The Legalization of Marijuana

I think that the government should not legalize marijuana. Some may argue that if the government were to legalize marijuana then it would be a huge, taxable, industry. I do not think that legalizing marijuana will have as many positive effects as negitive effects. marijuana lowers peoples ambitions and decreaces work ethic, if we want the people in this country get even more lazy than they are now then the legalization of marijuana would not be a bad idea. If we want this country to still be abitious and be the greatest country in the world we need the government to keep marijuana illegal.

Brett Miller
POS 2041
8 am

Legalization of Gambling

I think that the federal government should legalize gambling. The opening and running of casinos would create much needed jobs for Americans which in turn will help the economy. I do believe that if the government does legalize gambling then there will need to be regulations on Americans so they don't develop gambling problems. I think that if the government is looking for a way to boost the economy this should help.

Brett Miller
POS 2041
8 am

Abortion, God's Choice

I believe that abortion should not be legal. I believe that abortion is murder, it is the ending of a human life, now i know a fetus is not considered to be a human, but it is going to be a human. I believe that it is not a woman's choice, it is God's choice. I believe that things happen for a reason and if God has blessed you with a pregnancy then that baby is meant to be born. If a woman wants to choose not to have a child then that woman should not choose to have sex. I think that the government should make abortion should be illegal, because it is the ending of a human life and that is murder.

Brett Miller
POS 2041
8 am

Animal Testing

I do not like animal testing, but i believe that is needed. I do not like the idea of harming an innocent animal, but I know that it is a needed procees in order for us to develope medications. I believe that harming an animal is better than harming a human. If someone were to tell you "You could cure cancer, but you would have to harm an animal." wouldn't you do it?

Brett Miller
POS 2041
8 am

Same Sex Marriage

I do not believe in the unity of two people of the same sex, I believe that marriage should be between a man and a woman. I think that being a homosexual is a choice of a lifestyle, now I'm not saying that i think that homosexuals choose to be attracted to the same sex. I think that if someone should live the lifestyle there should be sacrifices that need to be made. I'm not saying that two people should not be together, I am simply saying that i believe that marriage should be between a man and a woman and that it should stay that way.

Brett Miller
POS 2041
8 am

Health care, dental care, eye care

I would love for Florida (no everywhere) to have universal health care. You know why because no matter what your income, race, class, or status is in society at least you would be treated equally. At least individuals can feel as though they are worthy to be healthy and alive. For those who don't know what I mean go to the Emergency room without insurance! No better yet go to a doctor's office. Sorry don't even bother to sign in. Now try going to someone you love funeral who died from an illness that could have been prevented all because people with no insurance don't prevent they treat.


Braytez Barnes
POS 2041
Friday, 12:02 a.m

Should the U.S military have such a large budget?

Call me paranoid...
Recently in Mumbai, India ( one of the largest cities in the world) a terrorist attack accord. Not to sound too hysterical but do anyone seem uneasy? I mean in POS 2041 the class learned that $528 billion goes to the the U.S military budget. I use to think it was too much, but now Iam not sure. I mean the U.S military is ranked number one worldwide but our largest city (New York) is ranked at number 14. So what I am asking is if the largest city in the world doesn't have a chance what chance does New York City have? Big or small terrorist find a way.


Braytez Barnes
POS 2041
Thursday, 11:28 p.m.

To Drill or Not to Drill?

Our world is facing the greenhouse effect, global warming, and droughts. Even extinction and endangered species is becoming more common. If we continue to debate whether to drill or not to drill do we really have such a shortage of oil that we have to deplete other resources? I for one would like different alternatives to oil. How about you? Remember one little mistake can cost us our very ocean(s).

Made in the USA, oops, China

Instead of outsourcing so many of our goods and services the United States would be well served by importing less products that can be made at home safer and cheaper. United States should hold imports to the same standards and regulations that takes place in our companies and factories. With all the recalls, tainted products, illnesses and deaths, we need to be more vigilant in our trades and FDA(Federal Drug Administration) standards.


Braytez Barnes
POS 2041
Thursday, 10:38 p.m.

CEO, huh, Clever Expensive Oppurtunist

I have a few suggestions for them that may be helpful. GM and Chrysler should merge. The private sector and oil companies should donate half of the money needed for the bailout and if they can survive off of $1 a year, they must be financially stable, so why not invest their monies into their companies. In other words... Exhaust all other possibilities before asking the average American taxpayer for their nickels and dimes.




Braytez Barnes
POS 2041
Thursday, 9:50 p.m.

CEO will work for $1

Ford Motor Co. told Congress that they planned to return to a pretax profit or break even in 2011 when the Detroit Three automakers' CEOs appear before lawmakers to request $25 billion in government loans. Ford CEO Alan Mulally said he'll work for $1 per year if the company has to take any government loan money. Congressional leaders wanted plans from the automakers by Tuesday to show that they can make it if they did get federal funds. The plan Ford submitted said the company will cancel all management employees' 2009 bonuses and will not pay any merit increases for its North American salaried employees next year. I’m not exactly sure if this would be a wise decision for him if the plans going accordingly. But it is something he is willing to take a chance for. In some instance I really don’t think they should receive the any money because it’s they’re fault they screwed up so the have to pay for their actions just like us common folks have to do.

Sarranda Hall
POS 2041
Friday 8-11am

5.8 percent increase for Social Security

Citizens over the age of 55 should be happy because effective 2009 they will receive a 5.8 percent increase in their social security. This increased payment will benefit more than 7 million Supplemental Security Income beneficiaries on December 31. This is the largest increase since 1982. I think that this is a wonderful package for seniors to receive because they do deserve it. But what about the non-senior citizens whose cost of living continues to rise, but income remains the same? This year majority of Florida employees did not receive a raise. How are we supposed to maintain a standard of living when fuel and food prices are going up, but we are making the same income we did last year?

Sarranda Hall
POS 2041
Friday 8-11am

Rise in federal taxes

This morning the house and senate held a meeting to approve a four year package of $50 billion in tax increases and $11 billion in benefit cuts. There were other issues discussed among the conferees, such as balance with spending cuts, telephone taxes, and fuel prices. What are we going to do in the next four years if taxes and gas prices keep increasing and our paychecks stay the same?

Sarranda Hall
POS 2041
Friday 8-11am

Can the bailout help the auto industry?

Congressional Democrats pushed forward Thursday with a rescue package to pump $25 billion in new emergency loans into U.S. automakers, but a top senator said the package lacked the support to pass. Is a bailout really the solution to helping these companies when they hit a financial crisis? The problem is that using taxpayer’s money to protect jobs in an industry that has essentially no hope of ever being profitable again is not a good deal. It doesn’t make sense to me that when the American people (the taxpayers) are in need of help financially we don’t get the help we need. Why is that?

Sarranda Hall
POS 2041
Friday 8-11am
December 4, 2008

The next U.S. Senate

I was reading an article on yahoo about Gov. Jeb Bush saying he was interested in becoming the next U.S. Senate. This position is currently occupied by Sen. Mel Martinez. A poll from a university was taken in December 2006 during Jeb Bush's final month in office found 57 percent of Florida voters thought Bush was a great or good governor. Only 10 percent said he was a bad governor. That poll also showed 59 percent of voters disapproved of the job President Bush was doing, compared with 38 percent who approved. So does this mean he will make a great candidate for this position?

Sarranda Hall
POS 2041
Friday 8-11
December 4, 2008

Obama's Cabinet Shaping Up.

So far these are the picks for obamas cabinet:

• Treasury Secretary - Timothy Geithner
• Secretary of State - Sen. Hillary Clinton
  
• Attorney General - Eric Holder
  
• Defense Secretary - Robert Gates
  
• Homeland Security Secretary - Gov. Janet Napolitano
  
• National Security Advisor - Gen. James Jones.
  
• Commerce Secretary - Gov. Bill Richardson
  
• National Economic Council Director - Lawrence Summers
  
• Office of Management and Budget Director - Peter Orszag

I was really surprised by Obama's retainment of Robert Gates. I thought that he would have definitely picked someone else. I think that Hillary Clinton will do a magnificient job as Secretary of State. As far as the others i am not to familiar with them but believe that Obama picked the best of the best.

Money makes the world go round

I think it's crazy to think how it is more economically favorable to export a locally owned good to buy it back. It does not make any sense, and it wastes resources and pollutes the environment. It's also interesting to see how much emphasis the US has put on erasing our carbon footprint and being green, but that is unheard of in other impoverished countries.

April Pingol

CPO2001

TR 1135

Health Care

I was wondering why we are having a hard time getting universal healthcare when so many other countries had already established it. I understand there are a lot of economic hurdles we have to come across but how can we make the transition as smooth as possible? I have a friend that is a post doc at UC Berkeley. He is originally from Germany and it is cheaper for him to fly home and receive health and dental care then it is for him to receive treatment in the US.

April Pingol

CPO2001

1135 TR

Federal Government Powers

When comparing the Chinese governments powers we talked about the United State's Federal Governments powers. The federal government's power is huge. There is nothing that the congress can not cover. I feel as though it is unnecessary though, for the steroid usage of major league baseball players to be an issue to the US congress.

April Pingol

CPO2001

TR 1135

Chinese Economy

In class the other day we were talking about the Chinese economy. I think it's interesting how people keep saying "China is going to buy the US" because of the economic crisis we are in. But people forget that their economic progress is inflated because going from 0 economic progress to their level would result in a higher rate of growth as opposed to the US which was already at a high rate. 

April Pingol

CPO2001

TR 1135

Globalization

In class the other day we discussed globalization and how so many countries depend on the United States. I think it's funny how people are so desperate to move out of the US when things are going so well. Yet those countries rely so much on the success of the United States. My boyfriend went to Italy the week of the election and so many people were obsessed with Obama. He was on the cover of every magazine and it was the hot topic of conversation. It's interesting that we hardly ever hear about other country's presidential candidates, let alone election.

April Pingol

CPO 2001

TR 1135

Accident or Murder

Fox News aired a story about a man who “accidently” killed a bald eagle. He was a hunter and his turkeys started to go missing, he figured that it must have been the coyotes. He left out hamburger meat laced with pesticides and it worked, it killed 7 coyotes. The problem came when the bald eagles ate the carcasses of the coyotes. The eagles are protected by law and it is illegal to kill them. The hunter was fined $10,000 and 2 years of probation. President George Bush gave this man a pardon. He was 1 of 14 people pardoned. Do you think this man should have received a harsher sentence or was his pardon well over due?

Emily Pullen
POS 1601
Tuesday 6pm

Presidents Don't Quit

I read an article in the New York Times recently by a woman who feels George Bush would be doing us all a favor by handing over the reins to president elect Obama. Basically saying go ahead and quit at the last minute, no one will complain. Vice president Dick Cheney would resign first followed by President Bush. Nancy Pelosi would become president for a brief moment before handing over the power to Obama. I don’t see how this woman could think that this might be a good idea. It doesn’t matter how much people disagree with the way Bush has run his administration, presidents don’t quit. What kind a faith would the American people have in our nation?

Emily Pullen
POS 1601
Tuesday 6pm

Inaugeration

As we all know, this election has been one of the most anticipated and monumental elections in our country’s history. It would only seem to fit that the inauguration ceremony should be well attended. However, no one is giving tickets away. People have been selling tickets online for upwards of $20,000. There is no doubt that this would be one of the most defying things you would see in history but maybe the people selling tickets should think of lowering the price considering the state of the economy.

Emily Pullen
POS 1601
Tuesday 6pm

Is This 2008 or 2012?

The other day, Sarah Palin rallied to elect republican senator Saxby Chambliss in Georgia. It was her first political appearance since November 4. The paper I read said she was greeted by thousands of women chanting SARAH, SARAH! They were wearing shirts that said Palin 2012. Not that I disagree with this at all but I think it is time to give it a rest. As we know 4 years is not a very long time but it is a way to long to be talking about the next presidential candidate. Barack Obama has not even become president yet. Do you think they should limit the amount of time that a party is allowed to campaign before a presidential election?

Emily Pullen
POS 1601
Tuesday 6pm

A joke?

The other night I saw the movie Burn After Reading. I had not heard much about this movie but I knew it had Brad Pitt and George Clooney in it, so it couldn't be all bad. I was very surprised at the kind of movie it was. The movie was basically a spoof on the American intelligence program and the CIA. Needless to say it was not my favorite movie. It was interesting though, when I got home my roommate and her boyfriend told me they had seen the movie and loved it and thought it was hilarious. This was interesting because they were both born in Cuba and have not so fond ideas on the the way the American government does things. This made me start thinking; does the rest of the world view our systems and the measures that we take as a joke like this movie portrayed?