Many people give number of excuses on why they don't vote. "My vote didn't count last time, so why should I vote this year?", "My vote doesn't count, so why does it matter?", and my personal favorite "I don't like any of the candidates running, so I'm not voting.". Wow! Are those really the excuses people come up with? No your vote didn't really count last time, but you should still vote. No your vote still doesn't count this time, but you should still vote. Really no one is going to love the candidates that are running, but you're suppose to pick the one you believe has more of what you are looking for as a President. So that you can know in the back of your mind that you did do something good for you country by voting for the best candidate you belive will help you and your family out.
Majority of people forget the fact that we as Americans are spoiled. So many lives were lost for us to have so many freedoms as we do now. Voting has been a major priority since our Founding Fathers wrote out the Amendments of the Constitution. Amendment 15 is: Protecting voting rights. Amendment 19 is: Women given right to vote. Amendment 23 is: Gives people in the District of Columbia the right to vote for President. Amendment 26 is: Sets 18 as the voting age. So as far back as 1870 to 1970; a hundred years later there are still issues or concerns about people voting. In some countries women are just recently able to vote. We abuse this freedom as if it's no big deal if we didn't vote this time around. We sure don't abuse the 1st Amendment or the 7th Amendment. We come up with so many excuses on why we don't vote, when we just need to say that we aren't involved in our government and we are ashamed of that. We are ashamed that we are the number one country people come to, to start a new life, have freedom, have a voice, yet our own citizens are lazy to get up and vote for the right presidential candidate. I am ashamed we are like this.
If you beleive gas prices are too high, your paying too much taxes or the intrest rate on your house is too high why don't you ask questions. Ask yourself why is it like this? What is our President doing to help our economy and our gorvernment? Then ask yourself what can I do to help get some of these questions answered? Start by becoming involved. Read the paper, watch the news, surf the internet; study the presidential candidates. When election day comes you will be completly satisfied and happy on your decisioin, because now you are a voice to be heard.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Friday, October 17, 2008
White Independant Voters
I read David Paul Kuhn's article, Obama Leads Among White Independents. The article discusses the positions/opinions related to a variety of issues that may influence white independent voters once they punch their voting ballots come November 4. The Gallup poll Kuhn references in his article speaks to a myriad of issues and the importance of these votes.
Some people believe the votes of independents will turn the tide to the eventual winner of this presidential race. Obama's lead, 45% to 43%, is significant for a couple of reasons, notes Kuhn. No democratic nominee has ever won the presidential election with a majority of white independent votes. The other is that there are more persons registered as democrats than republicans thus these votes become vital. The majority of independents seem to be moderate voters which means they could wander into right or left field depending on the circumstances. And the current circumstances, the economic downturn, has given Obama his current lead among these voters.
Prior to the economic woes we are now feeling, McCain had a 16 point lead among this bloc. Now the economy has a bigger impact on the middle class and thoughts are turning away from Iraq and foreign policy although the poll indicates independents believe McCain would do a much better job than Obama. In fact they believe McCain, overall, would make a better president.
When polled about the economy 82% of the independents believe it is the number one priority right now compared to 65% of republicans. Thus it appears independents are basing their responses to the poll to the current economic situation. Kuhn states if there were a terrorist event or an issue of national security, these voters would turn to McCain and away from Obama. This is a powerful observation if one looks at the 2004 election where the republicans used fear to get the votes they needed to win the election from Kerry. Hopefully the voters have learned from their previous mistakes and will not believe the lies being told by McCain and his "hatchet women"...I mean running mate.
Kuhn does a good job of merely reporting the facts and numbers and doesn't "say" what they mean or how he feels. One could assume this bloc of voters is fickle. It is also puzzling to believe these voters feel so confident about these candidates on one subject matter and feel they are weak in others of the same importance.
Some people believe the votes of independents will turn the tide to the eventual winner of this presidential race. Obama's lead, 45% to 43%, is significant for a couple of reasons, notes Kuhn. No democratic nominee has ever won the presidential election with a majority of white independent votes. The other is that there are more persons registered as democrats than republicans thus these votes become vital. The majority of independents seem to be moderate voters which means they could wander into right or left field depending on the circumstances. And the current circumstances, the economic downturn, has given Obama his current lead among these voters.
Prior to the economic woes we are now feeling, McCain had a 16 point lead among this bloc. Now the economy has a bigger impact on the middle class and thoughts are turning away from Iraq and foreign policy although the poll indicates independents believe McCain would do a much better job than Obama. In fact they believe McCain, overall, would make a better president.
When polled about the economy 82% of the independents believe it is the number one priority right now compared to 65% of republicans. Thus it appears independents are basing their responses to the poll to the current economic situation. Kuhn states if there were a terrorist event or an issue of national security, these voters would turn to McCain and away from Obama. This is a powerful observation if one looks at the 2004 election where the republicans used fear to get the votes they needed to win the election from Kerry. Hopefully the voters have learned from their previous mistakes and will not believe the lies being told by McCain and his "hatchet women"...I mean running mate.
Kuhn does a good job of merely reporting the facts and numbers and doesn't "say" what they mean or how he feels. One could assume this bloc of voters is fickle. It is also puzzling to believe these voters feel so confident about these candidates on one subject matter and feel they are weak in others of the same importance.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Religion and the Economy
I read David Van Biema's article, Foreclosures:Did God Want You to Get That Mortgage?, in TIME.
Biema's introduces us to the Pastor's who are preaching the Prosperity gospel which basically says you can save your soul and be prosperous now. You don't have to wait for your rewards until you get to the pearly gates. These pastors, like Joel Osteen of Houston, says you will get back ten fold (in dollars) what you give now (to theses pastors and their churches).
Biema lets us know that some people believe this is an encouraging message and that it has inspired the poor to do better...get better jobs...and obtain more wealth now. That these are the things that are important and that God wants you to be happy and happiness comes with wealth. Others like Rick Warren, who wrote The Purpose Driven Life, whose books have outsold Osteen's 7 to 1, that these teachings are "baloney".
What does all of this have to do with the economy? Biema believes a number of the congregations of these Prosperity gospel churches have taken on mortgage's they could not afford and a great number of them are now in foreclosure.
This brings up a number of interesting questions and only time, of course, will answer these questions. Once a large number of the members of these churches lose their homes, will they blame the pastor or believe God has abandoned them? Or will they believe it is the fat cats of Wall Street that has crushed their dreams and God will provide again. If it is the latter, they will remain with the church and continue to give their hard earned money to these greedy self-serving pastors in the hopes that "God wants me to be wealthy...he will provide once more." Biema believes the flocks will stay because it is easier to believe they will be provided for, than to think they have to wait until they are having their interview with Saint Peter to be rewarded for being a good Christian.
Biema doesn't take a position in this matter but merely lets the reader know what is happening in these churches and the preachings (read message) to their congregations and the link between those teachings and the affects during this current financial crisis. I found the article to very very interesting and informative.
The Bible speaks about money thousands of times, as Biema mentions in an attached article, but these Prosperity gospel churches stay away from a sermon on the true rewards of being a Christian which has nothing to do with monetary rewards.
Biema's introduces us to the Pastor's who are preaching the Prosperity gospel which basically says you can save your soul and be prosperous now. You don't have to wait for your rewards until you get to the pearly gates. These pastors, like Joel Osteen of Houston, says you will get back ten fold (in dollars) what you give now (to theses pastors and their churches).
Biema lets us know that some people believe this is an encouraging message and that it has inspired the poor to do better...get better jobs...and obtain more wealth now. That these are the things that are important and that God wants you to be happy and happiness comes with wealth. Others like Rick Warren, who wrote The Purpose Driven Life, whose books have outsold Osteen's 7 to 1, that these teachings are "baloney".
What does all of this have to do with the economy? Biema believes a number of the congregations of these Prosperity gospel churches have taken on mortgage's they could not afford and a great number of them are now in foreclosure.
This brings up a number of interesting questions and only time, of course, will answer these questions. Once a large number of the members of these churches lose their homes, will they blame the pastor or believe God has abandoned them? Or will they believe it is the fat cats of Wall Street that has crushed their dreams and God will provide again. If it is the latter, they will remain with the church and continue to give their hard earned money to these greedy self-serving pastors in the hopes that "God wants me to be wealthy...he will provide once more." Biema believes the flocks will stay because it is easier to believe they will be provided for, than to think they have to wait until they are having their interview with Saint Peter to be rewarded for being a good Christian.
Biema doesn't take a position in this matter but merely lets the reader know what is happening in these churches and the preachings (read message) to their congregations and the link between those teachings and the affects during this current financial crisis. I found the article to very very interesting and informative.
The Bible speaks about money thousands of times, as Biema mentions in an attached article, but these Prosperity gospel churches stay away from a sermon on the true rewards of being a Christian which has nothing to do with monetary rewards.
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