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Archive for October, 2008

A Third Party Perspective

In Uncategorized on October 31, 2008 at 12:50 am

The media as well as the government like to condition the people to think that they have two distinct choices in our electoral process, that the Republicans and the Democrats are so vastly different that your decision should be clear of whom you find best fit to lead. However, it seems that as each election year comes and goes the parties begin to blend more and more, both often abandoning the historical ideals and meeting at the center. It is rare that one party or one candidate represents all of a person’s values perfectly but when we are only presented with two viable options people often end up having to choose between the lesser of two evils. However, there is often one over looked option; voting for a 3rd party. There is a great hostility to third party voters by those who buy into the two party system. People seem to believe if you do choose to vote 3rd party, that you are either taking a vote away from a “real” candidate or throwing away your vote all together. This assumption is of course ridiculous; isn’t it more of a waste of a vote to compromise your morals to support a skewed and false system? Aren’t you suppose to vote for the most qualified, honest person who shares your ideals? If people would stop qualifying this false left/right paradigm by voting strictly by party and start voting their conscious instead we could see some real change. So, for this election who are your options besides Obama or McCain?

President/VP Candidates Party Strongly Favors Favors Opposes Strongly Opposes
Cynthia McKinney/

Rosa Clemente

Green Abortion rights, maintaining affirmative action policies, gay rights, universal health care, withdraw from Iraq, legalization of marijuana, alternative energy, repeal the PATRIOT Act Progressive tax reform, allowing illegal immigrants to earn citizenship Privatized social security, allowing churches to provide welfare services Prayer in school, the death penalty, three strike sentencing laws, absolute right to gun ownership, school vouchers, staying with the UN, NATO, NAFTA
Bob Barr/

Wayne Allan Root

Libertarian Prayer in school, death penalty, gun ownership rights, privatized social security, restoring habeas corpus The war on drugs, expanding the armed forces, withdraw from Iraq Increased federal funding for health care, same-sex domestic partnerships Abortion rights, alternative energy, allowing illegal immigrants to earn citizenship, staying with the UN, NATO, NAFTA
Chuck Baldwin/

Darrel Castle

Constitution Privatize social security, school vouchers, repealing the PATRIOT act, withdraw from Iraq, right to gun ownership, Drug enforcement be in the hands of state and local authorities Expanding the armed forces, the “nanny” state Restricting offshore drilling, universal health care, allowing illegal immigrants to earn citizenship, staying with the UN, NATO, NAFTA
Brian Moore/

Stewart Alexander

Socialist Abortion rights, gay rights, universal health care, alternative energy, allowing illegal immigrants to earn citizenship, with draw from Iraq Affirmative action policies, strengthen gun law enforcement School vouchers, repealing the PATRIOT act Death penalty, three strike sentencing, privatized social security, regressive taxes like the payroll tax and the sales tax
Ralph Nader/ Independent Gay rights, universal health care, alternative energy, repealing the PATRIOT act Affirmative action policies, abortion rights, with draw from Iraq Prayer in school, expanding the armed forces Criminalization of Marijuana, absolute right to gun ownership, death penalty, privatized social security, school vouchers

When Class gets Boring

In Uncategorized on October 26, 2008 at 7:39 am

I’ve spoken with several students that say they want to withdraw from a class because the teacher is bonkers or because the class is boring.  I don’t understand the logic behind that decision.  One of the main points of a college education is to become exposed to different thoughts, ideas and people. 

I once had a professor that had as much energy as the guy they use for Visine commercial ads, but instead of skipping class or taking a nap in class, I decided to  have a double shot of espresso before class and write down every word he said during his lecture.  This of course forced me to have an A when I completed his class.

Unfortunately, we are not going to like every professor’s teaching style or every subject, but lets not train our selves to give up when the going gets tough.  Let’s find other means to be a success without being quitters.

The Time of My Life?

In Uncategorized on October 19, 2008 at 4:46 pm

18 lives, 18 opinions, 18 experiences, and 18 dreams. Welcome to college from the historic campus of a private institution located on the beach-laden west coast of Florida. We invite you to share our thoughts as we wade or way through one of life’s pivotal turning points and perhaps add a few of your own.

Plant Hall and Henry B. Plant Museum, University of Tampa

Plant Hall and Henry B. Plant Museum, University of Tampa