Policies- Environmental

In order to fix the damages made onto our environment we need to take matter into our own hands. Instead of pointing fingers and assuming others will fix this problem, individuals need to step to the plate and start figuring out what we can do ho help.Using less water and energy while at home or using more solar power devices is a start. People could also recycle more and use less paper items such as paper plates and cups. Also, with the new advances in technology people can drive Hybrids or a Prias to help conserve gas. The gas prices keep sky rocketing and in order to not only save money but less pollution and conserve our limited gasoline resources people can start carpooling more. In the la times article i found:"The Energy Department's safety plan for handling containers of radioactive waste before they are buried at the proposed Yucca Mountain dump has become a "fool's errand," according to a major nuclear equipment supplier.Under current plans, the casks of nuclear waste material awaiting burial at Yucca Mountain could be sent into a "chaotic melee of bouncing and rolling juggernauts" in an earthquake, according to Holtec International, one of the nation's largest manufacturers of nuclear waste storage systems.The blistering critique of safety standards is in a newsletter that Holtec sent last week to its customers and suppliers, warning that the project has become a "doomed undertaking." Holtec supplies storage casks to power plants around the country.Nevada officials say the harsh comments deepen their concerns about the site of the repository."It shows a lack of attention to safety," Robert Loux, executive director of the Nevada Agency for Nuclear Projects, said Thursday.An Energy Department spokesman said he had not seen Holtec's critique and had no immediate response. The agency applied Tuesday for a license to build the facility, calling for 70,000 metric tons of waste eventually to be sent by truck and rail to the mountain.Once the waste arrived, it would have to cool down -- for years in some cases -- before being placed in deep tunnels. Joy Russell, Holtec's sales and marketing manager, said the Energy Department wanted the material to cool down in casks without adequate seismic anchors or other restraints.In May, the government rejected a proposal from Holtec for a temporary underground storage system that the company says would maintain safety in the event of earthquakes and airplane crashes. It instead chose two lower bidders who proposed unanchored systems, Russell said.The company intends to develop the below-ground storage system at its own cost.The government expects Yucca Mountain to experience earthquakes that produce ground movement comparable to a magnitude 6.5. In such a quake, "pigs will fly before the cask[s] will stay put," the newsletter said."

Ready, Set, VOTE!!!

The California primaries actually began today, January 7, 2008. Registered voters could apply for absentee primary ballots and return them by February 5th. Furthermore, I learned that voters in LA County could request the absentee ballot electronically at lavote.net or by mail at Registrar-Recorder/Country Clerk, P.O. Box 30450, Los Angeles, CA 90030-0450. I also learned that the last day to register to vote in California’s presidential primary is January 22. I am really excited to see how this goes because I am going to eighteen on July 5, 2008, which means I will be able to vote for the President. It just seems cool to know that people could vote right now through absentee ballot, especially by receiving it electronically.
I think that people can vote now and just sent in their ballot is really surprising. For some reason i forgot about the absentee ballot. Espeically by getting it from the online website lavote.net. seems to be the most fun part

Kucinich’s Brother Found Dead

A shocking article revealed that candidate Dennis Kucinich's brother was found dead. The article states that, "Perry Kucinich, 52, was found face down by another brother, Larry, at about 9 a.m., said Powell Caesar, a spokesman for the Cuyahoga County Coroner's office. There were no signs of foul play, Caesar said. An autopsy was being performed Wednesday" (1). It must be extremely difficult for Dennis to have to deal with such a horrible and sudden loss during this time. While things are extremely hectic with the Iowa caucus's coming up on January 3rd it must be very hard for him to continue his politic life up when his home life is very painful. The article says that Perry did have a mental illness and stopped taking his medication, but the results of the autopsy are not revealed yet. I hope that the Kucinich family stays strong in this difficult time of loss.

Poll Finds G.O.P. Field Isn’t Touching Voters

I found an interesting article on a poll done that reveals the interest voters have in the 2008 presidential candidates. First of all, democratic voters seem to be pretty satisfied with their candidates, mostly leaning towards Clinton, Obama, and Edwards. However, i was fascinated when i read this, "Not one of the Republican candidates is viewed favorably by even half the Republican electorate, the poll found. And in a sign of the fluidity of the race, former Gov. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas, who barely registered in early polls several months ago, is now locked in a tight contest nationally with Rudolph W. Giuliani and Mitt Romney" (1). It is quite possible that this has changed because this article was published on December 11, 2007, but i still found it shocking that there really is not a Republican candidate who is more favorable than the others. I also read that currently Americans believe the economy is bad and getting worse and that America as a whole is going the wrong way. Therefore, voters are searching for a President to help turn American around and get us back on the right track. Furthermore, a lot of the support of Hilary Clinton can be attributed to the fact that her husband was president. The article states, "The poll confirmed that former President Bill Clinton was an effective campaign weapon for his wife. Forty-four percent of Democratic voters say Mr. Clinton’s involvement will make them more likely to support her. In fact, about as many of Mrs. Clinton’s backers say they are supporting her because of her husband as say they are supporting her because of her own experience" (3). Although i think it is cool that her husband was in office, i think that people need to stop associating her with her husband. If she wins, she should be the one that people want, not the wife of the man that people want.

Music for the Candidates

So, music at rallies? Why not? A recent article titled do you know the words to Edwards fight song discusses the importance of music that is heard at rallies. Candidates use the lyrics of the songs to first of all pump up their supporters, but also to display a message. Some of the songs that Edwards included at his rally are, "The music at his rallies includes a cover by Grandaddy of “Revolution” by the Beatles (self-explanatory).I Won’t Back Down (mp3)It also includes “Salt of the Earth” from Beggar’s Banquet by the Rolling Stones. (“Let’s drink to the hard working people; let’s drink to the lowly of birth; Raise your glass to the good and the evil; Let’s drink to the salt of the earth.) There is also “I Won’t Back Down” by Tom Petty (also self-explanatory)" (1). I especially liked the song "Salt of the Earth." I think he is trying to appeal to the working class and people who have to work hard to earn their money. When the song states, let's drink to the hard working people; let's drink to the lowly of birth, i believe he is referring to people who are not born into money. This is a smart tactic and i appreciate how music is played at rallies. It definitely will help get the crowd going and allow for some fun instead of a whole bunch of talking and asking questions. It would be interesting to hear what other candidates have as their choice in music.

The More the Merrier???

So is it really the more the merrier? After looking at the party system in Europe i couldn't help but think, would it be better for us to adopt the European system and have a multiple party system? Well, although it works in Europe, i believe that we should stick to our two party system with other smaller parties. When there are too many parties there are so many options for people to choose from. I think that everyone has their own idea how to run our government. Even though i call myself a Republican, I definitely do not agree with other Republicans on all levels. The more parties we have the more diversity, however whomever is chosen to rule our country would not represent a majority of the populations beliefs. It is important that a lot of people agree with the leaders of a country, or else the leader does not adequately represent their nation. Therefore when we have two parties, a larger portion of the nation will agree with the leader chosen. However, i do think that it is great that in European countries representatives are not just from one party, but divided based off of how many votes they got. Instead of winner take all, if someone got 20 percent of the votes, they would have 20 percent of representation. Yet, Sean brought up an important argument in class. The more parties we have the harder it is to come into agreement. Making compromises would be very difficult and would take a really long time. So basically, when it comes to political parties....the more is not the merrier.

Forget Smokers, Tax snackers

This article is about obesity in the United States and how it attributes to high health care and demands for people who get diabetes and need a lot of medical attention because of obesity. It also talks about how we should tax snack foods and make them less desirable for people to buy. It states, “According to oft-cited research published in the journal Obesity, the annual cost to the state of medical care attributable to obesity is estimated to be almost $7.7 billion. If every man, woman and child in California put $200 into a fund on a yearly basis, that wouldn't be enough to cover that tab. And that's just what the state spends.” It also furthermore goes to explain, “I have a motto: Alliteration makes for good legislation. So we can sell the snack tax like this: Tack 10 cents onto anything beige, battered or bite-sized.The obesity epidemic is a serious health crisis. Even cockroaches are coming down with Type 2 diabetes. And it's all from -- surprise -- the food we eat. Fast food. Fried food. Sugary food. High-fructose corn syrup. It's in abundance, and its super cheap. We've overindulged, and it's driving up healthcare costs each year.”
Over all, I think this is a bad idea. If people want junk food, that means they are addicted to it and will eat it no matter the cost. They will do what it takes to buy the extra bag of cheetos and the box of donuts. Furthermore, obesity is most common amoung the poorer people who do not have enough money as it is. If we want to help, we should promote better eating habits and lower the cost of healthier foods.