Hello to all today:

This post is going to be extremely simple. How do you guys feel about having a woman pres?

I really like Hillary Clinton. I hope she runs and I hope she wins in 2008. I am worried however, about her baggage...that being the former pres Clinton. I am afraid that many people will not even give her a chance due to her relationship with him.

What do you guys think? Yes or no on women presidents...and who would you like to see run in 08....man or woman?



Thanks for stopping in today:
Nik

Hello to all today:

Politics, Politics, Politics. Yes, I know that all of my recent posts have centered around this subject, but I feel like that our political atmosphere needs to be addressed. It seems like so many Americans want to complain about the issues in politics but have no interest in actually discussing the system itself. So I am going to attempt to do just that.

Our political system is divided, and at one time it was believed that the majority of people fell to the right. Those on the left were college professors and minorities. Recently, from talking to local school students (those interested), and some of my friends outside of school I see a split in ideals, and how one views the political system. This post comes from the conversation I had with my father a few nights ago.

We have two main systems...Republicans and Democrats. However, if I am not mistaken there are a few Independents in the Senate and maybe one or two in Congress. But the majority of representatives are of the previous two. In America we have had numerous political fronts (the Whigs, the Know-nothings, etc.).

In today's world it would be a benefit for a party to arise out of the overwhelming split in these two main parties. The majority of American's do not vote. They choose not to vote for various reasons: they don't think that their vote will matter, they do not see a candidate that they are willing to actually vote for, but mainly they don't agree with much of a candidates beliefs.

My question is if there is a majority of people who do not vote for these reasons then why is there not a party to represent these people? I used to think if a party came up it would split the Dem. party and eventually make the Rep. stronger. (I think this because the Rep. are a religious party and usually vote on morale issues...which in turn makes them stronger, not to mention most voters are older in age, thus they are loyal to a party due to years of support)

My Dad wants to see a third party emerge. He said it would bring back the democracy and actually challenge politicians to campaign again instead of slandering the opponent. I think there may be some merit to this.

What do you think would happen if there was a strong third party? Who do you think it would effect the most? Do you think it would encourage more people to vote?



Well I have a power-point presentation to complete so I hope I will have more time to address this later.

Thanks for stopping in today:
Nik

Hello to all today:

Here are some little things I would like to share with you and anyone else reading! These are my beliefs, and this is what I want to discuss before elections! These are the issues important to me.

1) I believe there should be strict gun control laws brought into my state and others throughout the US. Accidents have just become too frequent, and violent murders are usually associated with weapons such as guns. I understand that tougher gun regulations will not put a stop to violent crime, but it could detour those only considering a crime.

2) I believe there should be a separation between church and state. I also believe religion should not be used in politics by either party. I also think religion should stay out of the white house and any other house where public decisions are made. ALSO, no one should be using God as a backup for war. (BTW -- where is God's approval now that thousands have been slain and war is not coming to an end?)

3) I believe in a US medical plan...to cover all her citizens not just the elderly and poor (which is not effectively done anyway). I think that the US needs to catch up with our friends and neighbors around the world and help keep our people healthy!

4) I believe that education should be given a larger chunk of economical funding! There are plenty of reasons I believe this but the main point is our children and our future deserve the best in tools and teachers no matter where they live or their economic status. P.S. I also vote yes for a voucher system given the opportunity!

5) I believe there should be a stronger backup for social security, and I think there should be appointed officials making sure America's elderly are being taken care of!

6) I believe that America should be recognized for the strength and power in uplifting countries rather destroying them. I think we should become more interested in feeding the poor in Africa (hell I'd even settle for the poor in New York City) then helping democracy start in other countries...(i'll come back to this point!).

7) I think that my representative should be willing to fight for a better fuel source than the one we have now. I.e. solar energy, wind energy, energy from grains and corns! We should not be investing millions if not billions into coal energy plants...we already have them, and they are not safe for the environment, and we KNOW this now. It is time to move on to a healthier America! A healthier world!

8) I believe there should be stronger penalties for anyone who breaks the law. I don't care if you are the President or Mel Gibson. It is time for ALL people to be held responsible for their crimes. I am ssssooo sick of appoligies...I want fairness.

9) I believe that every person should have the same rights. I think that one person and his/her neighbor should be held to the same standards and be granted the same rights no matter what! That means NO EXCEPTIONS.

10) I believe that America needs to be a little more acceptant of those entering into our country. We are at war in another country fighting for democracy, but allow those people in the US to practice it here and our feelings change? I don't get it.

These are just 10 of the things I am looking for in the up coming elections. There are some deletions such as abortion and the death penalty. I have deleted issues like these off my 'wish list' because these issues are not too political. People who pick their representatives on these issues are naive and have no idea what they are really voting for! That is why there are so many incompetent leaders in our nation today. I think everyone should make a list of what you want answered and send it to the people running in your state, in your county and demand answers to these questions.

Stop allowing leaders control your vote by appealing to your morals. Whether you agree or not...please pay closer attention to who you are electing this time.

Feel free to tell me what you guys are looking out for this term...or if your not looking out for anything.

Thanks for stopping in today:
Nik

Hello to all today:

Boy oh boy at the mess we see ourselves in! FOLEY! Congress is going crazy. But here is the question I must ask. Does this new scandal have anything to do with the politics and the politicians involved?

One one hand I have to say YES. This scandal is a cover-up that has been in motion for months....yes I said months. Where were the leaders in charge? What were they thinking allowing a man to stay in the power and control he was used to? Also, why were there no outsiders from the democratic party involved? That just leads one to say...if people seriously screw up in Congress, who controls them?

However, on the other hand, I would hate for the left to gain power only because of the tragic story. I think the democrats should regain power because of the impotence of the right.

Slippery slope our nation is in this voting year.
I hope we all realize what is at stake and vote given that information. If there are new advances in the war, for example, we should realize we are in a political battle....and it one that thus far has been exciting in deed.

Yep, exciting!

Thanks for stopping in today:
Nik

Hello to all today:

I want to talk to you guys about something I have seen lately, and I am going to start off by saying this is probably a little contraversial...but please read it and comment.

The older I get and the more I open my eyes, I realize that I am shocked by what I see. I was raised to treat all people the same. To never discriminate, and to learn to accept others. However, the people who taught me this from early childhood to right now in college are confusing me.

For example, segregation in schools is a hot topic right now! When one looks at college ratios there is a large misrepresentation. I feel that colleges are choosing to migrate to a certain type of people. I am not saying that all colleges do this, however, what I am saying is that a school houses thousands of students and has a ratio of 82:18...there is a problem. It has, however, been pointed out to me that people want to be with "their own kind".

So off to think I go. I have never thought of school as "being with my own kind". I have also associated school with learning, not only school stuff, but personal stuff. In my secondary schools I always thought they were teaching acceptance of each other on a cultural level....but now I have been asking myself a very important question: "Was I taught acceptance or tolerance?"

So lets examine our culture shall we?

Gay rights:
Does America accept or tolerate this group? I say tolerate, if that is even appropriate! I can say there is no acceptance because this group within our culture does not have rights given to the rest of us (and by the way this is only an issue because some people in power want this to be a hot issue to keep seats....but more about politics later). To accept, we as a nation need to accept everything about them, even their choices and personalities, more importantly we need to see them as human being instead of a controversy!

People who cannot speak English:
Again I must tolerance....if that's what one would call open discrimination on a group of people. I receive more e-mails about people who can't speak English than I do any other! The number one thing that is associated with this group is "If you can't speak the language then leave". What a stupid comment. America is one of the few countries that is NOT bi- or tri- lingual. Which is considerably sad considering we border Mexico and are only a few miles away from South America. When did America become so dependent on their language? What if the rest of the world stopped learning English? We would have a hard time visiting Spain or France or even the Bahamas!

Religion:
This one infuriates me! It has gotten to the point when I fear that the next terrorist attacks will come from within the American borders and will inflict fear into all those not composed within the traditional Christian forum. AAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGG

Look I am loosing my train of thought. I just wanted to say, that with elections coming up and peoples fears being exploited please remember this country needs to uphold FREEDOM before anything else.

I guess that's it
Nik