Tag Archives: taxes

Don’t exclude Homeschooled Children

Did you know that Connecticut is one of the 21 states that doesn’t allow homeschooled children to participate in sports and other activities in public schools? There are approximately 1.7 million homeschoolers in the United States ( A House Divided; Homeschool Students on School Sports Teams ), and only 25 states in the U.S. allow homechooled children to play public school sports. At this current time, more than 19 states allow home-schooled children to participate in public school activities ( some with requirements ), while 21 other states only allow children with full enrollment to participate in their activities. The state of Connecticut doesn’t allow any homeschooled children to join and participate in their activities, and this is because Connecticut follows the rules of  the CIAC. The CIAC (Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference ) says that, “Home schooled students are not eligible to participate on CIAC schools’ interscholastic teams”. Only students that are fully enrolled into the school that is under the rules of the CIAC are allowed to play and do the activities at that school.

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By excluding homeschooled children from participating in public school sports, its discriminating against parent’s  right to educate their children how they see fit. Everyone should have a right to tryout for and if they make, participate in any organization or  athletic team that their  tax paying dollars support. ( Pro/Con; Should Homeschoolers be Allowed To Participate in Public School Sports? ) There are many positive  benefits for children who play on a school-based sports team, this includes weight control, self esteem, social skills, leadership skills and better academic achievements among children who play on sports teams.  Even though children have the opportunity to attend  public schools in the area they live in, some children choose not to  attend them, and this can be because their parents are in  the military and they move around alot, religion reasons, and bullying issues.  I was very disappointed when I found out that in Connecticut the CIAC wouldn’t allow my friend and travel basketball teammate to tryout for the Dodd team.  So, I wrote to my local representatives asking them to create a new  law that would ban the CIAC from discriminating against home schooled children. All in all, if you pay taxes for the school system and you chose to educated you child at home  your children should still be able to participate in your schools team sports and activities.  It would  benefit the homeschooled children and it would make the school team stronger because you never know the next Michael Jordan or Rebecca Lobo might be homeschooled in your town.  

~Sophia

An UnCaring Act From Obama

 

Americans are being forced to pay for others medical plans with their own hard earned salaries in a cumbersome plan called the Affordable Care Act, or usually identified as Obama Care. “TheAffordable Care Act was signed into law toreform the healthcare industry by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010 and upheld by the Supreme Court on June 28, 2012” (Obama). This plan requires citizens of the United States, who can already afford their own healthcare, to pay high taxes for the health care of others who cannot afford it for themselves. Obama Care requires residents of America to switch their present plan by the year 2015 unless it meets the requirements of the Affordable Care Act. Many Americans have already tried to go on the website for Obama Care to sign up for it and found it very difficult to understand exactly what is in the plan.  It’s very important to point out that even Barack Obama  has exempted himself from his own plan! Now, I know that teenagers reading this may be wondering, how does this apply to me? It does. Many kids just believe exactly what they hear and I don’t want anyone to just believe that ObamaCare is a great plan. It is good for everyone to know what is going on in the US. This plan presents multiple problems for the citizens of the United States.

 I believe that this plan should never have been approved by the Supreme Court for multiple reasons. First, Barack Obama, the one who created the plan, has exempted himself from this plan! Knowing this, I just keep thinking to myself, RED FLAG! A giant, humungous, cherry red flag!  If Obama has exempted himself from ObamaCare, that means that even he knows it’s terrible. Second, it requires people who have worked hard in their life to provide for the needs of their family to pay higher taxes for the people who don’t have enough to afford health care. Now, these taxes aren’t just some small amount of money, this healthcare plan is costly. I have no idea where the “affordable” in Affordable Care Act comes from. Under this plan, even average citizens will be trampled under the costs of this plan. Citizens who have earned their salary and saved it should not have to give it up to people who have spent it on luxuries such as drugs, cigarettes, etc. There are some cases where it is kind to help another person, such as a death in the family causing money issues, however people should be able to choose to give to others, not forced. Kindness comes out of your heart. Citizens should not lose their money and become poor, in order to make another family richer. Lastly, many people don’t even understand all the parts of this new plan. There are so many loopholes in this uncaring act. Thus, Obama’s plan is just a path leading our country into disaster.

~Calli

Cheshire Public Pool Bubble: Two for Two

Have you heard that the Cheshire Public Pool bubble collapsed for a second time due to the 2013 snowstorm Nemo?  Can it happen a third time?  It occurred the first time from a snow storm two years ago and once again from blizzard Nemo that dumped up to 3 feet of snow on Cheshire. They tried to make the bubble sturdy enough to hold the weight of snow or rain, but clearly it hasn’t worked.  The weight of the snow has been too much to handle.  The past two snow storms have caused a lot of damage to the Cheshire Public Pool, not only to the bubble, but also to the equipment inside.  Now I ask you, do you think the town will decide to put up another bubble over the pool?

I honestly think that the Town of Cheshire will decide to put up a third bubble only to watch it collapse for a third time unless changes are made to the design.   If I was in charge of the town,  I would just keep the pool without a bubble.  What would you do if you have to choose?  The Cheshire Pool bubble collapsed because of the weight of the snow causing a tear in the bubble that was measured up to 40 feet long.  Who knew so much snow can cause the bubble to collapse two times?  Nobody knew snow could cause so much trouble to one town.  If the town of Cheshire had to get the opinion of residents, would you ever think of how many people would say put a new bubble up? Well, obviously the residents are thinking because each time the town is deciding to put a new bubble up it is costing the town money.  The money the town gets is from the residents through taxes. Would you want to pay higher taxes just to get the Town of Cheshire to put up another bubble over the pool or should we just put up a permanent structure over it? This idea of a permanent roof covering is a very expensive idea, but may be worth it in the end.  Have you ever thought of the people that have kids that have to pay for their kids to go to college?  How would you feel if you had to pay for your child’s education and have to give up some of their money for something the town should have to pay for?  How would you, as a resident in the Town of Cheshire, feel if you had to pay just to get a bubble that has a possibility of collapsing again to cover a pool.  The pool doesn’t necessarily need the the bubble because the pool can be used as a summer facility only.  The only problem with this idea is what will the town swim teams do about their seasons or what will the other townspeople do, who frequent the pool for year-round exercise?  Clearly, the town may be making the right decision by putting a new bubble over the pool, but who knows if it will be a waste of money to do so.

~Liana Quinones

Herman Cain For President

If 10% is good enough for God then 9% should be just fine for the Federal Government.       -Herman Cain-

Herman Cain one of the Republican Candidates for president has his 9-9-9 plan where there is a 9% Corporate Flat Tax, 9% Personal Flat Tax, a 9% National sales Tax, zero capital gains tax, and ends the Death Tax. In the Cain administration no American Citizen will pay more than a 9% federal income tax.

I think that this will work because Cain knows first hand what it’s like to own a small business and pay taxes, plus pay his employees and himself. I feel that this would be a fair way for everyone to pay their part. If everyone pays the same amount it may inspire more people to start a business. It would also be easier to figure out your taxes because you would know the exact percentage you would pay. Once the plan is put into place over the current plan then there will be more jobs. And Herman Cain said “our tax code is the 21st century version of slavery.” Meaning that the IRS is taxing us to the point that we are slaves to paying taxes. Herman Cain will be a great president. He will do what he says he will do.

~Sam Simler