Green Environment

Our nation should try creating a green utopian city such as the one planned in Masdar, Abu Dhabi. We are not as environmentally conscious as we should be. Building an experimental city somewhere in the United States would be a powerful catalyst for the change we need. The city would set an example for the rest of America to follow. It would also provide sound data and alternatives to counter money-hungry political organizations such as the one mentioned in We The People: A Concise Introduction to American Politics, whose profit-driven leaders struck down legislation that would have forced them to produce environmentally friendly cars. The city would be a haven for researchers working toward healthy alternatives to everyday energy wasting devices which Americans are accustomed to. It would be a place where public transportation is so good no automobiles would be allowed. The city would be entirely self sustaining, with the aim of not using expensive and limited fossil fuels. The cost of changing America’s lifestyle may be expensive now, but the city would create a model allowing eventual mass production more economically, which will make the world a much more inhabitable place. If we keep our minds open and imagine the possible outcomes of a society in which we cut back on the amount of pollution we put in our air and water, the benefits will be endless. Our nation should take advantage of our vast resources and creativity to proactively take care of our people and our environment by creating a model green city in America.

blog stage eight

Allowing people who have obtained a license to carry on campus would put any gunman in a bad position. The worst place for a gunman to be is in a room full of people with guns. One who is in a heated argument and is at a place where anyone could be carrying a weapon would have to think the situation through very carefully before doing anything irrational. The realization that anyone may have a firearm would cool the argument quickly. Since the State of Utah has permitted students to carry a concealed hand gun I do not predict that there will be a school shooting there anytime soon. If a gunman were to act out there, people who are able to take action against him/her would do so. If the security guards are permitted to carry a firearm on campus why can’t I carry? Saying that a gun is a bridge to animosity and violence is like saying a pen misspells words. People are in control of their actions and they will handle a particular situation as they see fit. Their decision in a heated argument, weather it is right or wrong, would most likely be the same decision if it was thought about for a few days. Also recently students on campus at the University of Texas at Austin were carjacked at gunpoint. The defenseless students could do nothing but fear for their lives. If they had been carrying or if someone nearby had a firearm, they might have stopped the criminal(s).

Blog Stage 7

We should be concerned with our nation’s problems, before we worry about others. Instead of spending money on the war in Iraq, we should be spending the money in areas where our nation needs it. Our public schools could definitely use the money. Who knows, if our students were better educated, maybe we could figure out a better way to help other nations. The war is taking entirely too much money from our economy. It could be of more use to us in the United States. Our country is in a recession at the moment. We could be using that money to stimulate our economy. We could give a bigger check to our working citizens who will receive money through the stimulus package. I definitely would be OK with that. Wars are expensive. They drive up the cost of materials needed for everyday life such as gasoline and other retail products. The biggest cost of war, of course, is the lives of our soldiers. Also, caring for our veterans will not be cheap. The total cost of the war will not be known any time soon. The benefits of ending the war will outnumber those of continuing the war. Our nation is safe as it is, so we do not need to misuse lives and funds to make an example out of Iraq. The time to end the war is now.

Blog Stage Six

The government may not be providing good enough protection at home. One thing any qualified citizen can do is arm oneself. It is one of the basic rights we have as a citizen of the United States. Even those who are not qualified to legally own a firearm do. If the United States is attacked, there are a good number of people who are as ready as one can be. Don’t wait for the government to take action, because it may be too late when the time comes. Most citizens do not have the proper training to defend the nation, but that should not stop anyone from trying. History has shown that letting people defend their country (instead of using trained, well-equipped soldiers) is not the best solution, but being prepared could only help. Militias have fought for the United States since the time of independence. I would rather keep my safety in my hands rather than take a chance relying on others. If you have the resources, use them, and do the best you can with what you have. The crisis will work itself out.

Blog Stage Five

Our voting system is set up electronically, so we might as well make voting easier for the average voter. The government should modify the system we have now. An online voting system would have many advantages over having to travel in person to cast one’s vote. Other countries, such as Britain and France, have used online voting in certain elections. The voters require a special ID card with a smart chip, issued by the government, to use the system. A special device is needed to read the ID card, which is installed into one’s computer. Improvements in security will be of concern to most who use or refuse to use the system. There are many concerns about this type of system, but the kinks can be worked out. The United States has used similar systems for the military and citizens abroad. Online voting could be tested as a backup to the electronic voting system we have now. At the same time changes can be made to correct the errors found in the system. Voters could vote in person and also cast a vote online to serve as a check or recount to either system’s vote tally. The number of votes would grow exponentially I am sure, because the system would be available in the voters homes on their own computers. People without computers could go to the local library to cast a vote, or they could go to any public place with a computer. It is hard for many of us to trust the electronic system already in place. We might as well use the electronics at our fingertips.

Bloge Stage Four

We should not trust electronic voting systems. A paper ballot is tangible and should be used, or at least we should be given a paper receipt. Any one of the many problems associated with the eSlate systems will inaccurately tally our votes. Such problems have occurred. For example, voter Jan Dawes read on an electronic screen (after casting her vote), “Reconnect to system to record vote.” She was left wondering if other voters did not catch the same recording error, and their ballot might not have been counted. Travis County officials say, “Machines are superior to paper ballots because they are faster, save time and money.” But, what is a little extra money to ensure an honest and accurate vote for every citizen? Electronic votes are not reliable. Something as simple as a receipt would require a little extra cash, but would be much more dependable in terms of verifying every vote. I agree with Jim Harrington, director of the Texas Civil Rights Project, who says, “If you have a challenge, there are no real independent ballots to recount.” When there are problems such as corruption or a glitch in the system or a technical malfunction, having no hard copy records to recount would surely leave us with inaccurate tallies representing the people’s choice.
Hart InterCivic spokesman Peter Lichtenheld says, “The printer has several disadvantages. It adds the cost of paper, poll workers must be trained to use and fix it, and it adds time.” The cheap fast way is not the best way to accurately account for each vote. It takes time to get the job done right. Travis County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir says, “Travis County hasn’t encountered the snafus that have plagued other places. The machines are subjected to ‘logic and accuracy testing.’” Testing is a good way to find problems, but some glitches may not be found for many years. In terms of corruption DeBeauvoir says, “It’s not a Microsoft-based system which reduces the risk of someone who knows Windows being able to affect machines.” In my eyes an electronic “1” can easily be changed into a “10” by the click of a button. It may not be as simple as that, but I am sure I am not far off from how the tallies could actually be changed. Something as simple as a receipt for official records would greatly improve the reliability of electronic voting systems.

Blog Stage Three

President Bush is trying to sell $123 million in weapons to Saudi Arabia. The deal is a part of a 10 year $20 billion package. The proposed sale is to aid Saudi Arabia, with the intent that they will become an ally in stabilizing the Middle East. Proceeding with this deal would be a mistake. Included in this package is technology which creates extremely accurate missiles. The weapons could easily end up in the hands of terrorists, or even worse, we could be selling the weapons to those who will turn against us. A majority of the most-wanted international terrorists are from Saudi Arabia.
In the 70s Iran was given weapons. The U.S. also provided weapons to the Afghan rebels who became the Taliban and also to the Saddam Hussein regime in Iraq. Representative Anthony Weiner criticizes selling weapons at this time to Saudi Arabia. He fears a change of leadership there: “a change of leadership in Saudi Arabia that’s even more dangerous than the type of leadership that exists and they have these weapons to use as they wish.” Nothing will stop those in possession of the weapons from taking a different standpoint on the issue of stabilizing the Middle East than the one Bush wishes for. According to a joint news release, “Saudi King Abdullah referred to U.S. troops in Iraq as an ‘illegitimate foreign occupation’ during an Arab summit in Riyadh last March.” It would not be wise to risk giving weapons to a people headed by a man who believes that the United States is criminal. The bill supported by President Bush needs to be blocked because the weapons may cause trouble in the long term. In accord with the Arms Control Export Act of 1976, Congress is to be notified by the White House and is allowed 30 days to make a decision on the bill. Bush notified Congress about his intent on January 21, 2008, so Congress still has the option of rejecting this arms sale. Take a look at these links: blog link web link