Quick, Turn It Back On!

On October 1, 2013 the United States Federal Government was shut down, causing chaos, uncertainty, and financial turmoil.  Because the Democrats and Republicans could not agree on a budget in time for the next fiscal year, the government had to “shut down”.  People have lost wages because many government sponsored jobs are “on hold”, and there is a feeling of fear and doom across the country.   The media has played upon the huge philosophical and fiscal differences between the two parties, and the feud between the two is now an international event.  This shutdown makes the United States appear weak, irresponsible, and distracted on the international stage.  Other countries may view this internal crisis as a weakness.  The world sees this shutdown as extremely negative. This historical crisis is still occurring now, and will not stop until the two political parties show maturity and responsibility to agree with each other to create a workable budget.

I believe that the members of  the United States congress are  acting foolishly and that their disagreements are pathetic.  The members of Congress are egomaniacs who  think that their ideas are better than the ideas of the other party.  In my opinion, I think that the members of both parties are idiots and are losing sight of  what is really important, keeping  the Unites States as the greatest, most powerful country in the world! However, we can’t maintain such a high level of power when the people who run this country aren’t running it for the nation, they are running it into the ground because their own special interests are first.  I mean, you would think that maybe one person would rise above all and knock some sense into everybody’s heads, but apparently it hasn’t happened because this crisis has been going on for seven days now, and there is no end in sight.  I wonder how President Obama feels about the situation right now and what he could do to convince Congress to move  in the right direction? I also wonder how he feels, knowing that arrogant fools are guiding this nation into the wrong direction!? Well then, I’m just about ready to go to bed,  so the mind boggling thought of selfish fools managing this nation will soon flee my mind!-Thank God!

~Eric

Military Action Against Syria: Is It Necessary?

President Obama surprises the United States when he announced that he requires the approval from Congress that he wants to put military force against Syria. The reason for this military force, if you do not know, is to rejoinder against the chemical attack in Syria that killed over a thousand people. President Obama says that a failure to respond “could lead to escalating use of chemical weapons of their proliferation to terrorist groups who would do our people harm. In a world with many dangers, this menace must be confronted.”  Three days later, on September 4th, The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee votes to authorize military action in Syria. Obama then tries to retrieve support for the attack, but the public and Congress show reluctance for the military action.

I, myself, believe that we should take action against this. It may not seem necessary for us to do it, because it’s not our country, but who else will do it? We need someone to cleanse the world of chemical weapons, and we’re the the country that is going to do it. Seriously, how could we just watch Syria slowly get destroyed? I believe that this military action is necessary, even though it may not seem fit.

~Ryan

Deadly Rampage at U.S. Navy Yard

 

On September 16, 2013, Aaron Alexis, a former member of the Navy, killed 12 and injured 8 people at the Washington Navy Yard. Aaron had been employed at the base by a military subcontractor, was killed in a shootout with police. It was believed that he gained access to the secure facility from the ID of a 50 year-old former Navy Yard employee, however he was also working as an IT company worker that was upgrading the Navy’s computer systems. D.C. authorities did not suspect terrorism, but his motive still remains a mystery. At first, officials believed that two people were involved in the shooting, Aaron Alexis and a white man in a tan outfit. Later they found out that the man they believed to have been involved, was identified and was no longer a suspect. Not all of the 8 people that were injured were shot, some were just injured when fleeing the scene. Some say this will bring back the discussion of gun laws and how we should make them a national matter.

The issue of gun violence in the U.S. has caused the strengthening of gun laws. Mayor Vincent Gray of Washington D.C., joined President Barack Obama in the fight to tighten gun laws due to the recent shootings. Many people think Obama is to blame for the shootings and that these shootings could have been prevented if we didn’t have such weak gun laws. Others say that we need national gun laws. I agree with those people because obviously local gun laws will not work when you could just go to another jurisdiction to buy a gun. If we had national gun laws, maybe this shooting, along with others could have been prevented. For example, after a mass murder in Australia, the Australian government passed strict gun laws. Since then, there has not been another mass murder. In the U.S., we have one shooting after another. Will they ever end?

~Alyssa

OBAMA READY FOR ACTION IN SYRIA!

Only a few short weeks ago on August 21 the Syrian Government used a lethal chemical weapon on it’s own people with hopes to take out a rebellious group protesting against the government. Not only was this achieved but thousands of other innocent people were intoxicated and killed because of this gas. Millions of people fled the country to get themselves and their families out of harms way. The evil action performed by the Syrian government was a crime against all of humanity and the debate is going on now of who should be the one to go to the country and inflict the discipline that they deserve. President Obama believes that the United States should be the one to do so because they be the only one country capable of doing something impactful. He has sent the decision down to congress where it will be voted on whether or not any military actions will take place.

I think that no actions should be taken because it is not the United States responsibility to monitor what goes on around the world. The government’s main focus should be on protecting the US civilians and creating jobs for a struggling economy. I would like to believe that those things are the majority of the talk going on in the White House, not the corrupt country of Syria. Also, I think that the value of American Soldiers lives could be more wisely used on affairs directly affecting America. It would make the USA a lot happier if they knew that their soldiers were not being dumped into a foreign and unwelcoming land trying to settle an affair that has no bearing on the USA. In the end, soldiers lives would be saved by not taking any actions in Syria and and no Americans would die because of the evilness of Syria.

~Harry

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

Who Will Be Our New Leader?

Millions of voters, four years, one president. This is the 2012 Presidential Election. Once again, US citizens must vote for a new leader for our country. Since 2008, our leader has been Democrat Barack Obama. Obama is a candidate this year, running against Republican Mitt Romney. Who will be our new leader? Our nation will find out on November 6th, 2012.

As almost everybody knows, our country must vote for a new president. There are ups and downs about both Mitt Romney and Barack Obama. A down about Obama is that voting citizens think he did a bad job at handling the economy, so people who believe this might vote for Romney instead of Obama. More downs include: only 30% of voting citizens approve of his federal budget handling, and ObamaCare has more opponents than supporters. On the other hand, some positive qualities about Obama is that he is an inspiration and has a good effect on some people. Meanwhile, Mitt Romney is described as “patient and peaceful”. Unfortunately, at a breakfast in New Hampshire discussing health care, he was heard saying: “I like being able to fire people who provide services to me”. He also said “You know, if someone doesn’t give me a good service that I need, I want to say, ‘I’m going to get someone else to provide that service I need’”. In my opinion, this is an awful thing for any president to say. This statement sounds mean and selfish. Hopefully, both Obama and Romney have more positive characteristics than negative ones so our country can easily choose a good leader.

~Julia Marcouiller

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

Gay Marriage

A couple weeks ago on May 9th, history was made. President Obama announced  that he supported same-sex marriage. He makes clear during an interview  that everyone should be treated equal and if a couple (of the same gender) wants to get married, that is their choice and nothing should get in the way of their decision. Even though he claims this is his own personal opinion, he still encouraged states to decide on this issue on their own. Many people believe that this statement will help President Obama be re-elected President of the United States because he may be able to gain votes from gay and lesbian couples. Others believe he will lose votes from those who strictly believe that marriage should be between a man and a women.  I personally believe that the younger generation of our country, agrees more with Obama and supporting gay marriage, rather than the elders. I think this will be an issue for Obama because those who support his viewpoint are not as likely to vote.

In my opinion, I don’t think there is anything wrong with gay or lesbian couples getting married. I agree with President Obama that everyone should be treated equally. If gay and lesbian couples are denied the right to get married  then they aren’t being treated as equals. I think that people can’t help who they fall in love with and it’s not their fault if they happen to fall in love with a person of the same gender. If they are ready for the commitment, they should be able to marry the person they love just like everyone else does. What are your opinions on gay marriage?

~Allie Vazquez

Obama Supports Same Gender Marriage

http://i.usatoday.net/news/_photos/2012/05/09/In-gamble-Obama-supports-gay-marriage-5J1F11I4-x-large.jpg

Obama says he supports Gay Marriage in a speech. He said his position was influenced by gay members of the military and his staff who are raising children together in relationships. America’s reaction to Obama supporting was mostly positive. Many people are agreeing that everyone deserves equal rights, no matter what the situation is. Many people believe this will gain some votes but will also make him lose some. There are many opinions out there, and he chose to support it. A lot of other people believe this will not determine people’s vote, and he did the right thing. What is your opinion?

I think what he has done is right, and it should not affect the way people vote. He says he thinks we should all have equal rights and it’s time that same gender marriages be allowed. In 2008, he was against it but now his opinion has evolved. In this video he also states that he hesitated at first because he thought the word marriage to some people means involving religion, beliefs, traditions, etc. His opinion now puts him up against Mitt Romney who believes marriage should only be between a man and a woman. Mitt Romney says it is a tender and sensitive topic and that his own preference is that there should be no gay marriage. In a recent survey, studies show that 50% approve of gay marriage, and 48% disapprove. So what is your opinion? Do you support Obama and legalizing gay marriage? Would his decision change your vote?

~Kendra Hall