Encouraged

Since I first learned anything about Barack Obama, I was totally against his presidency. I wasn't necessarily voting for McCain, I was simply voting against Obama. However, I must admit, for the first time, I was encouraged by what Obama had to say the other night in his address to Congress. I don't fully understand HOW he is planning on addressing the energy, health care and education issues that he mentioned, I am just simply encouraged that he is aware of the issues to the point of addressing them directly with Congress in front if the American people. I hope he is sincere in his efforts and isn't just blowing smoke for early approval of the American people.

Deana Davis
POS1041

Today's Depression

If you have turned on the television you have heard the rising stories of the debt America as been accumulating. It seems like America is on the verge of another Great Depression. Americans are losing jobs, students can't afford their tuition, crime rates are increasing, and prices for everyday items are rising. We vote to put these politicians in office and we hope they are doing the best for our country but it seems like all we get in return is debt and war. If no other country can buy our debt we can expect interest rates, loans on homes, cars, and credit cards to increase. So, if you have been blessed with a job, car, and home then try your hardest to keep it because who knows when it could be taken away.

Kristen Bracewell
POS 2041
Friday 1:00

THE DEATH AND REBIRTH OF THE AMERICAN SPIRIT

Throughout my generation we have started to lose something that has been instrumental in what has made America great for so long. It’s our willingness to help or volunteer for something larger than ourselves. Many people in the military and older generations would call it selfless service. America has become too wrapped up in the value of the dollar, so much that we have forgot how valuable lending a hand to someone you might not even know is. We have made it through bad harvest, multiple wars, and the great depression with our willingness to help a complete stranger. I for one think this is a major part of what makes America such a great place to live. Our country has never been an individual effort. Franklin D. Roosevelt once stated that ‘The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little.’ Many of us have started to forget that our country is only as strong as its weakest link. Now we have once again stepped into an uncomfortable situation with the continuation of two wars, and an economy that is spiraling out of control. We must once again rejuvenate this part of the American spirit.

Justin Ford
CPO 2001
T R 1:05

WHAT REAL CHANGE LOOKS LIKE

Throughout the last couple of weeks I have continually heard some of my die-hard Republican friend’s state that President Obama if more of the same. I can’t help but to correct some of what the right wing media is filling my friend’s minds with. He has already pasted arguably the most aggressive stimulus package ever implemented. I like the rest of the world would have a hard time telling you what the outcome will be, but I do know that he has bet his political future hoping to fix our economy. Unlike the stimulus package that was signed by President Bush, this bill will actually create jobs. Within just the first few days of his Presidency he made two executive orders. One was to close Guantanamo Bay and the other was to stop the use of legal torture by the United States of America. These two actions do not completely fix our foreign policies, but it is great start to fix our damaged image across the world. Obama has yet to be judged on the outcome of his presidency, but his actions to put our country on a new course is anything but more of the same.

Justin Ford
CPO 2001
T R 1:05

Frisbie Golf Course?

There was some suggestion in the 1:05 class that the stimulus bill included funding for a "frisbie golf course."

No such thing:

In fact, there is no earmark for "a Frisbee golf course" in either the House or Senate version of the recovery bill, which both specifically prohibit using funds in the bill for a "golf course." The Senate version also prohibits using funds for a "community park."

As The Wall Street Journal reported on February 4, a "36-hole 'disc golf' course" was included among a list of potential projects provided by the United States Conference of Mayors in a January 17 report. However, according to the Conference of Mayors report: "Mayors recognize that the economic recovery initiative to be undertaken by the new administration and Congress will include a review process through which projects eligible for funding will be identified. The projects listed in this report in no way represent an inventory of projects formally proposed for funding." The Conference of Mayors report stated that cities were invited to submit projects that "reflected their unique local infrastructure needs, produced jobs for their residents, and contributed to future economic development." The Frisbee golf course was listed among the projects "ready to go" in Austin, Texas. The February 4 Journal article reported that "John Hrncir, [Austin's] government-relations officer, says the project list 'was put together on very short notice,' and 'we are not going to submit anything that is questionable when we seek actual funding.' "

Both the House and Senate versions of the economic recovery bill include a provision that specifically prohibits using funds for golf courses, and the Senate version also prohibits using funds for community parks.

When getting one's news from television, one should be appropriately skeptical.

10,642,339,425 and the numbers keep rising

President Obama took office with a substantial amount of debt that had accumulated when GWB was in office. With wars fought on two fronts and tax breaks going out to the middle class. I can not seem to figure out how that government expected to get some sort of surplus. Now that "change" has come things are supposed to be different right?... well obamas new "stimulus" bill is said to create new jobs for workers, while at the same time making america become modernized. But one question comes to my mind the more i hear about this issue, and that is when people get really bad in a whole they declare bankruptcy. How much more can the U.S. government spend before we have no more money?

Evan Griffin
POS2041
Friday 1p.m.