For this being a mid-term election (that is a year without the Presidential Election) there sure seems to be a tremendous amount of coverage and anxiety concerning the candidates, their views and the needs of the people.We are in historic times in the United States and across the globe. We are faced with record unemployment, record home foreclosures, and crazy, polarized political campaigns, making this an important election for all of us.
The most pressing issues taking center stage are concerning the economy. The national unemployment rate has been around 9.5% for the past 14 months. This is the longest and deepest recession since the 1980's. Over six million Americans have been out of work for more than six months. While there are predictions the unemployment rate may reach as high as 10%, (that is one out of every 10 people, which means you know many of them...) there are few measures indicating a turnaround in the near future. Even though many in the media and politics claim the economy is turning around, it is my opinion, until the people are back to work, we are not out of the woods.
The crazy times have brought out the extremes in politics. The New York Gubernatorial debate received national attention due to the diverse candidates and the issues they are fighting for. One gentleman is running under the party affiliation of "The Rent is Too Damn High". Crazier still, he obtained the 15,000 signatures required to participate in the debate.
The Tea Party has furthermore stolen headlines and gained notoriety over the past months. Although true Tea Partiers deny affiliation with the Republican Party, a considerable number of the members describe themselves as conservative. Many would say the Tea Party is promoting the removal of everyone, democrat and republican, and abdicating a clean slate. (Think the American Revolution and the Boston Tea Party)
At every level you can see and hear candidates debate issues surrounding immigration, health care, social security, the size of government, and government bail outs. Whether you consider yourself a Democrat or Republican, Conservative or Liberal, a member of the Tea Party or the Green Party, this is an important election for our country, our state, and our communities.
What are the issues you think are the most important facing us today? What would you look for in a candidate that would earn your vote? How would you go about finding out about the candidates and where they stand on issues? Keep in mind, since you are all 12 years old, you will have the honor of voting in our next mid-term election in 2016. Oh, how time flies....
Maddy- Having a quality job means having a good education. If I were 18 I would look for a candidate who knows what there doing (obviously), and the nations economy would be inportant to this canidate. It be be important because Obama said so many "stuff" and now look he's stuck on the war. I would find out about canidates by not beliving the media but by looking at their past.
ReplyDeleteRyan Z. As many of you probably know I feel very strongly about this subject and am a total right-wing conservative. I feel that the candidates or anyone else in office isn't doing anything to actually help their causes but only to stay in office longer and get payed more. politicians don't think "hey maybe I should do the right thing and save some people from trouble" they think "O if I do that, that'll make me look bad and I won't get reelected." Like if some Senator or Senator-elect were to come out and say the truth that we need to cut down on the defense budget (which is a totally over-looked issue), the media would make them look like they're saying "We should all let Al-Quida come and take over our country and eat our children." I think that instead of going on Glen Beck to talk about what the other party is doing wrong, we buckle down and get this stuff done. Victory for our country doesn't come from two opposing sides butting heads, throwing mud, and saying "o we aren't nearly as bad as them! Look at them. They're defiantly doing worse than us." it comes from everyone working together for a greater good. I think that instead of blabbing about some stupid college thing that Rand Paul did 30 years ago Jack Conway should be talking about cutting government spending or fixing the dollar. However Jack Conway doesn't relay have a campaign anyway so I guess he could just tell us why we shouldn't vote for Rand Paul. I also think that finding a candidate by listening to what their opponent has to say about them is like going hunting for bears with a squirt gun, STUPID, just STUPID! You can't make a decision based on what the opposing view thinks about it . You need to accumulate all of the facts and then make an educated informed vote. And that is exactly what people aren't doing. I wouldn't vote for Cristine O'Donnell because she was maybe a witch I wouldn't vote for her because her ideas are dumb. It doesn't matter what people have done in their pasts it matters what they want to do for this country to dig us out of our rut.
ReplyDeleteHalle- first of all. ryan that was A REALLY long response. and i think that one of our major issues is unemployment. So many people don't have jobs and it is really effecting their families. I would vote for someone who knows what they want to do and who contributes to the communities and listens to what the citizens think. I would vote for someone who not just says they are going to do something but actually do it.
ReplyDeleteRyan you didnt nead to wright a 300 word essay!
ReplyDeleteAtticus- I agree with Halle that one of our biggest issues is probaly unemployment. A lot of people are without jobs these days. I mean I probaly know at least 4 familys without jobs. Also I would look for a person who listens to what others think and for someone who has a definanate idea on what they would do. One way I would find out info. on a canadate is by doing a little bit of research.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to and I do what i want!
ReplyDeletePhillip: I think the most important issue is unemployment. I think this because. No people with jobs equals nobody earning money. No money equals bascically flushing the economy down the toilet with everybody standing around cheering, "GO, GO, GO!!! FASTER, FASTER!!! FLUSH IT AGAIN MR. PRESIDENT!!! YAY!!!" Don't just sit there saying that you need a job, get up and do something! I would vote for a canidate that would actually do something not just sit there saying, "Everything is gonna be all right." They also need to be a good person. They can't be like a random dude who sits in his backyard torchering kittens. GIVE THEM A BACKROUND CHECK!!! Don't believe stuff that canidates say about each other. chances are that it's probably not true. What you should do is reaserch them. I will end this message with my political views...VOTE JUSTIN BIEBER FOR PRESIDENT!!!
ReplyDeletePhillip: Mines almost halph the size of Ryan's!!! YAY!!!!
ReplyDeleteTravis- I hate to be a follower but i do have to agree that one of our biggest issues is unemployment, but i think that most of that problem is the unemployed's fault, not like the people who got laid off, but the people who sit on the side of the street and hold up a sign. I can guarantee that there is a guy working at a fast food restaurant who looks worse than some of them do. so i would definitely look for a candidate that will take care of those issues. But not just the political stuff matters, i don't want a jerk in charge of any part of our government. He needs to be a nice respectable guy.
ReplyDeleteMorgan- There are many issues in my opinion the biggest is job loss. Everyday I see homeless people standing on the street holding up their signs begging for money. I feel so bad for them and I think they deserve better. In this economy it is very hard to get a job or not get laid off. I now it will be very hard to get the economy back up but whoever steps into office better have a good plan about how they are going to get people jobs and beable to deal with the economy.
ReplyDeleteCristina-Ryan that was really long response!!well anyway, one of the biggest problems is unemploment. Homless peoples population is getting bigger and bigger each day. If you have a job, thank the lord!! HOmeless people are people to and they need to be desevre better . No job can be very hard on familys and hopfully we will have a great government soon when we VOTE!!
ReplyDeleteGabby- The most important issue I think is education. A lot of people seem to say unemployment, but what are people going to do?? Hire uneducated people? I know that not every loses there job is uneducated, but wouldn't it help if were well educated? Wouldn't people rather keep you if were well educated? In a commercial I heard that Idaho was ranked in the bottom ten for the amount of people who go to college!! For a candidate to earn my vote, I would want to know that they would the best thing for the community, Idaho and the country. Well i wouldn't use snl as a source for information about candidates, haha. I would try to find the most reliable source and watch the debates.
ReplyDeleteAngie- I agree with everyone so far. A big problem is the unemployment rate and education. It actually sort of connects. There are a lot of people who drop out of school so they aren't able to get a job without a degree in anything. But I honestly don't really pay attention to the elections unless it's with like elections for a president. So I don't really know much about it.
ReplyDeleteRyan- One of our huge issues is unemployment in jobs.people need jobs to help their families. Education is such a big problem hear because not everyone can afford it.I dont know anything about elections and i dont really care i just want someone smart
ReplyDeletekaed- I am agreeing with everyone. I am not very stong with this type of statement or problem. and i agree with the unemployment and our education.
ReplyDeleteDanielle- I agree with everyone. Unemployment is a big issue right now because of the economy. A lot of people are standing on the streets lately. I mean people need to go find a job. Also the people who need help can put up a HELP WANTED sign or another way to inform people that they need help.
ReplyDeletejosu-i think the biggest issue we face today is lack of education. other countries invest a lot of time and money in their education systems. if we invest more time and money into education more people will have more knowledge. this could also increase the number of people getting jobs because if more people are educated more people will be able to do and keep jobs better and longer.
ReplyDeleteLuke-I agree with what ryan z said all though I'm not 18 so my vote or opinion doesn't really matter so im not very strong on this stuff but i do care about who will be elected and i agree with unemployment and our education
ReplyDeleteMarya- i don't really care about politics right now because i cant vote. but, when i do vote i want someone who will deal with all of the education and unemployment problems. unemployment is huge right now and when i vote, i will vote for someone who will change that.
ReplyDeleteSofia-Education and unemployment are big issues people are dropping our of school because there isn't enough money in the family because of unemployment. I would look for a person who understand what is best for the citizens and that understands what the job really means and would find a solution as quick as possible with no delays. If you want to find out about the cantidates look them up online, ask around and watch the news.
ReplyDeleteSofia- ryan, save the whole essay thing for english.
ReplyDeleteHannah- I do not have have very many opinions and interest in politics because I can not vote yet and because politics confuse me. I think one of the biggest problems is education- I know that has been said a lot but I think it is true. The people that are educated have a better chance at getting an avaible job-even though there aren't very many you would have an advantage. In a candidate I would look for someone that understands the people's wants and kind find a solution fast. To find out about them I would be very careful I would depend on speechs interviews and even other people to give me their views.
ReplyDelete