Monday, October 15, 2012

MWF 9am

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

There are many reasons why I have opted not to vote in the past. In fact, I've never voted. Ive never believed a democracy could truly thrive in a capitalist society where politicians are lobbied by oppressive, voracious corporations. Regardless, I have decided to vote this time around. I am ignoring the little voice in my head that says the independent valor of a vote can be manipulated by the outcome of the electoral college. Protesting is counterproductive--a lot is at stake for women's rights, healthcare and student loan policies.

My son has autism and currently receives occupational, speech, and behavioral therapy for free. Without this, my son would not receive the treatment plan that he needs. It is due to Obama's proactive emphasis on accessible health care (Affordable Care Act, age lift for insured dependents) that keeps my sons early intervention possible. Applied Behavior Analysis, proven to be the most effective behavioral therapy for autism, is now covered by medicaid. I do not pay a dime for my sons therapy. If I did, I would be spending about 3,000 dollars a month to keep him on the same regimen of therapy 3 times a week for 3 hours.

This election can determine the fate for women's rights issues, as well. If Romney wins the election, there is a good chance abortion laws will be decided on a state to state basis. States primarily governed by politicians with Christian sentiments, such as, the conservative Tea Party movement, will desire a change in the legal status of abortion. Causally, women from low income setting will not be able to travel to a neighboring state to carry out a legal, SAFE abortion. Having known someone who passed away due to complications from an illegal abortion in Brazil (where abortion is illegal on a national level), this is beyond demoralizing; it is possibly life threatening for all women in extraordinary circumstances.

In the second presidential debate, Mitt Romney's response to issues with equal wage for women was somewhat disconcerting. After Obama's response to his views on women's rights, Mitt Romney's response, "I went to a number of women's groups and said, 'Can you help us find folks?' of and they brought us whole binders full of women", seemed to suggest that Romney is eluded by feminism. "Binders full of women" implies the difficulty in finding qualified, suitable women for patriarchic institutions. Everything he said really rubbed me the wrong way. His emphasis on adjustments for the improvement of the every day life of a working mother and wife made me feel like women are perceived to be a commodity. The comment was incredibly alienating towards women who have absolutely no interest in getting married, or having kids and still have to bear the weight of stereotypes.
This is not to say that women are treated with more decency on the left. Women's right is and will continue to be a problem.

I am currently $3,000 dollars in debt. I am about to transfer to UF and am at the mercy of student loans. I am counting on completing a law degree so that some day I can pay off these obscene financial obligations. Romney emphasized new better paying jobs to be able to afford paying off student loans as the practical approach for student loans. My father spent 7 years paying off his student loans for his undergraduate and law degree in the late 70s. If the salary of a lawyer can take that long to pay a student loan, you have to wonder how plausible Romney's concept can be in 2012.

-Teresa Liberatore

Alfredo Triff said...

good point teresa. so your choice is clear (and you don't belong in a binder:)

Anonymous said...

Susette Martinez...

As you student who had a child while still in high school and now am continuing my education I care mostly about education and budget. I’ve been closely watching the elections and I have already decided on who I will vote for. It is true that Obama has not completed all his promises that he has made in the four year range but I do believe that he has not completed everything because of how much passion he put into the issues he was trying to resolve. Obama did things other presidents failed to do; he passed health care reform after five presidents failed to do so. Obama also worked hard to take banks out of federal student loan programs which allowed lower-income students to afford college; he also encouraged competitive grants that rewarded states who took part in education reform. I believe it is better to invest in the future so that Americans can afford to use money from there high paying jobs to purchase more things and boost the economy. These previous acts prove that Obama is fighting for the middle and lower class in the United States; the less money families have the less they are willing to use money to purchase things like homes and cars. Obama also shows that he is fighting for woman rights; he signed Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act in 2009, this is perfect for women who are getting paid less than men who work in the same company doing the same job. Obama also shows that he cares about children because he expanded health care coverage for children by increasing tax on cigarettes. Romney on the other hand has been caught lying, he’s hid his taxes and god knows how many other accounts he has out there that are still a mystery. He is clearly not trustworthy; if we cannot trust him during a debate how does he expect anyone to trust him once he becomes president, yes we have our “checks and balances” but presidents can override whatever they want. He can make things illegal like abortion and gay marriage even if the majority of Americans do not agree with those views. In the end I will be voting this election, and it’s not the first time I vote for him. I really believe that he is just human, people get nervous and they make mistakes and say stupid things; I rather stick to someone that I know how he is going to run things rather than to someone who does not care about the lower or the middle class people. I want a president who invests on Education and cares about immigrant students enough to place the Dream Act for those students.

Anonymous said...

Gesenia Paulino

Voting is an important part of American history, and I want to be a part of history we shape our futures, that is why I am choosing to vote for Barck Obama. He is a man who is not afraid to face our issues and tackel them head on. I think everybody just see what he could not do, but not what he has did already. Obama has shown that he is a man of his word, he has promised much more, that is why I vote for four more years.

Mitt Romney said...

Good evening my fellow Americans your future President Mitt Romney typing, I just wanted to tell you middle class Americans to vote me into office, I plan on lowing taxes on the rich because they pay more taxes than any American. I plan on raising taxes on low income americans to help better balance our economy. I want to be able to fix our health care system by eliminating Obama care and medicare. Insurance should be for those who can afford it. Social security needs to become better by eliminating it. I am not going to destroy education but nobody should be entitled to it. No more student loans will fix our economy. Vote for me this election and I promise that I will fix your economic problem by giving you better options to join the military. We need to disarm Iran, those people are causing terrorism against my business partners. I also want to help our economy but putting more government spending on the military. I don't think we need to spend our vote on Osama, I mean Nobama. Women I will put you in a special folder where you deserve to be. Women who believe they have rights, that is ludacris. Vote for me this election and you America will not regret it.Teresa, I will include you in my binders that is a promise from your future President.

Ashley Pierre said...

As a student and american I have certain things that I care for the most and that is education and jobs.I am not aware of all that goes on right now because there is too much "pick me, pick me" going on. But so far the current president has kept his promises. It is just that not all decisions are made through the president first. But I am not going to get into that now. I just know so far Obama has lots of care and concern and ideas in store for us when it comes to education. Especially with me receiving pell grants in order to pay for school those are really helpful.
Jobs is something I am concerned about. He has given out alot jobs so far. But these jobs are not enough to support a family, pay bills but it is a start its just not enough.
Ashley Pierre

Anonymous said...

Back when I was 16 or so, I too used to think this way, I thought voting was useless. During this period I was superficially cynical about politics, mostly because I honestly thought they didn’t matter and that things would happen the way they were meant to regardless of what I believed. It’s the kind of complaining that happens when one has a superficial superiority complex. Standard teenage stuff.

I always used to believe in a way that things would remain the same no matter what because of this view that politicians are greedy and that nothing ever changes. But then things started happening. I became more aware of the fact that some things were fundamentally wrong but there were ways to voice your disapproval and change the political discourse. Being a woman of color seeking an education is something that is a very big part of who I am, and knowing that myself and other women like me are becoming tastemakers in a way was a big revelation. There is absolutely no way to discuss the things that affect me and not cast a vote and become involved in the political process. The two as of right now are linked to me, the same way the campaign is linked to the media. I come from a country that is democratic, yet still behind when it comes to women’s issues, and the fact that I now live in the United States, a country where I can be more involved, means a lot to me. I and other women like me have a power we don’t realize and often mistreat, mainly by taking on the attitude that we can’t really change anything, and only choosing to discuss the issue without doing something substantial to fix it.

In many ways, my generation has a platform and the ability to gain knowledge of the election in ways unimaginable before, but I feel that we are misusing that power. We are satisfied with complaining, and choose to not foster healthy discourse by surrounding ourselves with bobble heads that offer no criticism of one’s opinion. We are becoming more segregated instead of integrated, choosing to fall into the trap of confirmation bias. This is a huge problem because nothing is black or white, and not everything can be reduced to a sound bite. You mentioned that our country is centralized in a way, and because people choose to not meet in the middle or become a part of the democratic process, we are not taking advantage of one of our greatest strengths as a country.

I can’t participate in these elections because I am not a citizen of the United States yet, but I still want to educate myself in anticipation to when I become a part of the democratic process.

-Marianny De Leon

Stephanie Blanco said...

In my point of view, I believe that voting is an important part of our society. Due to the fact that everyone that lives in a country has a voice that should be heard.

Although, as a teen I didn't think voting was important or necessary. Voting is a necessary condition for change. Even until this today, I am not into politics but when it comes to the importance of how the decisions we make can change our country and maybe even the world. Without the knowledge of who we are allowing to rule the country and what they stand for, we are just letting them rule our lives in the quality that they choose. Many people, that say they do not want to vote may say so because they do not like politics or want to avoid being a part of both sides since they may not agree with any. Even then things can affect everyone no matter what the promise made may be. because most times all promised are not achieved.

Everyone should participate using the little power we have to make a choice and change in our country. The past years have been tough from previous presidents that have brought our country into a lower educational statistics, lower quality in food and more polution to the planet. The president of the United States has made changes slowly and some people have recognized it. It is important maybe not to some but to others that need food, water and health insurance. No one knows maybe the for better and more recognized change, the president needs the next term. So far, I seen a well rounded man who cares for everyone, from women to children. Also, he does not discriminate against anyone. he believes people should marry whom they wish to and become in life a better person.

So for our voice to be heard, voting is a good way to go. For the rights of women, children and man. Everyone can choose their fate and a better fate would be including the peace of mind we will have from Obama's plan.

-Stephanie Blanco

Anonymous said...

Voting is only natural to every American citizen it is a way to express yourself and make a difference. People say that they want so many changes in the world but yet when they are asked if they voted they respond with a no. How do you expect change to come about if your not supporting it. You can't trash the people that are voting because atleast they are making there point across by choosing which candidate to vote for. I am a student in college and i have need so if I want to stand up for something I believe in then that's what I'll do. In this election I will ne voting for Barack Obama because I feel that he knows what its like and he can relate to our situations so of course he'll give it his all to make everyone happier and with more opportunities to strife to success. I encourage everyone to vote and actually think about how your decision can benefit or harm your daily in the long run.

By: Krizia Santana

Jorge Rivera said...

As a student, my primary concern is education, with jobs as a second concern. As a STEM student, my candidate would be Obama, as he has said time and time again, we need to hire more Science and Math teachers and we don’t have enough of those. Our whole physics department is made of one professor that teaches all the physics classes. I am definitely going to vote. It doesn’t matter if the vote count or doesn’t, but I at least participate on an event that so many people has lived and died for. My mom was the mayor of my hometown, so it goes to say that my family is heavy into politics, so I definitely believe on the democratic system. Even if my selected candidate doesn’t win, I am glad that people are able to elect the person in charge of leading the country that we have selected to call home. As I hope every four years, may the best candidate win, even if he is not my favorite.

Anonymous said...

Currently, I cannot vote, so in a parctical way it is useless for me to pick a candidate rght now. I know who I would vote for if I could--but I will use my "secret valot" on this one. However, I am not apathertic towards the American political process because I live here and the decrisons that Americans make affect me. Not only that but they affect people around the world. Growing up in Nicaragua, I know what voter apathy is. Over there, every election is greted with the popular saying that the situation will remain "the same crap, though the flies might change". Third world "democracy" is such that with every election demagogues descend on an exploited populus and try to raise just enough support to cover their secret political dealings behind the scenes and then claim to have been chosen by everyone. In the end, the politicians are a class unot themselves and care little about the people, who in turn care little about them also. Sure, officially, such a nation can change from capitalist to socialist with eery ter; but in truth lasting change for the better is rare. I know that at times it can feel that this is the cse in the US also--with Republicans and Democrats being the opposite sides of the same coin. Moreover, the votes of the many can seem to be drowned by the money of the few. Yet, these problems are endemic to democracy. As Churchhill put it, "Democracy is the worst form of government, exceot for all the others that have been tried". The point is not that Democracy is imperfect, but that it is perfectionable. W can make our system better as long as we do not give up on it. The US has managed to sustain the oldest modern democracy and as such serves as a model for the rest of the world. If the Americans cannot get democracy right, who can? Voter absenteeism does have an influence on politics and it is always negative. If your canidate does not win, at least you engaged in the process and this entitles you to continue pressing for your views to be paid attention to. Whatever one's political leanings, they will matter for littl unless one goes out and makes his or her voice heard. Apathy is not the answer.

Anonymous said...

Being a first time voter in this presidential election I feel a certain responsibility in making sure my ballot and vote is counted. I strongly believe that choosing not to vote is a vote within itself in that a party loses out on that one vote that could have made a difference. Knowing that checking off my choices and slipping In my ballot on November 6 can make that difference of who runs our country makes me feel that I'm a part of something bigger than myself. Being a part of the LGBT community and knowing that one of the parties specifically wants to remove the little amount of rights we've struggled so hard to obtain makes my vote and my choice to vote self explanatory. -angelica segura

Anonymous said...

Gesenia Paulino

Voting is an important part of American history, and I want to be a part of history we shape our futures, that is why I am choosing to vote for Barck Obama. He is a man who is not afraid to face our issues and tackel them head on. I think everybody just see what he could not do, but not what he has did already. Obama has shown that he is a man of his word, he has promised much more, that is why I vote for four more years.

Anonymous said...

Hey "Mitt Romney",

you CLEARLY have a point. Facetious trolling, cowardly dispositions--a true testament to this (de)generational "profundity."

Sadly, I won't be in the binder at all. You see, this "binder" you speak of serves one purpose: to confine all of its loose, disposable "sheets" through a contained, controlled clipped ring. How metaphorical!



-T

roudelet remy said...

My reason to vote is because as a teenager students and citizens of the US voting is the best things if we hope a better change for our country community we should vote because vote for someone is to choose a better person to lead the country eventhought when they are president they do not do it but we know we did to help our country become a better country.that's the reason I judge the one who did not vote because when you don't vote it did not make sense it mean that you don't care for the country because if you care you should vote because voting for someone is to choose a better person to lead the country eventhought when they are president they did not do it but we know that we vote to make a change for our country that's the reason I will ask to all the people voting this years.
ROUDELET REMY
MWF 11:AM

roudelet remy said...

My reason to vote is because as a teenager students and citizens of the US voting is the best things if we hope a better change for our country community we should vote because vote for someone is to choose a better person to lead the country eventhought when they are president they do not do it but we know we did to help our country become a better country.that's the reason I judge the one who did not vote because when you don't vote it did not make sense it mean that you don't care for the country because if you care you should vote because voting for someone is to choose a better person to lead the country eventhought when they are president they did not do it but we know that we vote to make a change for our country that's the reason I will ask to all the people voting this years.
ROUDELET REMY
MWF 11:AM

Anonymous said...

Many people keep complaining about how the government is a complete failure, but if you do your part and vote, you can make a change in the government system. Americans should have the ability to vote and voice their opinion but a lot of us do not take advantage of freedom of speech. Voting is your opinion on paper that could make a change in America on how a leader runs this country. It is our responsibility as citizens to elect officials that we feel will be honest. These officials need to help make our country better and a safer place. We Americans hope that all individuals will take te opportunity to vote and not just sit back and complain about who is in office. Around voting season, you can only vote one time, so it is very important that you do your research on the individual that you are voting to run this country. We as people cannot count anybody to take care of us and if you want to make a difference... Vote. Amarilis Martinez