Election Post #2

At this point, the most important issue to me in the 2008 election is the economy.

The economy affects everyone directly or indirectly whether for the best or for the worst. At this point, the economy is in a dire need to change. Gas prices are still high, banks are failing, and mortgages are harder to obtain. We have all witnessed the rising gas prices earlier this year as it reached its highest number yet during the summer months. For some states the price of gas reached over four dollars a gallon! Wow, that is a lot of money! Just think, a car may need 16 gallons of gas to run and 16 x $4 is $64.00! That is a lot of money for gas! As of right now, the gas prices have leveled out since the summer and let's hope it lasts! Banks are continuing to have a hard time with the economy because they have to deal with their own investments while still providing for those who entrusted their money in them. The country is trying to fix this by spending billions of dollars to companies so they can stay in business and at the same help the economy. The banks are also tightening their rules on mortgages because of the wobbly economy. Many banks are making sure their customer's will be able to pay back the money they borrowed.

If the economy continues to change there may come a time in the future where it will affect other aspects such as, the rising cost of food, clothing, a higher unemployment rate, and with foreign investments. An example of a change in foreign investment is Japan. My recent current event was about Japan's falling economy due to the decrease of exported goods and the high cost of oil. Japan has recently announced that this is their first economic deficit in 26 years. The article also stated that exports from Japan to the United States dropped 21.8% in just one year. Could our weakened economy be part of reason Japan's economy is lower?

A state/local issue is Virginia's old infrastructure. The state needs more money to repair old bridges and to prepare new roads for travel. An example of a local old infrastructure would be the debated idea whether or not to build a metro rail from Tyson's Corner to Dulles Airport.

I think both candidates performed well at the Debate, even though it felt like both of them did not fully answer each question that was given. Both candidates began to answer the question asked, then molded the question back into their original statements/views. Both candidates took awhile to start debating against each other but once they started, they both had good comebacks in their defence. However, when Senator Obama continued to repeat, "You're wrong" to Senator McCain, I felt that was unfair. I believe that all in all, both candidates did well in the debate but neither significantly stood out from each other. In the recent polls, Senator Obama is only up by a few points from McCain. This is a very close campaign!

The electronic media plays a significant role in the 2008 campaign. Many citizens of the United States and all across the World can stay in tune with the campaign events from the media. The use of the television is significant because many spectators can watch the news/Political Conversions/Debates/Speeches, etc. The use of the Internet is also significant because there are always polls being asked, (ex. Who's ahead in the campaign right now?) as well as blogs such as these so others may read and interact with each other about their views on the campaign. The electronic media plays a very important role in keeping us informed with the campaign.

Current Event # 2

"Japan, World's 2nd-Largest Economy, Reports Rare Trade Deficit"

My current event for this week is about Japan's unusual trade deficit. Japan is known world-wide as a MDC, a most developed country, and has the second largest economy. Japan makes most of its income by exporting goods to other countries and in return gains a profit. For the first time in 26 years, Japan is going through a trade deficit.

The economy's deficit was first noticed and documented back in August, 2008. Many officials believe that the deficit will be short- term and is a result of the falling car exports, rising food costs, and the increase in the cost of oil. Although many officials believe that this will surely pass, others are not so sure. The Japanese economy is decreasing at it's fastest rate in many years. Exports to the U.S. have decreased by 21.8 percent in a year and is continuing to fall. Officials believe that if this continues to occur that this will hurt the U.S. economy as well. Shumpei Takemori, an economics professor at Tokyo's Keio University, believes that if the trade deficit continues then it will cease capital accumulation here and limit the income that Japan has entrusted the U.S.'s treasury bonds. Even though Japan is facing an economy loss right now, its government will still invest in the U.S. at this point in time and hopes for the best.

Current Event #1

Hey! Yesterday during class we shared out Current Events for the week. Many current events that I listened to were very interesting and are of great importance whether they were about the 2008 Election Campaign, the Oil Industry, or other interesting events. My current event was about the Campain and described Obama reaching out even further with the Demorcratic Party for more party followers. Obama believed that Nashville Tennessee, a well known major music ndustry area was ready for a new change. Obama and the Demorcratic Party began their new movement by reaching out to the majority of Nashville's devoited Christians, trying to open their minds for new facts and figures such as giving rallies about Global Warming and Capital Punishment. For many years the majority of Nashville's followers have been very religious and conservative, varying little on their views on their Presidential candidate.

Now, Obama and the Demorcratic party are deciding if they also want to campain on ads through Nashville's radio stations since 2.5% of radio listeners prefer Christian Gospel music. The Washington Post article states that one could be listening to a gospel song on the radio and get interupted by a campaign ad. I wonder how this even will turn out? Will there be a change between the majority of Republicans to Demorcrats? How will the faithful Christian listeners react to an ad in the middle of a song? What if the song that was interrupted was your favorite song? How would you react? These are questions that I hope to find out soon!

"Week 1- Election post"

I believe in a majority of what The Republican Party stands for. I believe in the physical security for all our citizens whether here in the United States or while they are in foreign countries. Also, wide access to available energy resources here in the United States will help our economy and cut our dependence on foreign oil. Senator McCain is the stronger candidate based what I see as the two most importance issues facing our country, security and energy dependence.

Senator McCain has real life experiences related to the requirements needed to defend our country. His training at the Naval Academy, service in the military, service in the U.S. House of Representatives and long career in the Senate including his position as Chairman on the Senate Committee on Armed Services gives him a strong background in national security issues.

Senator McCain’s position on energy resources also impacts our security. For example, during a speech at an environmental roundtable at Cedar River Watershed Education Center in North Bend, Washington Senator McCain said “a national security issue when we’re dependent on more than $400 billion a year in imported oil from countries that don’t like us very much...some of that money is helping terrorists organizations.”[i]

While Senator Obama recommends that we appoint a Director of national energy security in the Office of the President, his views seem to stress renewable energy sources and new technologies. While these are important Senator McCain, unlike Senator Obama, also includes an increased use of nuclear energy as a way to break our dependence on foreign sources.
Senator Obama wants to talk to Iran with no conditions, while Senator McCain wants to ensure that we have certain conditions met before we speak to them face to face.

[i] CNN Politics.com, Clean energy a national security issue.

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Hey, I'm just checking if this post works! I will write my blog shortly! :)