If you had told me I was going to be prom queen when I was a freshman, I would have laughed and told you you were wrong. Very wrong. When I thought of the prom queen, I always thought of Barbie which would never equate to myself. Like everyone does, I went through the awkward ugly duckling phase. From the time I was in third grade to about seventh grade, I was not considered an attractive child. I wore the glasses, the braces, and the oh-so-popular short bob cut. Looking back at it, it makes me thankful because if people went through life looking great all the time, it would get boring. There would be no depth to them I guarantee you. But becoming the prom was such a humbling experience. I never knew that people cared so much until they announced my name.
I have always underestimated myself and there's no question about it. I have always thought that I was not good enough to receive the people I have now in my life. I thought I wasn't intelligent enough to be earning the grades that are on my transcript. I never thought this year would be so hard yet so rewarding at the same time. People made me realize this year that there is more that's going on than meets the eye. Like I stated before, I always thought the prom queen was Barbie. That she was perfect. But she's not. No one is perfect and that's what I've come to realize this year. No one is. Barbie will never exist in this world and I realized most people like to vote for someone they can connect to. I just didn't know I would be that person.
I'm thankful though. This title doesn't dictate who I am of course, but it definitely gives me some incite as to how my peers feel about me. After looking at the ballot, I understood why all those girls were on there: because they all truly deserved it. Sanam Hahemi is a great example; she is one of the kindest people I know yet she's also witty and people love to listen to her because she's intelligent. She still thinks that her name was a joke but i keep reminding her that there are so many people that love her and care about her. That's why her name was on that ballot. Yet, she's not perfect either. None of these girls were perfect. And I'm proud to be in a selection of girls that does not believe perfection to be the be-all-and-the-end-all.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
CT Scans: Could Be Causing Increase in Cancer
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/06/ct-scans-increase-childrens-cancer-risk-study-finds/?ref=health
If I wasn't going into acting, I would probably contemplate the idea of becoming a doctor instead. Medicine has fascinated me and has made me wonder how it works in the body as well as it does. Or doesn't. Some things our bodies can handle, such as sun radiation every once in while (with sunscreen of course.) But according to a new study conducted by the scientists of The Lancet, a British practice, reported that CT scans can increase a child's risk of being diagnosed with leukemia and cancer later in life. "180,000 children who had scans from 1985 to 2002 in Britain. There were 74 cases of leukemia and 135 cases of brain cancer in the group." There may be some confounding factors in this study but the results are alarming enough that people may have to ask whether its genetics or some form of gamma radiation that caused this. "Children under 15 who had two or three scans of the head had triple the risk of brain cancer compared with the general population, the researchers found, and 5 to 10 scans tripled the risk of leukemia. But the baseline risk is extremely low — 4.5 cases of leukemia per 100,000 people under 20, and 3.5 cases of cancer of the brain or central nervous system." says Denise Grady, the author of this article. She's right, in which the chance is small. But several doctors have been trying to figure out the causes of cancer and leukemia and have linked it back to these types of machines which give off these harmful rays. Scientists are trying to make advancements towards protecting young children and their vulnerable skin from any type of cancer or leukemia. They are trying to lower the power of the rays by finding chemicals that will be less damaging, than so those chemicals that have been linked to types of cancers.
Personally, I know I would like to see them make this advancement because it is important that we find a way to not make cancer as prevalent in society. Even though heart disease is the number one killer of both men and women in America, cancer is right up there with it. Potentially, there are effects of cancer that we do not have control over such as our genes. But we do have control over the amount of rays that are being produced by a CT scan machine. These children deserve to be able to live a life where they don't have to worry about dying before their parents do. This article emphasizes the importance of keeping a child healthy and cancer free under controllable circumstances. "A major study warning of CT risks to children, based on the Japanese exposure, was published in 2001; it predicted that of the 600,000 children under 15 who were having head and abdominal scans in the United States each year, 500 might ultimately die of cancer caused by the CT radiation." writes Grady. We've come a long way since 2001, and Grady does a good job of acknowledging that fact. We still must protect the future generations from any harm. Any way we can stop cancer is a means of moving in the right direction.
If I wasn't going into acting, I would probably contemplate the idea of becoming a doctor instead. Medicine has fascinated me and has made me wonder how it works in the body as well as it does. Or doesn't. Some things our bodies can handle, such as sun radiation every once in while (with sunscreen of course.) But according to a new study conducted by the scientists of The Lancet, a British practice, reported that CT scans can increase a child's risk of being diagnosed with leukemia and cancer later in life. "180,000 children who had scans from 1985 to 2002 in Britain. There were 74 cases of leukemia and 135 cases of brain cancer in the group." There may be some confounding factors in this study but the results are alarming enough that people may have to ask whether its genetics or some form of gamma radiation that caused this. "Children under 15 who had two or three scans of the head had triple the risk of brain cancer compared with the general population, the researchers found, and 5 to 10 scans tripled the risk of leukemia. But the baseline risk is extremely low — 4.5 cases of leukemia per 100,000 people under 20, and 3.5 cases of cancer of the brain or central nervous system." says Denise Grady, the author of this article. She's right, in which the chance is small. But several doctors have been trying to figure out the causes of cancer and leukemia and have linked it back to these types of machines which give off these harmful rays. Scientists are trying to make advancements towards protecting young children and their vulnerable skin from any type of cancer or leukemia. They are trying to lower the power of the rays by finding chemicals that will be less damaging, than so those chemicals that have been linked to types of cancers.
Personally, I know I would like to see them make this advancement because it is important that we find a way to not make cancer as prevalent in society. Even though heart disease is the number one killer of both men and women in America, cancer is right up there with it. Potentially, there are effects of cancer that we do not have control over such as our genes. But we do have control over the amount of rays that are being produced by a CT scan machine. These children deserve to be able to live a life where they don't have to worry about dying before their parents do. This article emphasizes the importance of keeping a child healthy and cancer free under controllable circumstances. "A major study warning of CT risks to children, based on the Japanese exposure, was published in 2001; it predicted that of the 600,000 children under 15 who were having head and abdominal scans in the United States each year, 500 might ultimately die of cancer caused by the CT radiation." writes Grady. We've come a long way since 2001, and Grady does a good job of acknowledging that fact. We still must protect the future generations from any harm. Any way we can stop cancer is a means of moving in the right direction.
Hip Hop: Made to Change?
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/05/arts/music/nicki-minaj-backs-out-of-summer-jam.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&ref=music
I'll be the first to admit that I love pop culture. Like most people, I find it a little more entertaining than other types of news due to the fact that it pertains to the current generation of young adults. For example, there are up and coming artist who create major controversy, like Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, and Chris Brown. Though all seem to have quite a trend (i.e. making obscene stage appearances, wearing ill fitted clothing and expressing their opinions about the paparazzi through hand gestures), Nicki Minaj has caused more of an uproar by selling out Gaga and Brown combined with regards to ticket sales and albums. Minaj has been an up and coming artist for about a year and a half now and continues to create songs that are suited for the tween age group and the bubble gum pop culture. D.J Rosenberg of New York's 97.1 Hip Hop station made a comment about Minaj's lack of talent with regards to this genre of music. “I’m here to talk about real hip-hop.” He remarked as he spoke to the crowd who came out for the latest Hot Summer Jam Concert in New York City. Minaj was supposed to perform that day but after hearing the comment, her manager called to confirm that she was no longer going to be a part of the event. While other appearances were made, such as Tyga and Wacka Flocka Flame, the crowd apparently was waiting for Minaj. Rosenberg has made snide comments about her before on his radio station, remarking that she is "not a good representation of what Hip Hop is." But neither are Tyga and Wacka Flocka Flame.
This generation is constantly evolving and changing the dynamics of music. The game is no longer for men but for women too. Minaj has set for this trend, making her way to the top of the charts month after month and earning recognition from every aspect of the music industry. Though she is not my favorite artist, I have to give her credit where credit is due and that is why I chose this article. She was going to be the only female representing the Hip Hop genre at the Summer Jam Concert. Yet, Rosenberg can't seem to keep his opinion to himself, thus making her back out of the performance. Fans were angry and that can affect his job he continues to slam the careers of those who trying to make it in this industry. The article, written by Jon Carramanica, emphasized that this genre of music is not something that stays steady but changes overtime as we become more knowledgeable about the people who are representing it. Minaj is just one example. Did the author have some biased towards her? Yes, but he proposed a good argument in which " Hip-hop is many things, depending on who is drawing the boundaries: sometimes it’s a walled-off fort, sometimes a steady fountain of invention and change." Both sexes should be given an equal chance to create this type of music and people, such as Rosenberg, should not be so against the idea of evolution in the music world. Minaj is the one bringing in the money after all.
I'll be the first to admit that I love pop culture. Like most people, I find it a little more entertaining than other types of news due to the fact that it pertains to the current generation of young adults. For example, there are up and coming artist who create major controversy, like Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, and Chris Brown. Though all seem to have quite a trend (i.e. making obscene stage appearances, wearing ill fitted clothing and expressing their opinions about the paparazzi through hand gestures), Nicki Minaj has caused more of an uproar by selling out Gaga and Brown combined with regards to ticket sales and albums. Minaj has been an up and coming artist for about a year and a half now and continues to create songs that are suited for the tween age group and the bubble gum pop culture. D.J Rosenberg of New York's 97.1 Hip Hop station made a comment about Minaj's lack of talent with regards to this genre of music. “I’m here to talk about real hip-hop.” He remarked as he spoke to the crowd who came out for the latest Hot Summer Jam Concert in New York City. Minaj was supposed to perform that day but after hearing the comment, her manager called to confirm that she was no longer going to be a part of the event. While other appearances were made, such as Tyga and Wacka Flocka Flame, the crowd apparently was waiting for Minaj. Rosenberg has made snide comments about her before on his radio station, remarking that she is "not a good representation of what Hip Hop is." But neither are Tyga and Wacka Flocka Flame.
This generation is constantly evolving and changing the dynamics of music. The game is no longer for men but for women too. Minaj has set for this trend, making her way to the top of the charts month after month and earning recognition from every aspect of the music industry. Though she is not my favorite artist, I have to give her credit where credit is due and that is why I chose this article. She was going to be the only female representing the Hip Hop genre at the Summer Jam Concert. Yet, Rosenberg can't seem to keep his opinion to himself, thus making her back out of the performance. Fans were angry and that can affect his job he continues to slam the careers of those who trying to make it in this industry. The article, written by Jon Carramanica, emphasized that this genre of music is not something that stays steady but changes overtime as we become more knowledgeable about the people who are representing it. Minaj is just one example. Did the author have some biased towards her? Yes, but he proposed a good argument in which " Hip-hop is many things, depending on who is drawing the boundaries: sometimes it’s a walled-off fort, sometimes a steady fountain of invention and change." Both sexes should be given an equal chance to create this type of music and people, such as Rosenberg, should not be so against the idea of evolution in the music world. Minaj is the one bringing in the money after all.
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Obesity: Another Reason for High Prices and Deaths
http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/sns-rt-us-obesitybre83t0c8-20120430,0,4298976,full.story
Obesity in this country is no longer a problem but an epidemic. Within the last ten years, the percent of overweight people has risen to 60% and 40% for the percent of people considered obese. The word has been around for a long time, but has never been applied to so many people due to the fact it was rare to find someone who was considered obese 50 years ago. But recent generations have created this trend with the invention of new technology, bigger portions and sedentary lifestyles. In Sharon Begley Reuters's article 'As America's waistline expands, cost soar', she talks about the effects of obesity on America and how it has caused the prices of simple things to rise. For example, automobile companies are being asked to test cars to make sure they can support people, who are considered overweight, during an accident. Hospitals are ripping off the toilets from the wall to help those who are overweight patients. These reasons alone are causing size discrimination within this country, and employers are starting to turn away potential workers because of health concerns. This behavior though, only keeps obese and overweight people from working, causing them to be less productive and to gain more weight. Obamacare has placed restrictions on these people who meet these demographics stating, that if they decline Health Care, employers can charge these people 30 to 50 percent more for health insurance. And that's not the only thing they're shelling out for.
According to Reuters, obese men pay an additional $1,152 a year in medical expenses for pills and prescription drugs. Obese women pay over double the amount, paying an extra $3,613 more medical expenses because of their beauty products and procedures they may have. An American who is defined as being healthy will pay over $17,000 in medical bills each year. Most of those will find themselves bankrupt meaning that people who are obese are not only shelling out more money but they will also find themselves in debt. Unfortunately, doctors have to prescribe these pills but that doesn't mean that the person will be covered by Medicare. It's a vicious cycle that this country has created due to the fact that no one knows how to handle this epidemic without one side losing.
This epidemic did not exist 50 years ago. This was not considered a problem. But now it is, and we'll have to find a way to fix it in order to help future generations. As adult obesity increases, so does childhood obesity, leading to another generation with severe health issues. These issues can be prevented though and that's why this topic interest me. Everyone has the ability to make healthy choices, such as to exercise 30 minutes a day or choose celery sticks over french fries. Instead though, Americans are choosing french fries and are sitting on the couch for three hours every night watching mindless television. And they don't seem to care. Reuters points out that most of these individuals are dying at an early age and yet, their health issues effect this country by acting as a precedent for the generations to come. Our country needs to promote a healthier lifestyle in order to slow this epidemic from reaching young children. But it has to start from the sources which are the adults. This country has to do a better job creating an environment that does not advocate sedentary lifestyles and fast food meals. We have to do it though without discriminating against groups that are classified as overweight or obese because it only makes them more resistant to the changes we're trying to make. Reuters wrote this article to send a message that people are paying too much for something that can be prevented from the start. This particular health issue can be controlled so that fewer people fall victim to Type 2 Diabetes or heart attacks brought on by high blood pressure. "The books on obesity remain open." Reuters writes. But this generation has the ability to close them and put them in the past.
Obesity in this country is no longer a problem but an epidemic. Within the last ten years, the percent of overweight people has risen to 60% and 40% for the percent of people considered obese. The word has been around for a long time, but has never been applied to so many people due to the fact it was rare to find someone who was considered obese 50 years ago. But recent generations have created this trend with the invention of new technology, bigger portions and sedentary lifestyles. In Sharon Begley Reuters's article 'As America's waistline expands, cost soar', she talks about the effects of obesity on America and how it has caused the prices of simple things to rise. For example, automobile companies are being asked to test cars to make sure they can support people, who are considered overweight, during an accident. Hospitals are ripping off the toilets from the wall to help those who are overweight patients. These reasons alone are causing size discrimination within this country, and employers are starting to turn away potential workers because of health concerns. This behavior though, only keeps obese and overweight people from working, causing them to be less productive and to gain more weight. Obamacare has placed restrictions on these people who meet these demographics stating, that if they decline Health Care, employers can charge these people 30 to 50 percent more for health insurance. And that's not the only thing they're shelling out for.
According to Reuters, obese men pay an additional $1,152 a year in medical expenses for pills and prescription drugs. Obese women pay over double the amount, paying an extra $3,613 more medical expenses because of their beauty products and procedures they may have. An American who is defined as being healthy will pay over $17,000 in medical bills each year. Most of those will find themselves bankrupt meaning that people who are obese are not only shelling out more money but they will also find themselves in debt. Unfortunately, doctors have to prescribe these pills but that doesn't mean that the person will be covered by Medicare. It's a vicious cycle that this country has created due to the fact that no one knows how to handle this epidemic without one side losing.
This epidemic did not exist 50 years ago. This was not considered a problem. But now it is, and we'll have to find a way to fix it in order to help future generations. As adult obesity increases, so does childhood obesity, leading to another generation with severe health issues. These issues can be prevented though and that's why this topic interest me. Everyone has the ability to make healthy choices, such as to exercise 30 minutes a day or choose celery sticks over french fries. Instead though, Americans are choosing french fries and are sitting on the couch for three hours every night watching mindless television. And they don't seem to care. Reuters points out that most of these individuals are dying at an early age and yet, their health issues effect this country by acting as a precedent for the generations to come. Our country needs to promote a healthier lifestyle in order to slow this epidemic from reaching young children. But it has to start from the sources which are the adults. This country has to do a better job creating an environment that does not advocate sedentary lifestyles and fast food meals. We have to do it though without discriminating against groups that are classified as overweight or obese because it only makes them more resistant to the changes we're trying to make. Reuters wrote this article to send a message that people are paying too much for something that can be prevented from the start. This particular health issue can be controlled so that fewer people fall victim to Type 2 Diabetes or heart attacks brought on by high blood pressure. "The books on obesity remain open." Reuters writes. But this generation has the ability to close them and put them in the past.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
"The Raven" Takes a Nose Dive
http://movies.nytimes.com/2012/04/27/movies/the-raven-with-john-cusack-directed-by-james-mcteigue.html?ref=movies
A.O. Scott's article "A Murderer Tapping at His Chamber Door" does an excellent job summing up what director, James McTeigue's, new movie, The Raven is: a jumbled mess. Predictable? Yes. But I was interested to see what critics had to say about the movie. "The fannish obsessiveness that animates 'The Raven' is its most appealing attribute, and even Poe scholars can forgive it for discarding the biographical record in favor of playful, gruesome fantasy." Scott writes. The director takes all of Edgar Allan Poe's pieces of literature and tries to incorporate them into one movie. It does not work in McTeigue's favor due to the fact that he tries to focus on too many of Poe's literary accomplishments and leaves the viewer wondering why they are learning about all these unnecessary titles and allusions. Not only is the movie's plot unclear but the acting is sub par. John Cusak is not a bad actor. Unfortunately though, he's been placed in a film that he cannot save on his raw talent alone. Scott describes the quality of the performances as either be "over acted" or not on point. Both are extremes that a viewer would notice if the plot is less than entertaining. Another poor quality is the fact that the history of Poe's life is incorrect. For viewer's who don't know much about Poe, there won't be a problem but for those who do, they will find themselves griping endlessly about the misrepresentation of Poe's last days. Scott seems to take pleasure in reading Poe's work and from this article it appears that he is far from impressed with McTeigue's interpretation.
If any popular newspaper company is going to review a movie, it's going to have to be the New York Times. People, like myself, trust the knowledge of their critics because they know what works and doesn't. One of the reasons why I chose this article was to see if this movie was actually good. From the trailers on TV, I could tell it wasn't. A.O. Scott wrote down everything I was thinking though, when I viewed these advertisements for The Raven: boring, unrealistic and unoriginal. The article was entertaining to read because Scott had to find some humor in the worst parts of the movie. After all, a critic can't see a wonderful, action packed movie every time. They have to see some bad films too. To understand what Scott was talking about, I had to research some of this information about Poe to see how many books and essays he had written. He has written many and to know that a director would try to use all of them in one movie makes me cringe. Due to the diction in Scott's article, I could tell he was doing the same thing, sitting through the movie. I like writers like Scott because they give me what I'm looking for: an honest opinion. And because of him, I can save myself $10 and an hour and forty three minutes of sheer boredom.
A.O. Scott's article "A Murderer Tapping at His Chamber Door" does an excellent job summing up what director, James McTeigue's, new movie, The Raven is: a jumbled mess. Predictable? Yes. But I was interested to see what critics had to say about the movie. "The fannish obsessiveness that animates 'The Raven' is its most appealing attribute, and even Poe scholars can forgive it for discarding the biographical record in favor of playful, gruesome fantasy." Scott writes. The director takes all of Edgar Allan Poe's pieces of literature and tries to incorporate them into one movie. It does not work in McTeigue's favor due to the fact that he tries to focus on too many of Poe's literary accomplishments and leaves the viewer wondering why they are learning about all these unnecessary titles and allusions. Not only is the movie's plot unclear but the acting is sub par. John Cusak is not a bad actor. Unfortunately though, he's been placed in a film that he cannot save on his raw talent alone. Scott describes the quality of the performances as either be "over acted" or not on point. Both are extremes that a viewer would notice if the plot is less than entertaining. Another poor quality is the fact that the history of Poe's life is incorrect. For viewer's who don't know much about Poe, there won't be a problem but for those who do, they will find themselves griping endlessly about the misrepresentation of Poe's last days. Scott seems to take pleasure in reading Poe's work and from this article it appears that he is far from impressed with McTeigue's interpretation.
If any popular newspaper company is going to review a movie, it's going to have to be the New York Times. People, like myself, trust the knowledge of their critics because they know what works and doesn't. One of the reasons why I chose this article was to see if this movie was actually good. From the trailers on TV, I could tell it wasn't. A.O. Scott wrote down everything I was thinking though, when I viewed these advertisements for The Raven: boring, unrealistic and unoriginal. The article was entertaining to read because Scott had to find some humor in the worst parts of the movie. After all, a critic can't see a wonderful, action packed movie every time. They have to see some bad films too. To understand what Scott was talking about, I had to research some of this information about Poe to see how many books and essays he had written. He has written many and to know that a director would try to use all of them in one movie makes me cringe. Due to the diction in Scott's article, I could tell he was doing the same thing, sitting through the movie. I like writers like Scott because they give me what I'm looking for: an honest opinion. And because of him, I can save myself $10 and an hour and forty three minutes of sheer boredom.
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Raising Taxes on the Rich Raises Anxiety
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/17/opinion/a-republican-talks-sense-on-taxes.html?_r=1&ref=opinion
Money: It's the number one thing that most couples will fight about which most likely leads to a break up or divorce if not handled properly. To be honest, there is no proper way to handle money. Congress creates an excellent example, in which they can't find a way to balance their budget without causing a federal debt or have a bigger deficit than revenue. In this New York Times editorial, the writer talks about a new bill that was introduced in the house to raise a surtax on those incomes who exceed one million dollars. "Representative Rick Crawford, a freshman Republican from Arkansas, says the only serious way to begin cutting the deficit is to combine new tax revenue with spending cuts." Easier said than done. The bill would require the government to come up with a balanced budget for the fiscal year, which would be difficult to determine seeing how this country is suffering from a recession. Representative, Rick Crawford from Arkansas, has been criticized for this proposal due to the fact that he's a Republican and the Democrats dominate the House currently. Grover Norquist said Crawford would be in violation because he did sign the 'no-new tax pledge' when he was running for a seat in the House. But Crawford is more concerned with the amount of federal debt than with the voters' perception. No one else in Crawford's caucus will not take him up this offer and ultimately this could lead to another government shut down if the issues over the new unveiling of the budget aren't resolved.
I have to give Crawford credit, at least he is trying to come up with a plane that may pertain to the government's lack of responsibility for its expenditures and revenues. On the other hand, his plan is somewhat unreasonable because to ask the government to come up with a balanced budget for the year is like asking a two month old to comprehend the concept of walking and do it. It's not going to happen or if does, none of us will be here to witness it. Taxing the rich though isn't a bad idea. This has caused many concerns for Republicans and Democrats alike because the question is not if they can do it but is it fair? Personally, these millionaires, even billionaires are able to shell out a little money to support this nation's debt and it won't hurt them. On the other hand though, it is their money and they have been successful enough to earn that sum of money and it is theirs. It's a tough call and if I were sitting in Congress, I wouldn't know what to do.
It would probably be best for Congress though to find out where they spend the most money and why. As we learned in Chapter 14, Congress tends to spend most of the budget on Social Services to support those who have retired. But why are they spending so much on these people? Like the government, people should be responsible for putting away money for when they retire and balancing their revenue versus their expenditures. In comparison to fifty years ago, more people find themselves in debt than they did in the sixties. Instead of supporting those who have retired by raising the tax on the wealthy individuals, the government should issue programs that would help individuals to balance there budget so they can retire without having to worry. But as for now, the government's focus is not placed on things like that and they we'll just have to find a decent and ethical way to maintain the budget.
Money: It's the number one thing that most couples will fight about which most likely leads to a break up or divorce if not handled properly. To be honest, there is no proper way to handle money. Congress creates an excellent example, in which they can't find a way to balance their budget without causing a federal debt or have a bigger deficit than revenue. In this New York Times editorial, the writer talks about a new bill that was introduced in the house to raise a surtax on those incomes who exceed one million dollars. "Representative Rick Crawford, a freshman Republican from Arkansas, says the only serious way to begin cutting the deficit is to combine new tax revenue with spending cuts." Easier said than done. The bill would require the government to come up with a balanced budget for the fiscal year, which would be difficult to determine seeing how this country is suffering from a recession. Representative, Rick Crawford from Arkansas, has been criticized for this proposal due to the fact that he's a Republican and the Democrats dominate the House currently. Grover Norquist said Crawford would be in violation because he did sign the 'no-new tax pledge' when he was running for a seat in the House. But Crawford is more concerned with the amount of federal debt than with the voters' perception. No one else in Crawford's caucus will not take him up this offer and ultimately this could lead to another government shut down if the issues over the new unveiling of the budget aren't resolved.
I have to give Crawford credit, at least he is trying to come up with a plane that may pertain to the government's lack of responsibility for its expenditures and revenues. On the other hand, his plan is somewhat unreasonable because to ask the government to come up with a balanced budget for the year is like asking a two month old to comprehend the concept of walking and do it. It's not going to happen or if does, none of us will be here to witness it. Taxing the rich though isn't a bad idea. This has caused many concerns for Republicans and Democrats alike because the question is not if they can do it but is it fair? Personally, these millionaires, even billionaires are able to shell out a little money to support this nation's debt and it won't hurt them. On the other hand though, it is their money and they have been successful enough to earn that sum of money and it is theirs. It's a tough call and if I were sitting in Congress, I wouldn't know what to do.
It would probably be best for Congress though to find out where they spend the most money and why. As we learned in Chapter 14, Congress tends to spend most of the budget on Social Services to support those who have retired. But why are they spending so much on these people? Like the government, people should be responsible for putting away money for when they retire and balancing their revenue versus their expenditures. In comparison to fifty years ago, more people find themselves in debt than they did in the sixties. Instead of supporting those who have retired by raising the tax on the wealthy individuals, the government should issue programs that would help individuals to balance there budget so they can retire without having to worry. But as for now, the government's focus is not placed on things like that and they we'll just have to find a decent and ethical way to maintain the budget.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Is The Dream Act Just a Dream?
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/13/opinion/dream-act-for-new-york.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
According to dictionary.com, one the definitions of a "dream" is an involuntary vision occurring to a person when they are awake. This involuntary vision could be anything from a personal goal to a universal freedom and for immigrants, The Dream Act accomplishes both. In this New York Times editorial, the writer talks about the challenges New York is facing right now with regards to The Dream Act. This Act would give immigrants the ability to go to college even if they are not a U.S. citizen. This open doors for them by making them eligible college education and military. Not only would it give them a chance to pursue a college career but also it would give them legal status, something most immigrants lack here in the U.S. Currently, New York is one of thirteen states give immigrants the chance to qualify for in state tuition but they do not qualify for financial aid from the government. California, New Mexico, and Texas are the only states that provide immigrants with financial aid from the government. New York though, is working to become the fourth state to do this. But just like all states, they are trying to overcome the legal challenges they face with immigrants and Senator Andrew Cuomo is standing back to review the procedures and guidelines of this bill. "It's hard to see why Cuomo would be hesitant to support these measures. It isn't the expense." So what is it then?
If I had to take guess as to why Cuomo is not proceeding with this bill, it's due to the controversy it would cause. Back when minorities were starting to go to college to gain an education, it was difficult. The change that society experienced was radical as women changed their roles of home makers to first class workers. The same concept applies to immigrants. People view them as being low on the education radar and not knowledgeable enough of the country's past or present. But why keep immigrants from an education when America itself supports and even advertises the fact that they allow foreigners into this country? The point of this Dream Act is to change the way we've been doing things and start providing people with a resource that is necessary to get a higher paying job. The reason why immigrants came here was to learn more and attain a better life not only for themselves but for their children. There children have no control over their nationality but they can control how far their schooling takes them. If they want to pursue a higher degree of learning, then the Dream Act should be passed by the states. These types of immigrants obviously want to make the change in their lifestyles and the government needs to recognize that.
Not only do people worry about this law but they also worry about things such affirmative action. This already gives immigrants the upper hand with regards to jobs but people can't imagine what it will do with regards to college. If the colleges were to choose between the Hispanic and the white child, they would choose the Hispanic due to their nationality. People view this as unfair because if their child, who is not the minority, is working hard, why can't they be chosen. There obviously has to be a balance in which immigrants can't be awarded based on who they are. They also have to show that they are willing to work hard like everyone else. This argument has come about more than a few times within government and it always has the same outcome: discrimination. Again, the Dream Act would promote an image that is not based on discrimination against other races but an image based on hard work and merit. Personally, if immigrants were willing to come into a new country and start a new life, they're probably willing to work hard and get an education for their own well being.
According to dictionary.com, one the definitions of a "dream" is an involuntary vision occurring to a person when they are awake. This involuntary vision could be anything from a personal goal to a universal freedom and for immigrants, The Dream Act accomplishes both. In this New York Times editorial, the writer talks about the challenges New York is facing right now with regards to The Dream Act. This Act would give immigrants the ability to go to college even if they are not a U.S. citizen. This open doors for them by making them eligible college education and military. Not only would it give them a chance to pursue a college career but also it would give them legal status, something most immigrants lack here in the U.S. Currently, New York is one of thirteen states give immigrants the chance to qualify for in state tuition but they do not qualify for financial aid from the government. California, New Mexico, and Texas are the only states that provide immigrants with financial aid from the government. New York though, is working to become the fourth state to do this. But just like all states, they are trying to overcome the legal challenges they face with immigrants and Senator Andrew Cuomo is standing back to review the procedures and guidelines of this bill. "It's hard to see why Cuomo would be hesitant to support these measures. It isn't the expense." So what is it then?
If I had to take guess as to why Cuomo is not proceeding with this bill, it's due to the controversy it would cause. Back when minorities were starting to go to college to gain an education, it was difficult. The change that society experienced was radical as women changed their roles of home makers to first class workers. The same concept applies to immigrants. People view them as being low on the education radar and not knowledgeable enough of the country's past or present. But why keep immigrants from an education when America itself supports and even advertises the fact that they allow foreigners into this country? The point of this Dream Act is to change the way we've been doing things and start providing people with a resource that is necessary to get a higher paying job. The reason why immigrants came here was to learn more and attain a better life not only for themselves but for their children. There children have no control over their nationality but they can control how far their schooling takes them. If they want to pursue a higher degree of learning, then the Dream Act should be passed by the states. These types of immigrants obviously want to make the change in their lifestyles and the government needs to recognize that.
Not only do people worry about this law but they also worry about things such affirmative action. This already gives immigrants the upper hand with regards to jobs but people can't imagine what it will do with regards to college. If the colleges were to choose between the Hispanic and the white child, they would choose the Hispanic due to their nationality. People view this as unfair because if their child, who is not the minority, is working hard, why can't they be chosen. There obviously has to be a balance in which immigrants can't be awarded based on who they are. They also have to show that they are willing to work hard like everyone else. This argument has come about more than a few times within government and it always has the same outcome: discrimination. Again, the Dream Act would promote an image that is not based on discrimination against other races but an image based on hard work and merit. Personally, if immigrants were willing to come into a new country and start a new life, they're probably willing to work hard and get an education for their own well being.
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