Environmental Policy

Global warming is an important issue, if not the most important issue in today's society.

Even though issues such as the economy or elections are having the most media attention currently, the future of where we are living needs help first.  If everyone could do as much as they could to help this situation, then it could be slowly be helped, but most people are continuing to abuse the earth rather than help fix it.

People need to realize that there is literally one Earth and if it is destroyed, that is the end of it, no one can live anywhere else.  I would never want my generation to be known as the destroyers of the planet, rather the ones who changed it for the better, for the future.  

Personally, I try and do whatever I can to fix this problem.  I have driven a Prius for two years, and so do my parents.  Little things like using energy efficient light bulbs and turning out the lights when leaving a room can be a small help in a big problem.

The destruction of the earth is not something happening so far in the future that we do not have to worry about it, it is happening as we speak, at this very moment, and can be completely destroyed if no one does anything.

Another way to help is to speak and spread the word about the problem.  For example, Mr. Gwaltney's most inspirational speech gave the class of 2008 a push to go help problems such as these, because we are the future.  We are the generation that people are talking to and telling to make action.  I want to be in history as that group who finally took action and made things happen.  Life without action is nothing at all, and without any purpose, it is not worth living.  

I hereby say I will try my best to take action against this giant cause.  There are so many causes to take action against, but first and foremost, the environment, where we live, needs to be saved in order to continue on and help the other causes.

Caucus

The media and press turn away from Iowa and head full force towards New Hampshire, wehre the next Caucus will be held. At least their attention is on something BESIDES Britney Spears, but it is still somewhat an overwhelming amount. I appreciate their stress on the importance of politics but it almost makes me feel nervous or like the entire world depends on who wins these primaries. It's the same feeling I have waiting to see which college I will get into. I know choosing that college literally is choosing my life path because where I go determines everything that comes after that- future friends, jobs, experiences. It is the exact same thing with these primaries, who the people choose will completely alter the outcome compared if someone else won. Is this really true or is this exaggeration? Probablly somewhere in the middle.

Downer

Supposively 2008 is not going to be the greatest year.

I have been really excited about it since it is the year I graduate and turn 18 but recent news kind of brought me down. This year we're going to have economic recession, gas prices will inflate, and in the next couple years the stock market will possibly crash, at least drop dramatically. And guess what? To top it off we're still in a war!- which probablly is the main contributor for these consequences.

What's the solution? Where do we go from here? I guess at this point we can only rise up, we've reached such a low. I think the next presidential election will bring new plans and new ideas to help prosper our country. Our economy is the most important thing we need to worry about right now and we need to have our next president be someone that is concerned about it and puts effort into bringing it back up.

Just and Fair Voting Strategies

After seeing the documentary in Mr. Gwaltney's class this week about the 2000 election, specifically with the drama that occured in Florida at that time, it got me thinking about the many ways and outcomes that could have turned out differently if there were small changes and rules in our voting system. There were so many unjustices pulled off in certain counties of Florida that election, it was astonishing, but mostly the election was a representation of the flaws in our democratic system. Personal gain, power, strategy, and manipulation all went into play during that election, and people were willing to do illegal, unfair things to get the outcome they were hoping for.
If the government enforced a law that felons are allowed to vote or even the exclusion of complicated voting techniques like the butterfly ballet, then the outcomes of all elections would be alot more accurate of all the people in America's opinions.
I am open to other ideas to cleanse our voting system, but I think it IS obvious that our voting system does in fact need cleansing. Some of the impurities that officials have introduced into our so called "free" and "just" government are embarrasing and need to be put to an end.

Celebrity Political Influence

A couple months ago I was having a conversation with one of my volleyball coaches about musicians and their influence in the media and on the political world. Specifically, this coach was saying how she did not appreciate the Dixie Chicks and their comments about President Bush and wholeheartedly believed in the "shut up an sing" policy. Her main reasons backing this belief was noticing how influential bands can be on kids because young people absorb everything around them like a sponge, not filtering out the stuff they should make their own opinions on. Since they have no control over this absorption, in my coach's opinion, then celebrities, like Green Day or the Dixie Chicks should not voice their opinions on these issues.

Now my opinion on this is widely different. I recently went to a couple Bravery concerts and they make their political views clear when they say things like "this next song is about our f****** up political situation!". Hearing the band say this reminded me of the conversation I had with my coach and how my views haven't changed.

If I had the power and ability like any celebrity does, I would use it to its advantage. Of course I would never want to brain wash anyone and I respect other people's veiws, but I completely understand when there is something political that a celebrity is appreciative or frustrated about and acts out according to that. I also hate when people say that "musicians should just not give their opinion about anything". HELLO, all songs are written talking about their OPINION on something. It's like telling authors not to write themes and meaning into their novels. Everyone has the right in America to have the freedom of speech, and if someone has a large way of saying it (through song etc.) then I support their approach.

Ellen shocks the audience once again! =O

Today on the Ellen Show, Jenna Bush came to promote her new book at the work she has been doing with UNICEF. It has been a few years (probablly more like months) since this party monster became more low key in order to advertise this book.

There was a huge shock when Jenna decideds to call her mom and dad right there on the show! Even though Jen's done alot of crazy things, that's pretty wild if you ask me...!!! She is worried her parents will be angry since they weren't warned about the call, instead the President uses this time to look positive on television. He says cute and adorable things to his daughter about how much he loves her and the audience reacted in a unified "AWWwwwwWW". The point of this call was because Ellen didn't believe Jenna could actually reach her parents on the phone whenever she wanted, and Jenna did prove it.

Even though I question whether this was really spontaneous, it was fun having the President talk informally to Americans and on a show where a lesbian is the host. Maybe he's trying to use his daughter though, promoting her current positive situation, to overshadown his current negative situation. If that was the case I would be disapointed in him as a President and father. Although, at this point, I have been shocked too much where I am numb to most of the President's bad actions now.

happiness

As I was searching the editorials in the New York Times, I came across one that discusses the simple idea of happiness. The happier someone is the less likely they will be sick or feel bad. Usually when someone is around their fifties they tend to be their unhappiest, probably because of midlife anxiety. Surprisingly, it is found that paraplegics are not unhappier than healthy people and people who live with teenagers are the unhappiest of all of the unhappy people (I WOULDN’T WANT TO BE MY PARENTS)!
A recent study found that Americans were no happier than they were at the end of World War II. Also, life satisfaction in China declined between 1994 and 2007, even though economically they were prospering rapidly. It is true though that the rich are happier, but that is usually just for a short period of time. Those rich happy people find someone even richer to be jealous of and satisfaction soon settles back to its prior level. We always set our expectations higher than where we are settled.
Ways we can increase satisfaction for a long period of time include free time or social interaction. Also, vacations or more time with family and friends are likely to produce more lasting changes in satisfaction.
Our government should spend money to help promote leisurely yet pleasing activities like these, rather than trying to increase the nation’s economic wealth, and everyone will be a lot happier!