I'd Rather Watch a Good Boxing Match Too

                In response to my classmates’ blog about how society views today’s political debates, I have to totally agree with your critique about presidential elections in today’s society.  It is defiantly true that I can’t stand to have to talk to my friends about their views on politics.  Even worse, I have to read their snotty remarks about a certain candidate on Facebook all the time.  During these presidential debates, I sat there, trying to figure out which candidate is the one that would help me out the most, the one that was interested in the same things that I was.  But as I sat there listening to them, all I wondered was how long they had to sit with their advisors to make sure that they get this jab, how could the make sure that they hit their opponent with this comment and how can we work in a blow to something their saying.  They must sit in a room and decide what their opponent is going to say and just find a way to not answer the question they were asked and just entertain the public.  I agree with your first point that today’s society should be one that is desperate to talk politics, but when all we can talk about is how they destroyed their opponent on television the night before, were not really worried to much with what is going on in the country.  I feel I could compare it to friends talking about a boxing match, how they stopped that round just because the bell rung.  Now if it were a boxing match discussion that was going on, defiantly count me in, I at least know that a match is what we were waiting for. 

Republicans on Women's Health Care

I’m sure that most people of my generation would agree (the women anyway) that women’s health care policy should be decided by women.  What do men know about being pregnant, taking birth control, or worrying about breast and cervical cancer?  Absolutely nothing.  Yet Republicans in congress this year are attacking women’s health care in general, not just abortions anymore.    

It seems incredible and for the life of me I cannot think what these men are thinking!  If Republicans were successful, they would cut funding from Planned Parenthood, a resource that is a general go-to for most low income women. An organization where women can get the emergency contraceptive pill, receive pregnancy test , STD tests and a variety of other services that women need.  It would be a sad thing to see it go under just because these men don’t think it is necessary. 

But if one stops to think about this attitude, would they feel the same way if it were men the ones that needed these services?  Could we imagine a world where it is men who have to worry about being pregnant?  They undoubtedly would argue that these services were necessary and should be available for the public, what more they should be easily obtainable.  If a man had a day in women’s shoes, how would this effect their view on government support for their health care?

I know that in my own personal opinion, if any old white man tried to tell me what to do with my body and decisions about my life, I would tell him exactly where he could stick his advise.  There is no way that he could ever understand what I feel and he should not pretend to know what is best for me and my body.  

Sure, why don't we help people that don't deserve it?

As an assistant professor of political science, Tehama Lopez Bunyasi surprises me with her article in the New York Times, arguing that we should release more people from prison so that there is less income inequality.  The very idea that people should be released from prison and offered more assistance to rebuild their life is absurd.  Those people are in jail because of the fact that they have proven that they cannot be productive members of society.  Agreed, too much of taxpayers’ money is spent on prisons but, I do not agree with her in her views.  Why should people be released from prison? They have to pay for their crimes just the way the American public has decided they should.  If she was trying to reach out to the minorities in America, by pointing out that the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 affected black and brown communities more than white communities she utterly failed I believe.  Anyone who does not want to violate this law, stay away from drugs! Its as easy as that. 

As a member of a minority group, I have no trouble following the law and staying away from drugs.  If these people were found guilty of their crimes they should pay.  Her idea is that by letting these people out of prison will help them contribute to society well I believe that it is in the nature of people to continue in things they are accustomed to.  If they are let out of prison, there is no guarantee that they will not fall right back into their old habits, which is something I believe they will do given the chance.  Especially if they are not forced to serve the time that they were sentenced for their crimes.  How about we focus on helping people, so that they don’t have to turn to a lifestyle that is harmful to the community, and to ultimately to themselves.  

Nicholas D. Kristof of the New York Times states that the top 1 percent of America has more collective wealth than the bottom 90 percent.  As if we didn’t already know that.  I have to say that his article was well written and persuasive, comparing America to a kindergarten classroom.  He implies that one could look at a student in kindergarten who has all the toys, and who does not want to share with the rest of the class, and one would come to the conclusion that this is what America has basically boiled down too.  One little kid who believes that all the toys are his to play with, and that he has no need to share with the rest to the class.  He writes this for and as a part of the middle class.  Obviously when oneself is not the one little kid who has all the toys to play with, we cry and wine when we cannot play with all the toys, seeing him with so many.  He supports his argument with figures that the public could easily verify as true, such as information on the six heirs of Sam Walton (the founder of Walmart). I think his article would defiantly support most of middle class America’s views on the distribution of wealth in this country.   

He also doesn’t just complain and nag like one would expect with someone who is unhappy with the system, he offers his views on how the government could possible make things better for the distribution of wealth. This is another plus point in his article.  I know that I defiantly don’t want to sit and read something that nags and wines all the time never coming up with a possible solution.  He believes that focusing on education would help solve this.  Doesn’t that just make the most sense? When a person has the opportunity to be educated and productive in the community at an early age, it is easier to be successful, and do more to get ahead if that is what we want. 

As a part of the bottom part of the classroom, I agree with his analysis on distribution of wealth.  That little kid has got to learn to share his toys!

                In an article published on CNN’s website, Tom Cohen summarizes Mitt Romeny’s appearances on televised forums appealing to the Latino community.  Both candidates know that the Latino community is the fastest growing ethnic group in America and I believe that if not in this election, then in future ones, they will be a big voter bloc both parties will have to try and win over.  Obama has already given the Latino community reason to back him.  This summer he implemented deferred action for young illegal immigrants which allow them to apply for a valid work permit for up to two years.  This I believe gave him a great standing with Hispanic voters and put Romney in a bit of a tricky situation.  When asked if he would deport those young immigrants that would benefit from Obama’s plan he just said that he would implement a “permanent solution to the problem”.  That does not answer the question! Romney needs to stop tip-toeing around the issue.  He needs to let the public know what his “permanent” solution would be.   He needs to let the public know what he would with Obama’s already existing program.  Since he already stated that he is against the Dream Act, why would Hispanic Americans choose to back him in this election? 

                Anyone interested in this upcoming election I think would be interested in this article.  It hits many concerns Latinos have, and shows how Romney is not really answering the questions he is presented with regarding these concerns.