"Obama 2012 campaign seeks to capitalize on president’s student loan initiative"

President Barrack Obama gained much support from the younger generations in the 2008 election. In hopes to regain the strong youth support, Obama has taken a new initiative to lower student loan costs. Through his website and online video, he encourages younger people to forward and tell others about the plan. The author views this initiative as an attempt to gain votes while addressing the issue about the rising costs for a college education. On Wednesday the 26th, Obama formally proposed his plan at the University of Colorado Denver's campus. His plan was signed in 2010 and he has pushed up the date that it will start initiating just in time with the upcoming election. The plan proposes that a student will not have to pay more than 10% of their income a month for his/her student loan and all remaining debt will be forgiven after 20 years of payment or 10 years if he/she is a public servant.
Personally, I understand that Barrack Obama pushed up this plan so that he could gain votes, but what is wrong with that? If we can get benefits faster, especially for those who see the price tag of college and cringe in fear, then there is no harm done. Elections encourage the current president to create more programs that will benefit America and that is a great incentive.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/44/post/obama-2012-campaign-seeks-to-capitalize-on-presidents-student-loan-intiative/2011/10/26/gIQAReBJLM_blog.html

The BIGGEST current Political Issue Facing Virginia

Transportation continues to be a big issue for the VA General Assembly. In Northern Virginia especially, where D.C. traffic causes a huge amount of commuters to use Virginian roads. Congestion is a big problem in not only the D.C. region but also around Richmond and the Norfolk region. A current transportation issue is the metro systems' extension into Virginia. A big issue with the metro is the cost it will impose on Virginians. The board in charge of the metro wants to have it connect underground to the Dulles airport which is pricy. Whereas, Frank Wolf, Virginia House of Representative to Congress argues that an above ground stop with a shuttle would lower costs. If the metro had an underground connection to the airport, it could raise the toll on the Dulles Toll Road. The underground extension would cost $300 million more than the above ground metro stop. Transportation is a big issue in Virginia currently and raises a lot of debate about how to finance new roads and where to put them. Since the money for roads is allotted equally to each area of Virginia, Northern VA struggles to gain state money for transportation projects to ease the congestion. In the Virginia Assembly, conflict arises between northern VA representative and senators and other district representatives. 

"Salon Gunman Charged With Murder of 8"

On October 12th, Scott Dekraii entered Salon Meritage in downtown Seal Beach in full body armor with three weapons. He shot and killed a total of 8 people. Dekraii had been enraged over custody agreements with his ex-wife who worked at the salon. Dekraii had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder from a 2007 tugboat accident that left him mangled and his colleague dead. Although, his marriage was falling apart before the accident. The mass murders has left quaint town of Seal Beach in total shock and many morn for the victims.
Personally, I feel that Dekraii was a victim of post traumatic stress disorder and the recent custody battles were only the trigger for the murders. I'm no psychologist, but such a disorder can cause serious anxiety issues that can lead to increased irritation and anger. Like many other shooters before him, he should have been receiving more help or his psychiatrist should have reported him if he had proven himself to be a risk to society. Dekraii is just one of many that slips through the cracks. Many people have noticed changes and have seen signs in crazed shooters, but rarely does any one step up and say something. If people took charge and took on responsibility as a citizen, people who seem potentially harmful to society would be on the authorities' radar and would be given proper help. It is up to the citizens to start caring and to stop being a bystander just letting horrible things happen.
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2097002,00.html

Presidential Grade of Approval

If I was able to vote in the 2008 election, without a doubt, I would have voted for Obama. He had a promise for change that was so appealing and he brought me hope that things would get better. He promised to pull the soldiers out of the war, he promised to bring change to america, and to fix the economy. Three years later and he hasn't necessarily fulfilled those promises. Yes, he passed the health care plan, signed the bill to end don't ask don't tell, and he gave orders to the Navy Seals to kill Osama Bin Laden. However, when it comes to bringing the soldiers back from the war... it has been a slow process. Although, I can't criticize his tactics because really, what does an 18 year old girl who has no military knowledge know about war. Besides the point, I feel more frustrated about his lack of fallow through with his promise to help fix the economy. Obama has tried with the Jobs plan proposal but it was a little to bit too late. He should have proposed such a bill in the beginning of his campaign instead towards the end if he wanted to get anything done. The health care bill should not have been the number one priority. Especially now, it's difficult to pass anything in Congress so it is quite disheartening that he has not been able to do much to fix our country's financial issues. Overall, I would give Obama's first term a grade of B-. He at least made an effort, he can only do so much to fix our nation's problems if the citizens don't actively participate and if Congress can't agree. 

"Rage, rage against the financial sector fuels protests"

The Occupy Wall Street began in New York City as a form of protest against Wall Street greed. The author of the article initially thought that their protests would make no difference with it's lack of agenda but the protests have drawn attention in the media. The protesters blame the financial sector for the economic problems facing this country and many other groups have joined in protests promoting other causes. Currently in the Washington D.C. protests from part of the Occupy Wall Street have been ruling the streets of D.C. as a long with other big cities of the nation. The protest group hopes to have a huge number of demonstrators (in the millions) on October 29th to show that the people call the shots, not the two-party system.
Personally, as a young hopeful teenager who believes she can still make a difference in the world, I feel that this idea of protesting Wall street and corporate greed is a great way to get people involved in politics, especially the youth. Many issues that the youth face are greatly ignored by politicians, such as student loan debt, because few people from my age cohort go out and vote. With these protests I hope that there will be an increase in political awareness and that more people of my age group will actually go out and vote and change the policies currently in place. These protests give me hope that the average citizen actually has power in their government and can make a difference. If it weren't for my parents, I would go out to Washington D.C. and join in with the chanting protesters "Who has the power? We have the power!"

www.washingtonpost.com/business/rage-rage-against-the-financial-sector-fuels-protest/2011/10/04/gIQA0k1xVL_story.html

Issues I actually care about

With America being such a diverse country, there is a multitude of issues that affect Americans. However, with so many issues, an average American only has time to care deeply about a few that he/she feels affects him/her greatly. After much thought, I was able to narrow it down to about fours issues that essentially make or break a candidate for me. Before I can decide on a candidate, as an informed citizen, I need to know his/her position on federal spending, poverty & welfare programs, civil & human rights, and social security reform. If I have to see my hard-earned cash from two jobs go to the federal government for taxes, then I would like to know what programs it is spending my money on. The budget is a big issue for me, like many Americans. In this economy, where money pinching is a necessity, it is important to see that my money is going towards programs that I find beneficial. For example, I believe that NASA and the defense budget should be cut. I believe the majority of tax money should go towards benefitting the poor, elderly, and disabled. Furthermore, I see civil and human rights as an important issue not only for our nation but also as a global community. Sadly many women today in and out of the United States are sold into prostitution and I believe we should protect these women's rights as human beings. Futhermore, corresponding with government spending, I worry about social security and how it should be reformed. The nation is in grave debt and I see my tax dollars going to waste for social security that I will never benefit from through this current plan. It definitely needs to be revised in order for the security of the current labor force to protected in their elder years.

"Was Killing American al Qaeda Cleric Anwar al-Awlaki Legal?"

Mr. Awlaki was born in New Mexico in 1971 making him a citizen through birth. He was tied to al Qaeda through emails with the man who tried to blow of the Detroit bound airliner in 2010, the man who tried to set-off a car bomb in NYC, and two 9/11 hijackers. President Obama signed an order in early 2010 making him the first American to be on the kill or capture list. Mr. Awlaki was killed by two Predator drones Friday, September 30th at 9:55 a.m.
In the article, "Was Killing American al Qaeda Cleric Anwar al-Awlaki Legal?" the author Michael Crowley addressed the issues that arose from Mr. Awlaki's death. Some Americans feel conflicted upon learning of his death. Although he was a (potential) terrorist, being an American, he legally had rights of due process and his actions would be protected under the freedom of speech. While others are supportive of the Obama administration and see it as another feat (such as the death of Osama bin Laden) against terrorism and protecting national security.
Personally, it scares me that the president has taken the power to execute such power... the implications from this action could create more gray areas in the matters of protecting rights of American citizens and national security. I believe he should have had the chance to go on trial and be charged with treason. The U.S. government should have at least attempted to capture him before hitting the button on his execution. He should have had the right to prove himself innocent. The President's actions in this matter, makes the American judicial concept of "innocent until proven guilty" less permanent and creates the opposite idea: "guilty until proven innocent."Although, Mr. Awlaki's death was important to protecting national security and I am greatly thankful, I feel more worried about how the President's decision will affect the judicial court system and the rights of U.S. citizens.
http://swampland.time.com/2011/09/30/was-killing-american-al-qaeda-cleric-anwar-al-awlaki-legal/

My Political Party

Recently in my AP Government and Comparative class, I answered a bunch of questions to decide which political party I should most likely associate myself with. Surprisingly, according to my results I am a Centrist (with a slight lean towards the liberal side). I'd always just assumed that I was a Democrat because I agreed with my mother (who's a hard-core Democrat) points on different political issues. Long and behold, apparently I can have opinions other than what my mother forces down my throat (my mother is also a lawyer and is very persuasive).
I like to believe I differ in political party associations because I am more conservative on certain issues. My mother is pro-choice, whereas after long thought and serious reflection, I decided that I am pro-life. Furthermore, I don't believe in unions in the modern era because they hinder production and the economy more than help. At this point, workers have many benefits and rights, therefore, the unions' pressure on big companies and the government is only a big money drain and clogs up legislation slowing down the government.
However, I am more liberal on different issues. For example, I am against the death penalty. I don't believe that the government can order someone to die when the judicial system has loopholes that innocent people end up being killed with little evidence. Furthermore, I also believe in equal rights which should extend to all races, sexes, the disabled, and sexual preferences. Homosexuals should have the same governmental rights as a marriage between a man and a woman.