Category Archives: Politics

The Inauguration is Coming Soon

In this past election, Barack Obama was elected to be president for another 4 years. He won 332 electoral votes and the other presidential candidate, Mitt Romney won 206 electoral votes. Since Obama has been elected, there will be another Inauguration address for him in January. An inauguration is the act of starting a new operation or practice. Basically what happens at the inauguration is that the President is starting his term and where there is the swearing-in ceremony, inaugural address, and inaugural parade. But if this is what an inauguration is; and Barack Obama has been president for the past four years, then why should there be another inauguration?

I personally think that there should never have been a second inauguration for anybody that was president for a second term. The inauguration costed 170 million dollars for president Obama. They really shouldn’t spend another 170 million dollars for another inauguration when it really isn’t an inauguration. This is because president Obama is not starting a new operation. They can just donate the money to a children’s hospital instead of wasting it on a second inauguration. So the question that I have been wondering is this: Why do they have a second inauguration for presidents that are reelected?

~Nick Ratliff

Presidential Election

After four years, it is time to elect a new president or reelect the current one. President Obama and Mitt Romney are this year’s candidates. At first, many believed Obama was the for sure winner but after the first presidential debate,  the predictions had changed drastically. According to many, Obama had lost the first debate because he didn’t fight back, barely looked anyone in the eyes, and was very unfocused. This left much pressure on Joe Biden, Obama’s vice president, to  help regain their lead. Depending on who you ask, Biden delivered. Some say he was very rude while others  enjoyed his smirks and laughter. At the third debate, it was up to Obama to prove he was a worthy president. Obama ended up winning that one although neither Romney or him were that impressive. And when looking at the final debate,  the majority thought Obama  won again. Now after all the debates have ended, the election is pretty close. The still wavering voters will in the end decide who wins.

Although I am not old enough to vote, I believe Governor Romney should win.  One reason why is because he has experience rebuilding failing businesses. Small businesses all over the US are failing because of the tough economy. But, with Romney’s expertise in this area America could get much better.  I also think Romney should become our president because of his skills in running a society. As we all know, Romney used to govern Massachusetts. He did his job successfully, getting his state to the top of academic charts, which means he has the capability of running our country well. Overall, I think that Romney should be president because he will fulfill his  promises. Obama was given four years to prove he was the right choice, and in my opinion he didn’t. After watching Romney for only about month I knew that he would be a very successful president.  Personally I think after being given four years and not improving  America, Obama should be voted out and Romney should be put in.

~Virginia Shugrue

The World’s Worst College

The latest NBC/Wall Street Journal presidential poll showed both candidates, Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, deadlocked at 47% of the votes each. As the race tightens up, it is very possible that we may see what has only happened 4 other times in American history. A candidate may get more votes than the other candidate but still lose the election. How is this possible? Well, the presidential election is not determined by popular vote, it’s based on the Electoral College. In the Electoral College, each state gets a certain amount of electoral votes, which are based on population. For each state a candidate wins, they get that state’s Electoral votes. A candidate wins the election by winning 270 electoral votes.

I think the electoral system is really dumb, because a candidate should be chosen by how many total votes he or she gets, not how many populated states they win. A lot of other American’s must feel the same way I do, because in a recent poll by Gallup, 62% percent of adults want to abolish the Electoral College. The Electoral College makes it seem like votes in California (55 electoral votes) count more than votes in North Dakota (3 electoral votes). The electoral system probably also dissuades some citizens to vote, because they don’t think their vote counts. If we want a real democracy, then we should abolish the Electoral College once and for all.

~Rayan Vatti

Obama or NObama?

 

No news is more important than the upcoming elections this November when our country will decide on a president. “Aggghhh,” is the common reaction when turning on the T.V!  I’m sure you have scrolled past CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC to watch more enjoyable episodes of “America’s Got Talent” or “Glee.” Well, I don’t blame you! America has fallen into a crisis where we don’t want to hear our leaders constantly criticize and blather against one another on National Television. Sure the upcoming elections are up and Barack Obama and Mitt Romney are in a huge battle for the top position in our country. Debates, controversies, and interviews have heated up and the only thing to offer from the candidates is arguments against each other. Romney says something about Obama, Obama says something back, and it starts all over again. If you follow the commercials, I am sure you are confused about the facts. Who speaks the truth? Who has controversies? Who has the advantage this November, Obama or “NObama?”

In my opinion, Romney first –off made a mistake in saying 47% of Americans are lazy and on welfare, and that is why Obama is surging in polls!  You can’t say half of the country is not working when most people work hard just to barely meet their ends. The economy is in bad shape, and people have a hard time finding jobs. But if there is work, I am sure people would be willing to work to improve their lives.  While Obama has saved the auto industry and many “green” jobs, Romney has yet to lay out his plan for solving the economy. His own party members are asking him to come out with more details!  Romney criticizes Obama and says he will repeal ObamaCare, but as a governor of Massachusetts, he enacted a very similar health care law, which has became very popular in his state. He had moderate views when he was the Governor of Massachusetts, but he is afraid to express those because he wants to appeal to his conservative base.

Just like this incident Romney also has a tendency in changing his views and thoughts, causing voters to be unsure of what he’s really going to do if elected president. For example, his views about abortion and foreign policies have changed drastically. Another controversy was Romney’s speech in a Florida fundraiser. In my opinion, a true leader has conviction and takes responsibility for his actions. He wants to reduce the deficit, but he doesn’t give the details of how he’s going to do that. If he reduce taxes on the rich as he promised, how can he reduce the deficit?

Phew, I’m running out of words for Mitt. Now let’s talk about Obama. The president of our country has accomplished so much in so little including bringing the troops back from Afghanistan and Iraq, saving the auto industry, killing Osama Bin Laden, ObamaCare, and helped saving many of our country’s “green jobs.” Obama has been criticized for high unemployment in our country, but people forget how bad the economy was when he took office. His stimulus has prevented what could have been the biggest recession after depression! Obama has saved around 4.5 million private-sector jobs and he’s still on the verge of creating more jobs and improving the economy in the 2nd term if he is elected.  GObama!!!

-Arnav Velaparthi

Is The New Bill Passed in Missouri just a Waste?

The new bill passed in the State of Missouri, House Bill 1621, Was a bill passed by a woman named Wanda Brown. House Bill 1621 is a bill that protects gun owners in the state of Missouri from being fired from a job if you have ever fired a firearm, own a firearm, or like to practice your marksmanship on the weekends.Wanda Brown claims to be stopping the discrimination of gun owners being fired because of a thing they own. However many consider this new bill to just be adding a second protection on to the Constitution’s 2nd Amendment.  Plus Wanda Brown voted against LGBT which is trying to stop the discrimination of Homosexuals being fired because of their sexuality. Finally Wanda says she is trying to stop discrimination at every corner she can find, but saying no to a issue as big as this is a problem.

I think this should be considered a second protection to the already existing 2nd Amendment in the Constitution. Which states as a person of the U.S. you have the right to keep and bear arms. I also think the state senators such as Wanda Brown should focus more on the discrimination of Gays being fired because of their sexuality.  Focusing more on an issue that has affected millions of people and has caused many to lose their jobs because of it in my opinion is more important then a problem that could possibly happen in the future if the 2nd Amendment were to fail.

~Phillip Bodurtha

Today’s Politicians

Irresponsible! This day and age has brought along a group of people that I consider to be a joke. These so-called “politicians” can’t make up their own mind, relinquish social missiles towards each other (especially within their own parties), and are “real great” with the simple fact of remembering their own three promises; which most of them as president won’t even follow through with. And it’s both parties too! Both Democrats and Republicans lack a great consistency of knowledge. One of the possible 2012 candidates claims they’re ready to nuke Iran if he is elected for the four year stay in Washington. Great right…

You would think with around 250 years as an independent country we might stay united within at least our own political parties, or maybe gain a better perspective of everywhere and everything from our neighboring states to countries across the globe. What this country needs is somebody who’s dedicated to running it. Somebody who presents intellectual ideas beneficial to us as a country, who stands by their decisions and takes full credit for their actions, who is decisive in a positive manner, who supports their colleagues and peers, and one who can hopefully count to three (not to name anyone ^). Hopefully whoever is elected this coming November can suit the necessary requirements.

~Zach Feldman