasm to tackle these problems. Which is a characteristic that everyone looks for in a president. Another part of his speech that stood out to me was, "To those Americans whose support I have yet to earn -- I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your president too." I thought this was a very good thing to say - he was addressing the Republicans and telling them that they still matter and he will try his best to represent them and their opinions as well....he just asks that they support him.

America Votes for Change

I didn't fall asleep! Yes, I was able to stay awake and monitor the polls. It was exciting going back and forth seeing who was winning what state.
And the winner is.... Barack Obama! Poor McCain/Palin. :(

Guess What Today Is.....?!

NOVEMBER 4th - ELECTION DAY
If you can vote, then you really should get out there - every vote counts!


Even here at Fredericksburg Academy, we are holding "mock" elections!

Should the voting age be lowered?

As much as I would like to say "yes" for my own benefit - I am going to say "no", I don't believe the voting age should be lowered. 18 years old is an agreeable age. Any younger, and you will have teens voting - but probably not for all the right reasons. Also, I don't think people under 18 are involved with/care enough about Politics to form their own beliefs concerning our futures. I know that I never cared enough nor did I want to learn about Government until JUST this year, in my government class. Now I really enjoy learning about Government and everything that falls under that. I'm always trying to follow what's happening by watching speeches, watching CNN/fox, the newspaper, Cnn.com, going to rallies, etc. Although I have been really into this election, I still don't feel like I have enough knowledge about everything that I should to make the most practical decision.

People shouldn't be allowed to vote until they are an adult, which is legally 18 years old. By this time hopefully they have gained a solid understanding and education before they mark the box next to who they believe should be the next president.

Electoral College

I know we talked about what the Electoral College was - but just in case ... I came across this link that lays it all out in a more understandable way. The article is called Electoral College 101.

Click Here if you want to clarify what the EC is.

Should the Electoral College be reformed? - NO

First answer: No, I don’t think the Electoral College should be reformed because we need structured voting and that’s what the Electoral College is…Plus, it would be a very complicated and confusing process which may just end up causing chaos.

2nd answer: Maybe? After reading the “NO side” of the topic…I agree with the fact that it is ridiculous that Wyoming voting is 3x more powerful then California….that makes no sense to me. Look at the size comparison!!! The EC also doesn’t represent EVERYONE in America.

3rd answer: Yes.

4th answer: No. I think political stability is good…once a there is a clear cut winner (voted by the people) everyone needs to accept it

5th answer: No

"Drill Baaaaby Drill"

Amazing.
Words cannot describe how awesome the Palin Rally was. It was such a great experience and I am glad I brought my younger siblings along. I don't even know where to start! First off, I uploaded my pictures to this "community site" so hopefully, you'll be able to see them.

My alarm went off at 6:15 AM...not to worry I was already up! I was just so excited. I quickly got ready and woke up my bro and sis and we walked down to Hurkamp Park (didn't want to get parked in!). I looked at the time on my phone - 7:00 AM.....what?! There was already a line??! Not to worry, we were only a couple people away from the grand entrance. (phew!) People came around taking pictures, interviewing, passing out flyers, and stickers - many asked "are you cold?" and I was just like...do you not see me shivering??? The cold was worth it. Everyone came out wearing some sort of red "to keep Virginia red - it was really neat to see the crowds support.
There were some really neat signs- some taken from things she said, others from country songs.
"Read my lipstick"/ "I am voting for Joe the Plumber"/ "She's not just a pretty face, She's got everything it takes."(-Shania Twain song)/ "American Lipstick Club"/ "Teacher and Proud Marine Corps mom"

If you read my previous post, it was about how Wittman came to Fredericksburg Academy and spoke. Well, just so happens he spoke before Palin at the Rally...and we ate lunch at the same place! So, I re-introduced myself and took a picture with him!

Wittman at Fredericksburg Academy!

Yesterday the high school was able to meet, listen to, and learn more about Congressman Rob Wittman! We learned about his stance on issues such as wasteful spending, health care, transportation, taxes and economy. It was a great opportunity.
(Above is a picture of Rob Wittman taken by a student when he visited Fredericksburg Academy)

Poor Economy...is like a domino affect

One of the 293847 times I checked CNN yesterday there was an interesting article that I read about "Police face cuts as economy falters". This story really stood out to me because now we are starting to really see how our economy is affecting everything - such as, job cuts. Job cuts to the police force is major. This means that there will be a smaller police force out in town, in neighborhoods, on roads to keep drivers safe as well as the community. This cut comes at a bad time. Let's look at it. Because the economy is low, this means people are losing jobs, not making enough money to pay their bills or support their family...which means their is a greater chance for theft (crime will go up) - some people will do anything they can to make ends meet. Because our economy is bad, again I will point out JOB CUTS aka POLICE. This means it will be easier for people to get away with things. Crime is going to go up. Safety is going to become an issue. Ecspecially as more people loose jobs, it gets colder outside, Christmas time....

YIKES.
:(

Should the Government Regulate Interest Groups?

Ahh, good question. After reading this article I'm not really sure if they should or not - there are valid points on each side. I think the government should have some kind of say in the matter because it is superior to everything. It should set out "perimeters for the playing field" so to speak.
However I would say NO for a couple reasons. I believe that they shouldn't level the playing field. If a group is wealthier then the rest, then let it be. They clearly have established themselves and have the resources and support...so why take their hardwork away? I think all groups should have a say (FREEDOM OF SPEECH *ahem* CONSTITUTION!) - they are representing people's beliefs.

When does importance of safety have priority over individual rights?

Many are starting to ask the question, "when does safety become a priority over individual rights..?" In 3 new American airports and along borders they have installed X-ray machines that "hat peeks underneath passengers' clothing to search for guns, bombs or liquid explosives" (CNN). Many Americans are against this new device, they do not like it at all. They believe it is a violation of their personal rights. Although it IS understandable that they believe it is a violation of personal rights - I believe that this new xray machine is a great idea. In this case, I believe security and safety comes first. For example... walking through an airport, I'd rather know that I am safe and that the guy sitting next to me doesn't have any weaponry or explosives..then to be concerned with whether this new "detector or safety device" violates a personal right.

Who would I vote for...?

At this point in time, if I were forced to vote I would have to say...John McCain. I would vote for John McCain because I agree more with his aspirations for this country and he also has some experience to draw from unlike Obama. Everyone complains about McCain possibly being our future president because of his age, and "wonder if something happens when he is in office..." Well hate to break it to you but the same question applies to Obama - something could very well happen to him if elected into office . I believe that Obama's tax policies would hurt the economy - raising taxes isn't going to help us it will only make us hurt more. McCain is for on and off shore drilling which will help Americans buy gas -- Obama is against this and would make it harder applying unnecessary taxes on oil companies making it more of a burden and causing prices to soar even more. Another trait that I admire about McCain is that he works to help both sides of the aisle. I agree with his want to put an end to illegal immigration. Another thing he is striving to get is affordable healthcare which is very important and it about 4 years or so I will be off my parents and having to pay for my own. McCain also understands the situation in Iraq. Yes, everyone wants the war in Iraq to come to an end. However, you can't just stop and leave otherwise we will end up with a situation similar to that of the 'civil war' in Darfur. He is understanding of those who want to end the war but he knows the correct way to go about doing so.

For GREAT political cartoons...

Hat's off to Daryl Cagle. If you are ever in need of a good laugh (or hours of laughing) you should definately check out this man's sight - he is fantastic! Political Cartoons
Enjoy!

2nd Presidential Debate

"My friends, My friends, My friends, My friends, My friends....."
This was said one too many times McCain.

This debate wasn't very interesting in my opinion, which made it hard for me to pay attention and follow what was happening. I don't think the questions were as good as I expected. Everyone was reporting that there would be "off the wall questions" but they screened totally normal questions - which was a let down. I think both candidates could have done a better job last night. Rather then focusing on bashing each other and their campaign. In comparison to the previous debate there was definately newly found tension between both candidates.

The main topic of last nights debate was the final crisis. Both presented ideas that they would have to help pull us out of this dark tunnel. However, that being said - Obama made a stab at McCain. "Obama, looking to link McCain to President George W. Bush, described the financial crisis as the 'final verdict on the failed economic policies of the last eight years' that Bush pursued and McCain supported." (CNN) I thought this was a very strong point, that may have leaned more people towards supporting Obama.

Stocks - Seriously, what's going to happen??

"(CNNMoney.com) -- Stocks plunged Monday, with the Dow down..."
This was all over the news again today. At one point it was down roughly 800 points - it finally closed at 370. This is a MAJOR issue. Money is getting tight. Items in today's society aren't cheap - look at the price of gasoline. Alot of people are losing their jobs. And its about to get worse. How are people going to afford things? Kids going to college? This really affects those who will be going off to college this year. More and more will go to public colleges instead of the private ones. What happens when they fill up? As it gets harder and harder to meet the requirements to get in. I'm really worried about whats going to happen. I'll be going to college in under a year then I'll be out in the real world, on my own - I will need a job with an income to support at the least myself. People need to stop spending crazy, without thinking. People need to start saving again and ask themselves, "Do I really need this?". We all (including myself) need to be more wise about our spending decisions. Today, the economy was like a roller coaster. What will the McCain or Obama do if they are elected president to help the economy, help everyone get out of this dark road were about to go down. Is there anything they CAN do at this point?

VP Debate '08: Biden vs. Palin

"Phew, she pulled through" are the words that came out of my mouth when the VP debate ended last night.

I was so worried that Palin was going to ... "come short" [in nicer terms :) ] as she has in her past interviews. However, she did surprisingly well. That being said, Congrats Palin!

PALIN:
Instead of answering the moderators questions Sarah Palin had her own method of running the show. Which is a good thing and bad thing. While watching the debate, it made me bite my lip and ask "WHAT are you doing?! That wasn't the question!!". For example, they had been talking about bankruptcy and mortgages and then it became Palin's turn and she would start talking about Energy again. However after watching it - I don't think she was necessarily avoiding the questions rather she was PROMOTING the policies of McCain and then attacking Obama's. Then she really threw it out there to the audience - to make it known to all. (Speaking to Biden) "I may not answer the questions that either the moderator or you want to hear, but I'm gonna talk straight to the American people,"said Palin. This must have been an eye opener to the audience, in fact ... I KNOW it was because I heard this quote at least 3 times during news reports on my way to school. This showed me that she knows what she's doing. She is aware that she isn't directly answering the question. Her focus was more on promoting her ideas. She doesn't need the media to bash her about it. Now, was that the right move to make? Probably not - she probably should have answered the question and then go on to issues she wanted to promote because it seemed like she had been trained on a few topics and so thats all she would talk about. In the end, Palin did a pretty good job.

McCain at one point said something along the lines of "Through 35 years of experience I have learned how to reach across the aisle..." addressing the needs of both republicans and democrats. Then Palin's HORRIBLE response to that was something along the lines of "I know how to address both sides because even members of my own family have conflicting views." That - wasn't as substantial evidence compared to McCain's...

Another thing! I do not believe that "shout out" she did to one of her family members third grade class was appropriate, saying they would get extra credit.... what?! This is a VP DEBATE in front of ALL of America. She was trying too hard to appeal to the middle class...I think she felt as though she could relate better to them because her family as always been middle class, she has kids, a child with special needs, etc. The fact of the matter is....is that McCain can relate too. This is when he brought up that he lost his wife and daughter in a car accident, leaving him as a single parent with 2 critially injured sons. Once again Biden was on top. Something that I thought was annoying was how Palin kept talking about "up there in Alaska.." we arent talking about Alaska anymore we are talking about ALL of America.

Both candidates targeted the Middle Class in their speeches. Palin did not agree with Biden's comment about it being Patriotic to pay taxes - and Obamas plan to increase taxes. Palin stated that there is nothing patriotic about being a middle class citizen and paying taxes. She made a strong point that increasing the taxes would further hurt the economy.

After writing all my thoughts down about the debate last night...I'm starting to think. Palin didn't do as well as I had thought. Yes, she did do better then expected and in comparison to her other interviews but ....
I feel as though both candidates talked themselves in circles - so to speak. I honestly don't know what to think about the final outcome of the debate from last night.

As Mr. Eckerson just perfectly said, "Personally I think Biden won ... however Palin won because she exceeded peoples expectations." I completely agree.

Political Ads - Obama 08

I thought this was a good political ad for Obama. As all presidential candidates go on to make endless promises Obama does this but he also backs it up with things that he has accomplished. This is good because it gives evidence to the audience which will then make them feel more confident in that candidate.

Did You Hear What Happened Yesterday???

"Stocks skidded Monday, with the Dow slumping nearly 778 points, in the biggest single-day point loss ever..." -CNN
The Stock Market Crashed! What happens next? Well, I guess there is only one way to go after this...and that is up. We are at the all time bottom now, so its time to re-evaluate and work our way back up again. But what does this mean for me? How will it affect me now? How will it affect me in a couple years when I am trying to get a job?

Elite Article and Political Cartoons

From the article:
I think attending an elite school aka Ivy League ... all depends on what you want to do in your profession. People all have there opinions and if they hear "President from JMU VS. President from Harvard" the one from JMU will be judged and probably not succeed. (If that makes any sense) People shouldnt be ashamed of going to an elite college - congrats your very smart!...it just depends on what you aspire to be.

I thought this cartoon was really funny especially after seeing the SNL version of the interview yesterday during class. Later on I went home and compared the actual interview with the SNL version and although it is over exaggerated it is partially true. This comic is about how they are trying to give her SOME knowledge to base her answers off of so when she is asked she can answer.

At this point who would I vote for?

At this point, if I were able to vote just based off the topic of Energy and Environment I would probably vote for Obama. I would vote for him because I agree with his plan to cut Greenhouse gas Emmisions and his "Cap and Trade" plan. McCain's tax reduction idea to make people buy fuel friendly cars is a good idea however even with the reduction there may be families who still will be unable to afford them or they may have other priorities. Back to why I would vote for Obama...I also liked how he wants to lower fuel prices because that is a topic that directly affects me (about once a week at the gas station!) lowering fuel prices will benefit me because I wont have to spend so much on gas and I can save that money.

typology

My results came out to be....liberal. I can kind of agree with this statement but then again...i could also be understanding of me being conservative. I have been tending to agree with points from both political parties. I am open to change in some aspects. I don't agree with some of the things it said. For example, if I remember correctly it said something about Religion playing a lesser role when it came down to making a final decision...I think it plays a great role in people and their morals, how they were raised, how they are as a person, how they go about doing things, etc - I am not (by far) the most religious person - however I believe it is important. In the end I can see some reasons why i would be liberal but I dont think its very accurate.

Important political issue that matters to me...

I don't have one specific issue that matters to me. I think some important ones are prices, illegal immigration, and the war in Iraq.

Prices of things and the war in Iraq are tied together. We have been over there for along time, which means we are spending alot of money on it - which is affecting prices of EVERYTHING and as a 17 year old who drives, it really sucks having to pay $55 bucks to fill up my tank. I am limited to working after school and weekends (which yes, I do have two jobs and work 6 days a week..) but most of that money is going towards gas, when I am now trying to save some extra cash for college. Now i understand how we cant just pull out of Iraq, we do have to stay there to provide some stability - but, there has got to be some alternative....something to help the economy.

Another issue is that of illegal immigration. I understand how people don't want them to take all our jobs that WE need. HOWEVER, in the end ... they are the one's who will do the hard manual labor, they are the ones who will work from before sunrise to after sunset, they are the ones who will come in when everyone else is vacationing for holidays, they are the ones....People also need to take that aspect into consideration every time they bash immigrants.