For the Love of Learning

An issue that has been long overdue and should be accomplished, hopefully in the near future, is the education system in America. Since a child, my parents have always told me to go to school, to receive an education, to graduate, and to always try my hardest no matter what. Education has always been important to them and myself, but they definitely did their hardest to let me know that.

The issue with the education system nowadays is that nothing is genuine anymore. Teachers "teach" and lecture, but do not actually teach to the point where it sticks with the students or make them want to learn the material. The amount of times I've had classes where my teacher would just hand out a sheet of paper (sometimes), spit a few notes here and there, and automatically give a test the next class or so, it's ridiculous! For both high school and my entrance into college. How do they expect for the students to learn if they're not really teaching and giving the students time to learn? If they're getting paid to teach, why not do it right?

It's understandable that teachers and professors have a specific structure and regulations to follow, and their hopes is to maintain that structure to finish the course. The issue with that is that students might get neglected with their works because more importance is being shined on finishing the material and less so on absorbing the materials. How much damage would really be done to a student if they weren't able to finish Chapter 12 for a math class, yet they know the equations and how to solve problems for Chapter 1-11 because they had time and motivation to learn.

Also, the education system is nothing but tests and quizzes and whether you passed or not; not whether you truly learned. 

Although tests and quizzes are formed to see where a student's knowledge is at, not all of them are made fairly. There are students out there that may know the material, but are just horrible at taking a test. A student's future should not depend on a simple letter grade. By doing that, it adds so much stress onto that student, sometimes to the point they drop out! Nowadays, students absorb the letter grade than the actual material itself. Students would prefer to memorize the material for a test, in hopes of receiving a good grade. Typically, they forget that information once it's over. That defeats the purpose of receiving an education.

As a voter and just a human being in this education system, I want the education that I'm paying and attending for, which I'm sure others may agree (or disagree) on. If learning wasn't so focused on a letter grade, a test, and had the proper instructors to help students learn, then there wouldn't be an issue at all. Who knows, there would probably be more people in school and even better jobs at that. Which would better the economy.

Something that voters can do is talk to the schools and get more involved to actually make this change. There are so many students from all sorts of age groups who have tremendous difficulties with the education system and how it's ran. By getting involved and trying to make that change, students will finally be able to learn the way they're supposed to and intake the information that's given to them.

Hopefully this is something that can get repaired quick because receiving an education is something awesome to accomplish, but it's devastating if its not being provided properly. 

The issue with the United States Economy

 
It seems like 2016’s economy will be similar to 2015’s. While reading an article on "Economy in crises" I read about how Americans need to realize that this threat is self-generated. In the past 30 years, the U.S. has sold out about 61, 613 of their best companies, and in result has increased the number of American-registered foreign-owned companies. By selling these companies we are also selling its profits overseas. Not only is the U.S. in a major debt but we are barely making our own products. Patrick Kellen mentions that, “We now have a service (servant) economy with low-paying jobs, and citizens are piling up personal debt. Their homes have lost value, and with employment drying up the average worker will be lucky to pay interest on what they owe”. Our government constantly barrows money to pay off loans and as a result we go back to debt; it’s a never ending cycle. The united states government needs to focus on rebuilding Americas economy before it’s too late.

According to Patrick Kellen there is a solution to this problem, “it’s simple: tax imports, regulate foreign commerce, stop the sellout of America and get out of foreign wars that we can’t afford”. As an American, I worry that this country will no longer be great again but rather it will be poor and corrupted. The answers are in front of us so why is our government not stopping but rather making the economy worse? I would like our next president to help prevent the U.S. economy as well as its debts and help make this country better again. This is why it is important for Americans to go out and vote.  

                                                            

http://economyincrisis.org/content/our-country-serious-trouble-0

 

 

Is Military Spending an issue?

When it comes to deciding which issues are most important to an American voter, not many come across to the importance of military spending. Mainly because many Americans believe that the United States current military budget is good at where its at. Also because non-military voters worry more about other issues such as jobs, the economy, education and health care.

Although the U.S military budget is known by many, it is surprising to see how the majority of Americans agree that the current budget should stay how it is. According to an article from the Washington Post, the U.S military budget stands at $598 billion. This amount accounts for more than a third of global spending. Seeing how foreign issues are unfolding relating to terrorism and the Islamic State's war on European countries and the U.S. It is no wonder that anyone would think to decrease military spending. 

(via Washington Post, 2016)

Military spending and the might of American leadership is always thought with prominence. This is shown by the immense amount of U.S military bases that are located in foreign soil. The U.S currently has around 800 military bases scattered around the globe. Most of which were created after the end of WWII, where the presence of the American military in foreign countries was necessary for the creation and stability of democracy upon war-torn Europe and Asia. Yet, after the end of WWII and the wars caused by the Cold War, these bases still continue to exist and remain occupied. Which also means that the Department of Defense continues to use American tax dollars to fund and maintain these bases. Here is a video regarding the U.S current status on foreign bases:

(via Youtube)

You might be questioning why the United States, or more specifically Congress, doesn't decrease a substantial amount that is used to fund the military. There are many reasons for why this does not happen. According to a blog post written by Jon Davis, a former U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant, there are three reasons that he writes which answers why the military rates do not decrease. 

He presents his first reason by stating that "being even is the deadliest form of warfare". By this statement, Davis means that in order to save more lives and defeat a battle or war in a more efficient and quick way, a military force must outweigh the power of the opposite force significantly. A real life example of this is during the Iraq war when Saddam Hussein's military was defeated in less than a month by coalition forces. Which saved a tremendous amount of lives because the coalition attacked in full force in the first place.

Secondly, the everlasting development of technology requires higher funds. A positive trend occurs with military technology in relation to funding. In order for the U.S military to possess the most modern forms of equipment and utilities, the military budget must be consistent in providing sufficient amounts of funding for development.

The last reason relates to the role that the U.S. has in maintaining peace and being a global force for good. The role of leadership that the U.S. possesses is needed for the stability of various nations across the world. This is why a substantial amount of funding is used towards the military. This reason also answers why the military budget does not decrease in reality.

I agree that the military budget should stay how it is (promotes defense, peace and leadership). Of course, if the current budget were to decrease, this would give way to more spending for other things such as education, public transportation and science (NASA). Although this issue is not as popular because of safety reasons. Having American influence in foreign countries is important for stability and peace. Yet,  I still believe that there should be more authority by the people in terms of what amount is spent towards funding the military. Therefore being an issue that should be taken with importance as a voter.

Immigration and Deportation

In the debate between Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton in Miami on Univision, both candidates promised not to deport children, or anyone who is not a criminal. The speaker Jorge Ramos, made sure to make them promise not to deport the innocent. He did this to relieve stress and fear on many people around the country. Every day people are living in fear of deportation. According to a news station, WCNC, ICE (Immigration and Custom Enforcement) has been targeting children walking to their bus stops. They said that it’s better this way because it stops them from creating and starting a life here in America.

                                        

This issue is the most important to me as a voter. Deportation on people who are trying to become working class citizens isn’t fair. The countries they are fleeing from are dangerous and they are just trying to stay alive and make it in this world. Which is why Trump’s idea of a wall is illogical; he doesn’t even have a real plan on how to build it. People who promise to leave the innocent alone have my vote!

 Yeah right...

#GoVote

This upcoming election has turned social media into a constant war zone. Liberals and Conservatives are constantly attacking each other. "Trump will fix what's wrong with this country!" "Sanders will make college free and raise minimum wage!" It seems that no matter what side you're on, you're bound to get into some type of debate. For example, Twitter has become a huge platform for people to express their freedom of speech. You can say whatever you want about a candidate, positive or negative. But what really makes these tweets important is how they influence people's votes. Trump supporters are very vocal on Twitter. Just look at any hashtags involving Trump. The more defensive supporters will go out of the way just to defend or attack any anti-Trump voters. What fuels this behavior is Trump's very own tweets.

With his huge prevalence on social media, it isn't hard for Trump to stay relevant within the race for the Republican nomination. Another way Twitter is vital for candidates is the easy communication between users. By actually interacting with supporters and people unsure on who to vote, they allow themselves to appear as if they listen and care about what people are thinking.

What really puts candidates with an advantage is how they use their Twitter page. For example, each candidate will subtly throw jabs at their opposition, while maintaining their overall message. Bernie Sanders' Twitter page consists of what he wants to achieve, as well as defending his views and arguments. Although the pages themselves may not be run by the candidates, the Tweets might as well come from them as well. What's funny is that Trump's page is a mixture of hilarious yet offensive insults, as well as his overall message and goals for his campaign. 

The main point that I'm trying to make is that social media really does influence people's decision. With Twitter and Facebook becoming pretty much news outlets, it's only a matter of time before voting for President will be done by Twitter polls. With so many people voicing their opinions on who should be the next President, I hope to see large voter turnouts. Tweeting alone won't win your candidate the seat in the White House. It is up to you to go and vote. Every vote counts. Complaining about how a certain candidate is doing better than yours won't really help the situation. Get involved with the political process and maybe you might find opportunities you may have never though of. Either way, whoever wins the upcoming election is only going to lose to the rap God Kanye West in 2020.

Metro Boomin Doesnt Trust Donald Trump

I found this article on XXLmagenzine website, http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2016/03/metro-boomin-doesnt-trust-donald-trump-sign/ that goes into detail about the Donald Trump rally in Chicago is all actually uniting people but for foolish reasons. The cancellation of the rally is showing how artists are beginning to have a little bit of a dangerous pull in the arenas of life. The article began to talk about how the citizens of Chicago were not going to have any nonsense in their city and began to chant "Nah Bruh" continually  in the streets blocking the parade promotion of his campaign. One of the protesters had a large black and white sign that said " Metro Boomin Doesn't Trust Donald Trump".

This image can be taken as a positive and a negative because this line was created as a simple moniker for a producer's beat. But the way our society is now glorifying entertainers like kings and queens rather than people who like themselves make errors. Entertainment has officially crossed the border into politics and it is a frightening thing when Kanye West can declare to run for presidency.... 

Trumps Immigration Plan

Even though I hate to yet again start talking about Donald Trump but he does have the ability to have people start talking about issues that face this country. One of the biggest statements to come out of his mouth was probably the grand wall speech where he also says some very offensive statements about the Mexican people.

As a son of previous illegal immigrants and having most of my family who currently live in this country that work hard everyday to make a decent living in the United States I would have to completely disagree with his statements. I personally do not know about the people of Mexico but I do know that many countries in Central America face many issues the biggest one being gang violence. In my own country of El Salvador there are on average 30 murders a day according to Discovery with having more than half of these murders being gang related. This problem however is occurring all throughout Central America and the only solution for people hoping to escape with their families is to immigrate to the United States of America the Land of Opportunity.

Donald Trump's plan would possibly cripple relations with not only Mexico but other foreign nations. I am also not saying that our border should be an open door to anybody knocking but putting a ridiculous plan into play would ruin this country.

I am not a person who is big into politics so I don't know any possible solutions to this immigration problem but I do know that separating the United States from many other countries would definitely be more of a problem than a solution.

(Thought this was funny)

My Two Cents on Two American Issues

I'm a not so politically-savvy man, so my stakes in politics are impractical and hopelessly optimistic. Foreign affairs, and the economy? Gibberish. I care about a better next century, the better tomorrow can wait.

With that said, there are two issues I'd scream from the rooftops if it meant they'd be addressed in this year's election and if my landlord wouldn't evict me.

Education

Let's be honest, nobody but the learn-o-holics enjoy lectures and homework, express excitement of emails announcing upcoming quizzes, or read chapters ahead for no reason at all. All those math problems are chicken-scratch on the chalkboard and that biology-flick is a whitenoise whisper to your phone's instant messaging.

Sometimes you get professors, the heroes, who liven up the classroom and engage you. They're kind and patient but keep things moving, but they're not that common. Students today struggle to succeed and hardly learn because America's education system is flawed.

We memorize facts, and not taught to discover them for ourselves. We learned of the fall of the Roman empire, but not why we bothered. Few of us are instilled with critical thinking, and even less a desire to learn. We're taught to ready ourselves for jobs and not life. We're problem doers, not problem solvers.

Inspiring the next generation to want to learn is far more important than what they do learn, especially when they only learn for standardized testing.

Mental Healthcare

I don't mean autism, Asperger's or schizophrenia—but hear me out. The world centers on nobody but the narcissistic; it revolves around people, our interactions our wills, hopes and dreams. Our understandings of ourselves and one another. Racism and sexism are nothing in society compared to depression, greed, jealousy, anger, trust issues, intolerance, misunderstandings, and a detachment from one another.

Woah—got a little serious there . . . the problem I'm talking about is that grouchy-cashier, that guy refusing to tip, your neighbor with two wrong sides to her bed, and that kid who stole your yu-gi-oh cards.

We as a society should take steps towards creating a happier population, reducing stress from work, education, and at home. Gambling, drug-abuse, alcoholism, suicide, and violence are the results of an abundance of negative influences, and a lack of positive forces in our daily lives.

What I'm asking for is better preparations for young adults in life, more affortable options for battling illness like depression or other psychiatric problems—that don't rely on medications. Education in reducing stress, research into personality disorders, development of treatments, and greater quality of therapy and counseling.

* * *

Maybe I'm being hopelessly quixotic here, but I believe this is the core of society, and if we work towards a better next century, tomorrow might just be the better day we're looking for.

With all that said: if you're reading this Adam, I'm sorry I stole your yu-gi-oh cards. . .

Good night.

Equal Pay?

I found a comment that sums it all up:
https://www.isidewith.com/poll/935311236/stance/1026385547
 I think that people should get paid based on their level of professionalism, how educated they are, how well they can perform their tasks and so on. I don't think you should be paid equal just because you are a woman. What if the woman does not do the task as well as the man, it would only be fair to pay the man more. I understand, as a female myself, I would like to get paid for the job but, I would like to get paid based on how well I do my job and not just because of my gender. If for example: there are two students a male and a female in a class, would you give both of them the same grade even though the male deserved an A and the female deserved a B?

Women tend to choose lower paying jobs and jobs that have a role as a caregiver, while men are a lot more business oriented. Most  high paying jobs such as lawyers, doctors and CEO's are done by men. Men tend to be better at negotiating. Men typically negotiate for a higher salary and better benefits. Women do not typically go out of their way to get the highest salary possible. Women's brains do not work like that.

There are also a lot of successful women out there who have pushed past these boundaries. They have taken on a role that is more than just a caregiver. Take Beyonce for instance, she is one of the most influential females in the world and I don't think she is having any financial trouble. It all depends on the path you set yourself on. Of course there will be employers who pay unfairly and that is a problem.  John F. Kennedy Signed the Equal Pay Act in 1963, which states that it is illegal to pay different salaries to men and women for the same job. Yet, It is still such a huge problem 53 years later. https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/statutes/epa.cfm This is a link from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commision that goes really into depth about the Equal Pay Act.Yes, If the female and male are doing the same job equally as well, they should be paid equally. This issue is a mess, because I understand both sides and also I, myself am stuck in the middle. I agree and disagree with some points made on both sides of the issue. Also, I do not know enough about this issue to really have a very strong opinion, or lean to one side too much.

If you work hard and dream big, you will make all the money you need and want!

"The night is dark and full of terrors..." - Melisandre

The issues that are most important to me are the economy, national defense and foreign policy, and gun rights.

I recognize that the president doesn't necessarily need to know a whole lot about the economy. That's what economists are for. Really what I don't want to see is a president who thinks they know a lot more about the economy than what they actually know.
I'm still waiting for a debate where a candidate is asked about a specific economic issue and they just say "You know what, I'm not too sure. I'll have to consult with my team of economists and get back to you on that." I would love that!

Raising or lowering taxes may not have the outcome most people would think on certain goods. Some people maybe believe that raising a tax on an item automatically brings in more revenue for that item. It could in fact decrease the revenue, as it may significantly lower the amount of that item sold (especially if it has a highly elastic demand)!

via GIPHY
Maybe don't trust the Small Council though...


I view national defense and foreign relations (especially regarding military action) as priorities as well. Do I mean we need to be the world police? Absolutely not. Do I think we should build a giant wall around our land and only defend it? No! The world is an ever-changing dangerous place, and we need to be ready to deal with threats and prevent genocide and other gross human rights violations.
We have to be careful about what positions we take on issues, the ways we deal with situations, and the affect our actions will have in the long run. I look for a level-headed candidate on these issues, someone who detests war but understands there is sometimes a need for violence.

As is with economics, the President does not need to make all decisions for his or herself; there is a large number of military advisers, strategists, and leaders that the President can lean on, however he or she should have a strong backbone and understanding for these matters.

via GIPHY

That's some good advising right there!


Finally, the topic on everyone's lips. I posted on Facebook about this a while ago but I couldn't find what I said. Basically I understand both sides of the argument on gun control. What it comes down to, is some people want to prevent future mass shootings and the death of innocents, and some people want to prevent future oppression. You may not believe that, but it is what I believe it comes down to.
 I will never tell you that you're wrong to support whichever side, but I may disagree with your reasoning. Neither side is necessarily right either, even though I have my own opinions. Now, the specifics of each opinion on each side could vary greatly!

Without going too much into the weeds, I believe the 2nd Amendment was originally added to the Constitution to protect the citizens' ability to fight back against an oppressive government, whether it is foreign or domestic. Given that our country had just overthrown its own former government when the constitution was written, it's safe to say that such a thing was not a foreign concept to them, like it is to us today.

Granted, as of right now, we have no need for such a drastic motion... but one day we may. It could be the federal government, a state government, or even a wildly corrupt police force. American citizens should be able to fight for themselves when nobody else will.

I also look for candidates who are at the very least educated on firearms. If you're trying to ban "assault weapons" but can't even safely handle a firearm, you have 0 credibility with me. For example, check out Senator Feinstein holding some sort of AKS-47 or 74 variant. Notice her finger is on the trigger. One of the first things firearms instructor would teach you is to never put your finger on the trigger unless you're intending to fire.

I actually have a funny story about Senator Feinstein sending a team (of her staff or advisers, I am guessing) to Quantico when I worked there to learn about firearms after there was a ton of backlash over her and her peers mishandling firearms, but that's neither here nor there... so I'll tell the story in the comment section!

I know I have many more reasons for supporting gun ownership, and I'm sure many of you have your own opinions on either side of the fight, but it is definitely an important issue to me as a voter.

via GIPHY


These three, or four, issues of the economy, national defense and foreign relations, and gun rights, are some of the most important issues to me as a voter. While I can see myself voting either Democrat or Republican, the candidate must be competent on these issues, even if that means realizing how little they know compared to their advisers.

via GIPHY

Sorry for the lengthy post! Not sorry for 100% Game of Thrones GIFs.

What if We Went to College for Free?

When it comes to politics, college students are mostly aloof. This isn't a personal opinion, but a fact, proven by poll statistics which show that voter turnout of 18-29 year olds has decreased by approximately 25% since 2012.

According to a Washington Post article called "Where are all the young voters?", in 2015 younger voters feel like nominees do not cater to them as an audience, therefore they feel left out. College-age people are usually buried under ridiculous amounts of debt, work, and pressure to succeed with many factors going against them. As someone who is going through something similar at the moment, the most important issue, personally, is expensive college education and job opportunities for teens.

On average, it takes at least 10 years for students to pay off their college debts according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Countries like Finland and Sweden that provide free college education eliminate this problem entirely, guaranteeing college-level education for most of its citizens, which in turn allows for a much more literate population. To put this simply and give a better a example, imagine a low-income family with two kids. In the circumstances present today, those kids might end up going to a community college for a year then dropping out, or not being able to afford attending a university, or not even being able to go to college at all and end up with minimum wage jobs for the rest of their lives.This holds them back reaching their true potential. However, if college education was free, and a requirement like high school education, those kids would be able to attend college and be given the same opportunity as everyone else. They learn, grow up, graduate, get jobs, create something, provide jobs for other people, make money, GDP increases, and so on.
This is just hypothesis of what might happen, but isn't the reward worth exploring the idea and taking a risk?

Another factor to consider here is what happens after students graduate college. A Huffington Post article titled "Half Of Recent College Grads Work Jobs That Don’t Require A Degree" states that "the number of college grads will grow by 19 million between 2010 and 2020, while the number of jobs requiring that education is expected to grow by less than 7 million." Which, put simply, means that students do not have the opportunity to reach their potential after 4+ years of hard work and could stuck earning a lot less money than they would have, were they given jobs that match their degrees. Nicholas Parco writes about the difficulties of acquiring a job as a recent college graduate in another Huntington post article that he titled "The Harsh Reality of Being an Unemployed College Graduate" . Parco says "the truth is that my student loans are not going to pay themselves, nor do I expect the government to pay for them or my health care. Here’s to hoping I can get hired somewhere soon so maybe I can pay off the student loans before my hair begins to gray."

Society cannot expect college students to succeed without giving them an opportunity to do so, or adding even more obstacles for them to overcome. It's just not possible. If a candidate wants to grab the attention of young voters, all she/he has to do is listen. Whether they agree with him or they don't, Bernie Sanders has been listening, and the other candidates might want to take a page out of his book.

Sanders' website lists a detailed description of his plans to make college tuition free, and debt free. Some of his plans include making public universities tuition free, substantially decreasing student loan interest rates, and stopping the government for benefiting from those student loans. Sanders plans to achieve that by increasing taxes on the richest people in the United States (the one-percent argument), thus increasing the money supply which would allow for more funding for schools. He also proposes raising the minimum wage from $7.25 to $15 which would double the wages of working students, allowing them to have more money to spend on seeking higher education.
While these all might look like unachievable goals, which they very well could be, Bernie Sanders is doing more than just appealing to young voters by setting forth plans that would greatly enhance their standard of living, he is also giving them hope. Hope for a better and brighter future tomorrow.

The Roots of Democracy

(via azquotes)

There are few who could argue against the fact that we are currently living in an age of significant change. Of tremendous, fast-paced innovation, the likes of which has never before been achieved in all of recorded human history. In living in an age like this, many are often inclined to think of bygone eras as more simple times. More primitive, even. However, despite the inclination to perhaps think ourselves smarter, more enlightened, and just overall superior to those who have come and gone before us, there is also a great deal of common ground stretching out between us that spans thousands of years.

Philosopher George Santayana once said that those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it. Although it is a topic not many would think to relate to modern day politics, given the monumental influence democracy has in America's modern political structure, I believe that it is extremely important for Americans to have an understanding of its history, going right back to the roots. The first official democracy was developed in the fifth century B.C., in the Greek city-state of Athens. In examining the inner workings of Athenian democracy, many parallels can be drawn between it and modern American democracy. Through these, a better understanding of one of the most critical aspects of our modern day politics might hopefully be gleaned.

Among these parallels, one of the most notable is the fact that the initial establishment of the political voting systems for both societies allowed all free male citizens of eighteen years or older to participate in voting. While the segregation aspect of these systems may not sound like a terribly good thing, in the time of ancient Athens this kind of movement towards encouraging education, activism, and (relative) equality amongst the social classes was something rarely, if ever, seen before. America, of course, differed from the restrictions of who could participate in political voting later on, when years of minority groups fighting for equal opportunity (such as through the Women’s Suffrage Movement and the Voting Rights Act) eventually paid off with the government extending voting rights to nearly all American citizens. While the recounting of these facts and events may not hold nearly as much excitement for many now as it would have held for those living it, there is little doubt that during their respective eras, these movements to encourage democracy and equality were truly something to behold, and have had a significant influence on the world we know today.

Additionally, for both modern America and ancient Athens, much pride was (and still is) taken in the achievement and successful use of political democracy on a long-term basis. Despite the fact that America was neither the first nor the most prominent nation to attempt and achieve long-lasting democracy in its politics, it is something that is considered both a great point of pride and a fundamental part of its government even to this day. During the Gettysburg Address of 1863, President Abraham Lincoln himself declared, “Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth.” In ancient Athens, logic and democracy were seen as indisputable virtues. Pericles (495-429 B.C.), a famed politician and general of ancient Athens, greatly valued these traits and used them to help form the foundations of the kind of democracy with which we are all now familiar. In a famous funeral oration given by Pericles shortly after the end of the first year of the Peloponnesian War (431-404 B.C.), and later recorded in writing by political philosopher and historian Thucydides  (460-400 B.C.), it is stated that no man is capable of measuring up to the capability and versatility of an Athenian who bears these virtues. Within both ancient Athens and modern America, it is clear that logic and democracy have held both great importance and great influence over the formation of their respective societies, and the politics therein.

In learning of groups like the ancient Athenians through sources like academic textbooks or documentaries, we may sometimes be inclined to think of them as nothing more than text on a page. But they once lived and breathed just the same as us, and many of the practices that they gave birth to and lived by still affect and are emulated by us to this day. It is important to understand the history and the influence of the practices and the politics by which we carry out our daily lives. For us, they may serve as a reminder that history is not merely some dull, impersonal, long-past string of events. Rather, history is something that we are all building for ourselves, even now. History is made when we make choices that influence this country, and in turn, the whole world. In the upcoming elections, and throughout all the years to come, this is something that must never be forgotten.

(via quotesgram)

Illegal Immigration

There are many political issues candidates have been arguing about lately during debates as election time comes closer and closer. The issue I believe to be the most important is immigration. Illegal immigration has become an increasing issue in the United States and needs to be stopped. While I don’t not stand with Donald Trump when he says that all illegal immigrants are rapists, drug dealers, and murders and that wall should be built sky high. But what I do stand with Trump on is that illegal immigration must be stopped and I also believe our border security must become increasingly stronger but no wall should be built. ILLEGAL IS ILLEGAL. If people would like to immigrate to the United States, they need to follow the rules and immigrate legally.

One of the issues illegal immigrants bring to the U.S. is that one quarter of all inmates in California detention center make up of illegal immigrants, 40 percent in Arizona, 48 percent in New Mexico, and 75 percent of those on the most wanted criminals lists in Los Angles, Phoenix, and Albuquerque are illegal aliens. A scary fact is that the Department of Homeland Security says that it has lost a track of a MILLION people that have entered this country but appear never to have left.

My father and mother had sacrificed almost everything to come to the United States legally. As soon as they came to the United States they had to work from the bottom. My father had a full-time job while my mother made good grades trying to get a degree and also worked hard with a full-time job to put food on the table for my sister and I. To have people forcing their way into the United States is just an insult for the people that sacrificed everything to be here legally. I love my background and where I come from but forcing your way across the border is not the answer!

Nothing Even Matters...Really Though?

Nothing Even Matters...Really Though?

What matters this political election? It probably depends on who you ask. We've heard that #Blacklivesmatter, we want to believe gender equality matters, and with the astronomical cost of higher education we certainly tell ourselves that a secondary education matters. 

Image credit to tumblr user http://imsofargone24.tumblr.com/

As this presidential election began to carry with it more buzz, it was easy to log on to any social media site and find memes critiquing candidates, hyperlinks to essays written by political analysts, and clips from the latest debate. 

As spectators of this amazing race we have seen protestors from the #Blacklivesmatter group confronting candidates, from Hillary Clinton's Charleston Carolina Event , the shut down of Bernie Sanders Event in Seattle Washington . Saturday Night Live has played on many candidates including Ben Carson, Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. Through the shows satire we have seen Carson portrayed as an airhead, Trump as tactless bigot, Clinton as two faced and desperate, and Sanders as a crazy old man who is always always shouting. Though these representations are a bit of a simplification of the individuals they do not fail to hit the nail on the head. 

In order to make an informed voting decision and to live up the the right and responsibility of voting that we are granted as citizens of America, it is imperative to educate ourselves on the issues. What issues we choose to focus on depends mostly on who we are. Think about the reasons why people align themselves with political parties to begin with. Members of these parties share similar views on important issues and so we support them so as to serve our own personal agendas. Comedian John Leguizamo famously said, “Latin people for Republicans are like roaches for raid,”. Leguizamo extrapolated by saying that essentially the Republican party was not concerned with people like him so it was paradoxical for Latin Americans to identify with the Republican Party.

Its important to note the correlation between party affilaition/views on issues and identity. As an Afro-Latina woman, and as a student many of my concerns are all to do with my identity. I am concerned with the efforts of the #Blacklivesmatter movement, as well as immigration reform, I am concerned with the issues of police brutality and systemic injustice against people of color, I am also concerned with a woman's right to choose what happens to her own body and earn as much as a man (and a white woman, intersectionality is key!), and currently I am very very concerned with how we are going to make college affordable for kids everywhere. This combinations of concerns are uniquely mine but I am not alone. All of us hold issues close to our hearts because of their level of pertinence...and that is Aye Okay! In fact we need to correctly identify what issues matter most to us, formulate our stances on them and support like minded politicians so that we can someday see the change we pine for.

What is truly important.

The U.S. Constitution established America’s national government, fundamental laws, and guaranteed certain basic rights for its citizens. It was signed on September 17, 1787 and ever since it has been the government's job to make public policies for an entire society. Because of this the government is seen as the steering mechanism for a given society. It forms the policies that keep a particular society heading in the right direction. It is then our job to vote for a leader. When voting there are many things to consider. One question that always comes to mind is, "Is this person saying the truth". It's the politician's job to say all the right things. Sometimes a politician will say anything just to make the voters happy. As a voter it's important that you vote for someone that you truly believe will help this country. It's the voter's responsibility to cut through all the nonsense and get to their real stand on the topic at hand. After reading all this you might ask yourself, "so what issue is important to me as a voter". The answer will always vary but one issue I believe everyone can agree on is to have candidates up for election that will actually help America.

This 2016 election can be the most important election of our lifetime. It seems like a cruel and sick joke to say that someone like Donald Trump could become our next president but this joke seems to be getting closer and closer to becoming true. We are allowing things like this to slide by too easily, the joke is over and it's time to put an end to it. When we think of a leader we think of someone who will put in effort to fix our nation's most important problems. According to Google's most searched for policy issues the top five most important issues are; immigration, same-sex marrage, education, gun control, and taxes. However, In recent polling by Gallup, American adults election-related focus differed a bit from what was actually expected. Immigration was still among the most important issues for voters ahead of 2016 but the economy and "the way government operates in Washington" led the results instead.

And when Americans were asked an open-ended question about the most important problem facing the U.S, the results came in showing that dissatisfaction with government led, followed by the economy.

It is dangerous that dissatisfaction with the government is seen as one of the biggest problems facing the United States. There are bigger problems to focus on in America rather than having to worrying about how the government is ran. If we are so worried about how the government is ran maybe it's time to stop voting for the wrong people. People as evil and clueless as Donald Trump shouldn't even be thought of as a serous candidate for presidency. When you go out to vote make sure the candidate you are voting for has a plan to solve your top issues and has the best intentions for the United States. This 2016 election is a big one, please don't let this man ruin our country.

The issue with equality

There are several political issues that candidates argue about around election time. Abortion, gay rights, gun control, death penalties; the list goes on. One issue I believe stands above the rest is equality. At the end of the day it can be said that most people want to be treated equally. Whether it is women’s rights, lgtb rights or people’s rights we all deserve to be treated with fairness and equality. The issue with equality is for some reason it seems we have a difficult time giving it to others. Are women treated as equals in society? Are people of the LGTB community really equal? Do people of all races and colors have equal rights? If we look at the facts The institute for women’s policy research says that women still only make 78 cents for every dollar a man makes. Although there are laws being passed to create equality for the LGTB community it’s accurate that not every state has committed to making sure all peoples of the LGTB community have equal rights. Finally the good ole’ saying “all men are created equally.” If this was held true then our country never would have had to pass laws to make sure people knew it was serious. If it was held true then we wouldn’t still have issues involving racism today. Equality is one of the most important issues because it is an American core value which drives our country.

Equality means that every person has a fair chance in this country, everyone gets the same rights and opportunities. Without equality it can be argued that many negative things could happen. Without equality there is bound to be oppression. If there is no equality or if there is oppression then we are going against our Declaration of Independence. The issue however is how do we create equality, what laws must be passed in order to make all people equal? I think that may be the wrong way to go about it. Regardless of what seemingly airtight laws we create people will still treat others unfairly. I don’t know if we can force people to treat each other the right way. I think that we as a people need to come to a mutual understanding and respect for each other in order to have real equality. There needs to be environments where tolerance is taught, respect is taught, maybe even love. Fredrick Douglass said, “where ignorance prevails and any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe.” If knowledge kills ignorance and getting rid of ignorance is the start to equality then maybe education is where the real push for equality should start. Above all else we need equality first before we worry about any other issue.