Unfair?

I read an article the other day about a couple from Colombia who lived here in the United States for 17 years with their two sons.Immigration offices found out that they were here illegally and tried to send them home to Colombia. After a long battle with government they sent them home without their kids who are still teenagers.Their two sons are going to stay here, get work permits and driver licenses. In my opinion I just don't think it's fair that people who live here that long,work,their kids are born here should be deported.Why didn't all get deported or why didn't they stay?As longest they don't commit crime,pay taxes why not legalize them after 17 years.I just thought this was an interesting topic so I've decided to post it on here:)

Should guns be allowed in universities?

This topic has come up in the news lately following the most recent college shooting in Virginia. The debate that I have been following in the media pertains to the group of people who think students should be allowed to carry guns to protect themselves in the event of an unforeseen attack. But the problem is how does one know that the students allowed to carry aren't going to use the gun to harm others as well? For example, what if he or she had mental problems that haven't been recorded? Another group of people think students shouldn't be allowed to carry because it's too risky. Another issue is the thought that security guards on campus should be allowed to carry weapons for protection. However, are there enough guards on campuses to thwart a shooting in the event it occurs? The last camp believes that professors should be able to carry guns to protect themselves and others in the event a shooting occurs. There are many issues involved here: laws would have to be changed, certification and background checks would have to be done to ensure the right people get the guns, and a determination of who should carry would have to be resolved. What are your thoughts on this subject?

Water shortage: what are YOU doing?

The Left Coast is burning. The South is in the middle of a major draught w/o any real plan to save itself. The issue of conserving and supplying water is big and only getting bigger. So, as an informal pole, what are you, your family, your job doing to help the cause of not wasting water?

Don't take what you don't need.

For some, paying for college is a very difficult task. You may have to apply for multiple sources in order to pay for rising schools costs. I am paying for college through my employer's tuition assistance program. I considered applying for scholarships and grants, but decided not. I thought about all the students that need assistance to pay for school. My question...Is it fair to apply for scholarships, grants, etc. when you have other means to pay for school, especially if your parents can afford to pay for it out of pocket?

Copyright laws getting stickier

Here's a story to stir up some debate: ArsTechnica.com

A college student in Canada put together an online database of music in the public domain, that is works that are freely usable and copyable because the copyright has expired or it never had one, like Shakespeare and Mozart. However, a European music publisher has forced him to take down the site. Why? Because EU copyright law is different and over there, some of the works are still protected. Perfectly legal where he is and, significantly, where the server holding the files is, but potentially making available for someone else, in Europe, to possibly steal. Governments, the Internet, Copyrights, they're all on a collision course, no telling what things will look like when the dust settles.

Prejudice? In the 21st Century?

"To live anywhere in the world today and be against equality because of race or color is like living in Alaska and being against snow."

-William Faulkner


This quote, by William Faulkner, holds true in every aspect of life today. Over the course of the past two months, there have been many stories in the news with various incidents involving prejudice acts. For example, there was an incident on Friday in which former Nobel Winner, biologist Jim Watson--noted for playing a role in discovering the double-helix structure a of DNA, commented on the intelligence of blacks versus the intelligence of whites. He basically stated that he was "inherently gloomy about the prospect of Africa" because "all our social policies are based on the fact that their intelligence is the same as ours, whereas all the testing says not really." He went on to say that while he hoped everyone was equal, "people who have to deal with black employees find this is not true." For more on this here are two links: http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/10/18/nobel.apology/index.html and http://news.aol.com/story/_a/dna-nobelists-comments-about/n20071019021809990003. Growing up, I was taught that the degree of a person's intelligence is based on how an individual learns or sees the world; but, I guess that is not being taught anymore. Another example would be of the infamous Jena 6. I am sure you all have heard the story coinciding with this; if not, here's more info http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jena_Six. The incident with the Jena 6 actually took place in December of 2006, but is publicized now, more than ever. One of my brothers is now 17 and also attends Georgia Perimeter College. He will be turning 18 in January and plans to vote in the upcoming elections. He has tried to register on various occasions, but has repeatedly been turned down and kicked out of facilities for what they would call 'harasment'. There were never any filed police reports, but the situation has gotten out of hand because he is not an 'adult' yet.

Acts of prejudice not only happens against age groups or races, but also against those of different religions, nationalities, and sexes. This is 2007 people, we need to come together as a nation, now more than ever (with a new president in the midst of a war and other countries 'allegedly' plotting against us). What do you think about this mindset in this day-and-age? Have you ever had any problems where someone was prejudice towards your age, sex, race, or religion?

Clearly not Sanity*! But very Clear Insanity!

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

-Benjamin Franklin.

As you read you’ll understand why I put this quotation at the top of my post.

As I sit across from the T.V. screen listening to the false misconception that nationalized(socialized) healthcare is what I need to push for because it's best. I take a second(just a second is all it takes) and think; why on earth would I trust the government with my personal healthcare(or with anymore responsibility over my personal life). The same government you and I trusted with our social security. For the last 8 years(some citizens much longer) of my life; I’ve worked and invested and paid the government for my social security out of each and every pay check, yet as sure as day I won’t receive close to 10% of what I put in. It’s actually like someone saying to you, hey give me a cut of your check every week for the next several decades of your life(thousands and thousands of dollars), and them saying I promise I’ll insure that your house will have security for as long as you live. Then, they attach one of those small combination locks to all your doors and then say there you go your safe. Thanks for the money(Thanks for the thousands of dollars for a some $5 dollar locks). And then you’re trying to tell me that I’m suppose to give the government $7,000+ a year in taxes and wages, and that they will surely with a half crooked Smile and a kick in the pants saying there you go. You’ll have top notch healthcare(ya sure, believe if you want to).

I look at the track record(history) of the government(not just America) when citizens put more money in government they do NOT get half of it back in effort or in services. So would it not be ‘INSANE’ to think if I did the same thing now and again, to think that I would get a different outcome! All these years of experience(history) speak loudly saying less government solutions and plans for everything and more individuality and liberty for citizens makes a nation great. Yet, we sit here with our “selective-hearing-earplugs” on, thinking that it might be different this time around. As someone once said: “Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it”. And you’re trying to tell me that universal healthcare is better, because like I say again that Universal, Nationalized, Socialized Healthcare , however you flip it, turn it, twist it or whatever type of verbal gymnastics you want to play with it…It still produces a lower standard of healthcare. I do see what goes on in Canada and London places that have these types of healthcare systems, because I have family in those places and I travel a good bit and have seen it with my own eyes. When it comes to important surgeries and major operations individuals much rather come to countries(like America) to have them done, because there is a different standard here then there. Not everyone here hears the story or does the research to see there are waiting lists 50,000+ people long with individuals waiting on major operations in these countries. They do better buying from a private company, and much of them do. But, guess what they still have to pay the government for its lackadaisical efforts of healthcare. It’s like you giving someone $10 to clean your car, and them throwing soap at it and throwing water on it and say there you go.

We do not need nationalized healthcare, we need to put more pressure, restrictions and etc. on big insurance carriers and healthcare providers to actually help those with lower incomes and etc. That’s a solution not bigger government(for every problem that occurs) and more control over mine and your personal life. Would you continue to pay more for less?; I wouldn't and I won’t. Don’t do the same thing expecting a different outcome, it’s apparent what you will get, the same thing. Why do something that has consistently proven to be none effective. The original reason individuals come to our country(America) is because of more opportunity, more liberty, and less government control over their personal life.(Somehow we forget these things….) This isn't a liberal or conservative nor is it a Democrat or Republican issue; this is a issue dealing with the future of us and our children's best interest and well-being at the end of the day(and more governmental control is not the answer).

Long post, lol…but what do you think? About Bigger Government and Nationalized(Socialized) Healthcare?!

-Nathan A. guest

Wal-Mart and Stuff....

I struggle every day with the clutter that my family has accumulated over the last 20 years. After reading an article about Wal-Mart's slipping influence over the retail universe ,I realize they did it to themselves. A quote from the article said, "For the first time in a long time, quality has a chance to gain on price." I truly believe in America's effort to gain more and more stuff we also began to let go of our need for quality. Wal-Mart took advantage of that and has provided us with massive amounts of low quality "stuff" for the last 20 years. Homes are packed to the rim with items that are neither needed and rarely truly wanted. We build more and more storage facilities to house the extra stuff.

I stopped shopping at Wal-Mart 3 months ago and have felt incrediably free. I spend less time in lines, I don't purchase sensless items and my checking acount is a little healthier. Just wondered what everyone else thought about the Wal-Mart era.

School Violence

Another school shooting took place Wednesday in Chicago. Everyday it seems like CNN is reporting on violence happening in our schools. Everyone always seems so surprised. It's always a similar story. A kid is repeatedly bullied, nobody comes to their rescue, and finally they snap. What is so shocking about that? How many times do you kick a dog before it bites you? Now don't get me wrong, I don't think that acting out violently is the solution. I just wish that someone would had paid more attention to the situation before the boy snapped. There had to be signs. It just takes one person to change the path, a concerned parent, classmate, teacher, someone could had prevented this horrible act. We don't need to invest in more security, but invest time and try to be that person with a kind word, an open ear, and prevent people from feeling like that is their only option.

Milk or Cola???

Many Americans in these days are trying to lose weight and get in shape.Studies have shown that people are drinking too much sweetened drinks such as coke,sprite and others.Statistics have shown that Americans have drank 4 times more milk than sweet sodas in the middle of the 20th century.Now the ratio almost reversed.Soda is now considered a junk food.The obesity ration has almost doubled for adults and tripled among teenagers. Scientists say that our body will respond to differently to sodas than it would to food.Its pure calories.After we eat a burger a hormone called gherlin will drop, but with sodas in wont. Supposedly drinking sodas will trigger our appetite and raise our blood sugar really fast.People who are trying to lose wait,forget the sweetened sodas and start drinking WATER.

Bush Veto on Children's Health Insurance

President Bush issued his fourth veto Tuesday on a children's health insurance program. House Minority Whip Roy Blunt, R-Mo., predicted the House won't have enough votes to override Bush. Blunt said Bush was right to veto the bill because it "expands government-run health care without first taking care of uninsured kids from low-income families. " Bush, wanted a $5 billion increase, and told Lancaster-area business leaders that he would offer more money if Congress agrees to focus the program strictly on low-income children. "Poor kids first," Bush said. "I believe in private medicine, not the federal government running the health care system."
There are children that live above the poverty level but their families cannot afford private insurance, which is what this program would help with. I don't have children myself, but I do have a niece and nephew. So I can understand how difficult it is to pay for a child's medical bills.
I thought this was a very important topic and I wanted to see what you all thought about it.

Does Society Have a Responsibility In Media?

From the responses I read to my first post, "The Influence of Media", it seems to be widely accepted that the media does exert a high amount of influence on people. With this being said, the next thought that comes to me is, "Who controls what we hear on the radio and what we see on TV?” Some of you stated that individuals have the ability to control what they allow themselves to be exposed to. A person can simply change the channel. I agree, to some extent.
The average, moral, adult probably does try to make good choices in regard to what they allow themselves to be exposed to. If there is a song playing on the radio that uses the "F-word" as every other word, and they find this offensive, then they can choose to listen to something else.
What about all those people out there, though, that don't fall into the "average, moral, adult" category? There are children, teenagers, and adults with little or no moral integrity. I don't think it is safe to assume that the media will utilize only that which is in the best interest of these people, and I don't think it is safe to assume that parents can control everything their children are exposed to through the media.
The responsibility falls on society as a whole to dictate what is appropriate in the media. That being stated, I would hope then that the numbers and influence of the "average, moral, adult" would outweigh the influence of the others to the point that, on the whole, we wouldn't have to worry much about what was on TV or what songs were playing on the radio. But that isn't the case. Whatever happened to "majority rule"? Has our society really slipped so far down the moral integrity scale that what is played on TV and on the radio is actually widely accepted? Or has society put aside their responsibility?

The Influence of Media

The entertainment industry needs to be held to stricter standards. Why? Because the moral integrity of our society depends on it. Things that we see and hear stay with us, even subconsciously, and whether those things are frightening, immoral, or good, I believe they affect our actions and behaviors.
How many times have you found yourself humming a song and then, after you realize you are doing it, think, “Man! I hate that song! I need to get it out of my head!” Or maybe you’re lying in bed, unable to drift off, and realize that a movie you saw days ago is replaying itself in your mind? These are both probably typical happenings for most people. When you consider the unconscious behaviors that reveal themselves from time to time, and consider where those actions are coming from, you realize that the media, both music and television, have a huge impact on people.
Many people might believe that an individual has complete control over what they allow themselves to be exposed to. To some extent, this is true, but not completely. What about the music that is playing over the loudspeakers in the grocery store, or the movies that are showing on the big screen TVs at Circuit City? When you are conscious of all of the bits and pieces of media that you are exposed to throughout the day, you might not feel that you have as much control as you originally thought you did.
This is a touchy subject because of “freedom of speech”, but I think that if a person realizes the impact the entertainment industry has on people, most would agree that there needs to be controls in place. It would be nice to think that the things we see and hear don’t affect us, or that we can control our environment and our thoughts, but that isn’t always the case. Our society needs to have standards of behavior and they need to make sure that those standards are enforced and abided by, especially in the media.