Voting Helps to Keep Your Rights Alive and Well

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Voting might not seem like that big of a deal, because it doesn’t feel like one vote really matters. However, everyone’s vote is counted, and if a lot of people take the attitude that their vote won’t matter they’ll stay home on the day they should vote and their candidate may lose the election. Even if you aren’t voting for a candidate, there may be a law or regulation that you want to see, or that you oppose. You should stand up for your rights and make sure that your voice is heard and your vote counted. Even if what you hope to see doesn’t take place, you’ll still have the satisfaction of knowing that you did your part.

Too many people don’t exercise their rights, and they don’t spend the time researching what the right decision for them really is. They just pick something, without knowing much about it. Of course, there are some things that you don’t need to think about, because they’re good options, like getting 21st Century insurance quotes for your vehicle. Many areas of life are more complicated than getting car insurance, though, and politics is certainly one of them. If you aren’t sure on the issues or the candidates, how can you be sure you’re making the best choice when you vote?

Take the time to learn about the people who are vying for a particular job. Also, take the time to see what laws people are trying to get implemented, repealed, or changed. You might agree or disagree with something that you hadn’t thought much about, if you just took the time to do some research into it. Your rights are there for a reason, and it’s important that you participate in the election process and exercise those rights by getting out there and voting.

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Kids And Politics “ Can You Shield Them Or Should You Encourage Exploration?

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It would be the understatement of a lifetime to say that our culture has become one that is celebrity obsessed. All a person has to do to see this is to read People or TMZ. To an extent, this is fine, but what does it mean as a parent when you know that children are so shaped by the things that celebrities do and say, and those same celebrities tend to be using their position more and more to push their own political agenda?

Is this OK? Well, the answer to that is very complex. Celebrities are human just like everyone else, and they have often worked long and hard to gain the position that allows them to showcase their views.
That being said, as a parent it is important for you to use those moments when famous people push their views as teachable moments. You can either show your child why X person is correct, or use whatever was said as a tool to open a discussion about beliefs on issues in general if yours happen to differ.

At the same time, depending upon the age of the child, you want to keep the discussion age appropriate, but allow them to think for themselves and not take offense if, after such a discussion, they come up with an opinion that does not mirror your own.
Part of being a parent for sure is protecting your child, but they will not be children forever, so the other part of the parenting job is nurturing beings who will hopefully become open minded, free thinking, functional adults.

Obviously then, the answer to the question posed in the title of this article is that you, as the responsible figure in a child’s life should strive to find a good balance between age appropriate shielding, education and an allowance for intellectual exploration.

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Improving Education In America “ Something’s Got To Give

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President Obama has made it clear that, among other changes he would favor a longer school year for students in the United States. Upon first glance, this seems like a plausible solution to the issues being faced by our school systems across the nation. Namely, these issues are that many schools are essentially failing to produce highly educated, productive members of society, so it would make sense to just add more time to the school year, right?

In actuality, the issue is much more complex than that. In general the U.S. school systems have 180 days a year of instruction. That may not seem like that much in the context of 365 days, but the truth is, it is all ready substantially more time spent in class than several European countries school systems. These are the same European school systems who consistently outrank the U.S. in school performance indicators.

Obviously then, the problem is not just related to instructional time, if other places can out-pace the States’ with fewer days of teaching. The fact is, this country has been at the mercy of federally mandated standardized testing, and low teacher salaries, among other problems.

Collectively, these issues mean that: Top quality teachers are not attracted to the field or they burn out quickly, poorly performing schools do not get the help they need, which is a disservice to students, and curriculum has suffered due to having to teach to the tests, or to compensate for the difficulties of the lowest performing learner in the class.

What can be done about this? Well, the solution is surely not an easy one, but perhaps we can look abroad for a solution before making changes which will only stress the system more and potentially not bring the desired results. Examining the tracking processes present in other nations as well as their general academic curriculum could bring much needed data and allow for unique and interesting solutions.

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The American Dream Eclipsed – What Should We Teach Our Kids About The States Struggle To Stay Internationally Relevant?

It is no secret that we are in a time of great turmoil in the United States today. Some would say even that perhaps this is the beginning of the end in terms of the United States having a position of hegemonic power on the international stage, simply because of the rise of other powers in our wake. The preceding statement is a bit of a harsh view, but it’s obvious that a few things are changing in this country of ours.
Our economy is not what it once was even in comparison to some other troubled nations.
The life expectancy rate is lower than many westernized nations, and for various reasons, has been falling as of late
We are still struggling with issues of tolerance in the post-civil rights movement era
Our government is not as transparent as it should be, and some would say the two party system needs changing.
Health care is an expensive proposition, which leaves many under-served, and yet still more unsatisfied for various reasons.
Depending on the poll being analyzed, 40% or more of people no longer believe in the existence of the American Dream.

Those may be startling to read, but the bigger question is, what then in the midst of this time do we tell our children? That question is supremely loaded and every family will have their own answer, but finding an age appropriate balance between the reality of the situation, the basis of this country’s ideals, and the ways in which other countries operate is probably the best way to handle this kind of thing.

If your children are being made to feel negatively about their country, acknowledge their feelings, and then show them the other side of the story, which always exists. As a parent, you can also use these sorts of discussions to open up the world of international politics, globalism, and how other nations deal with the very same issues.

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The How and Why for Young Voters

Young people have more reason than anyone to vote. Since the voting age in America was lowered to 18 (to coincide the responsibility of military service with the right to participate in elections) youth in the United States have a great opportunity to be heard concerning their leaders. However, only a few know how to go about doing it. Here’s a few tips and some helpful explanations of how voting works in America.

To be able to vote, a person must register to vote. Voter registration deadlines vary from state to state, and voters can look up online when their state’s deadline is. People can register at public office buildings and college campuses often offer registration services as well.

The United States of America operates on a plurality voting system, which means that there can only be one winner of an election. Simply put, whoever gets the most votes wins. Each voter casts their ballot (their choices for the electable offices) and all the ballots are tallied up at the end of the election.

In a U.S. Presidential election, which sees far more voter participation than municipal or state elections, uses an electoral college. Instead of voting directly on presidential and vice presidential candidates, voters vote for “electors” who represent the candidates. Each state is given a certain number of electors to represent it as a whole. Once all of the electors are voted for, they are tallied up for the candidates. There are 538 electoral votes in the United States, divided by the states. For example, in a past election, one candidate won 365 electoral votes, and the other candidate won 173 electoral votes.

Voting, especially in a country where is not mandatory, is a special duty and responsibility. Every young person has a right to dictate what their future will be like. Registering to vote is the first step in doing so.

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Who is Rock The Vote?

Over the last several decades, more and more effort has been concentrated on attracting young voters to the polls. Rock the Vote is one of the foremost organizations attempting to increase voting early in life.

Begun in 1992, Rock the Vote has been pursing a goal of leading more youth to the polls. Four years later, Rock the Vote opened up a voter registration hotline to facilitate easier registration, and in 2000, launched a website to do the same. Over the first twelve years of its existence, Rock the Vote assisted in several million people registering to vote. In 2008 alone, two and a quarter million voters registered because of Rock the Vote’s efforts.

Rock the Vote has often combined popular culture with their doctrine of voting young and encouraging youth to represent their demographic by speaking with their vote in elections. True to the movement’s name, Rock the Vote usually hosts concert tours throughout the country to draw crowds, who are offered the opportunity to register. Celebrities also speak often on behalf of Rock the Vote.

The organization has fallen on hard times in recent years, due to large debts incurred during the 2004 election. The movement’s motives have been called into question as it leans decidedly towards the Democratic party, despite it’s insistence on being nonpartiscan. Regardless of the truthfulness of these allegations, it continues its efforts to educate young people in the United States about the importance of their participation in the political process of American politics.

Rock the Vote is just one of the voices calling on young America to join in the celebration of democracy. By exercising their right to vote, a right many in the world do not have, young people in the United States can help to shape the world that they, and everyone else in the world, will live in.

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Health Care in America

It’s everywhere, all across the country now. Health care has become the hottest issue in politics. It is discussed by family members, teachers and students, professors and pundits and politician and presidents. Why has it become such a big deal? Well, there’s a couple of contributing factors.

Primarily, there’s the cost of medical treatment. There are few people who can afford to pay out of pocket for what keeping a body healthy requires. Insurance has become practically the only way of maintaining medical care. And many Americans can’t afford insurance or their job does not offer practical insurance. Also, the baby-boomers, the largest generation of Americans, are all entering the twilight years of their lives, and they too, cannot afford insurance and their jobs, which they have retired from, no longer give them medical insurance. The cry from the citizens of America to their government has been “Provide for us!” and so more and more pressure is put on the government to supply the people with health care.

While the government certainly has a responsibility to provide for the citizenry as they ask it to, government must also balance the needs of the people and prioritize.

There must needs exist a balance of responsibilities shouldered by the people and things that the government provides. Health care, long a private matter between individuals and their insurances or employers, is now being shifted from a responsibility to a provision. Only time will tell if the transfer is completed and successful.

Health care in America, where numerous health issues are on the scene already, is a touchy subject. It addresses the basic needs of every person, personal health, and must satisfactorily aid the poor, the rich, the employed and the destitute, and people in all walks of life. By transferring this duty to the government, the people of America are asking for a lot.

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Young Voters Are the Future

It has been said time and time again that young voters are the future of the nation. They should be heard and their opinion should be taken into consideration. Often, during election time, we find that these young voters actually make up the smallest groups when it actually comes to voting day. More things should be done to encourage young voters and making them aware of the current news and events will help them understand why it is so important for them to vote.

These teen voters are willing to listen to the politicians but at the same time they are not likely to sit and listen if the topics are of no concern to them. For this reason, during political rallies, certain topics should be discussed to bring awareness to them. It is a right and an opportunity to vote, but without proper information it is hard for teen voters to understand why they should take the time and vote. They need to understand that their vote is just as important as anyone else and together they have a better chance of making a difference in their country if they were to vote.

A little information and guidance can shed light on the political future and as a result these voters will have the information they need to go out and vote for the party that best applies to them. Of course not everything about a party policy is of interest to them but as adults it is our responsibility to help them learn how to listen to the things that most applies to them. They need to be told that they are the future of our country and that many of them will eventually become leaders of the country. For this reason alone it is of utmost importance for them to vote.

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Bringing Awareness To Young Voters

Bringing awareness to young voters can at times be more challenging than one can expect. They are limited to what they want to hear and many of them feel that they are too young to be a part of the national decision making process. There are things each community, school, and organization can do, to bring greater awareness to these young voters. Here are a few ways to bring more awareness to our next generation of decision makers.

1. Teaching them from a young age, about the benefits and privileges of voting can help increase their awareness. If they are more aware of what is going on in the country, from a young age, then they are more likely to go out and vote when they are able to. If they learn and understand the simple political backgrounds of the leaders, then they are more likely to follow their moves and be more eager to go out and help make a difference on Election Day.
2. Discuss some of the political events going on, both at home and at school. This will give them more information on how government decisions are made. Once they understand this, they will realize that they too have the power to vote and make a change if they are not happy with how things are currently done.
3. Listen to their questions and try to answer them in the best way possible. If you are unable to answer their questions, then find someone who is willing to help them understand in a way that they are used to. It should be more of a social interest, rather than a learning experience. Young voters are more likely to understand the social matters first and being aware of this will eventually lead to developing their interest in other political fields.

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Young People Running for Office

More and more young people are getting involved in politics and deciding to run for office themselves. They are discovering that the best way to get their voices heard is from inside the Senate or House of Representatives rather than from their armchair at home. And they are being elected with enthusiasm. Young voters are especially interested in casting a ballot for someone in their own age group, believing that a young politician will be an advocate for the issues they care about the most.

If you’re interested in running for office, you should first decide if you want to run in a local, state or national election. This will depend largely on whether you’re willing to uproot and move to the state capital or to Washington D.C. or the surrounding vicinity. For young people who have not yet acquired experience, it might be best to start at the state or even local level.

Look at what office you might be interested in, and then make sure you have the qualifications such as age or residency. Although you might not be required to have experience, voters will be looking at that for certain offices such as Attorney General. And of course for all offices, you must be a registered voter. It also will look good if you have a record of voting in every election.

Next, you should do a little market research. In politics, this means taking a poll. You’ll want to get an idea if enough voters are interested in your campaign. You can also create a questionnaire to learn what issues are most important to the voters in your district. You’ll want to address these issues during your campaign, as well as getting voters excited about the issues that concern you.

Most politicians hire a campaign manager. He or she can help you organize your campaign, assemble volunteers, create literature and raise money. These days, unfortunately, no campaign can go far without some substantial financial backing. Another good reason to start local is the costs will be much lower since you’ll be targeting a smaller audience.

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