From Braces to Barack:
A Gen-Y Look at Our World Since 9/11

Paul Eulette: Creator of Quarterlife Magazine

I was so thankful that morning, I couldn’t have been happier to be at the orthodontist at 8 in the morning. I was almost thrilled to be in an uncomfortable chair having my braces tightened, than be at early morning marching band practice with Mr. Walsh. For me, just like many of us (then) kids, it could have been any other morning. We were starting our school day, rolling our eyes at our teachers and texting our friends on our coolest monochrome Nokia phones.

It was the last day of our normality.

Normal, do you remember what that felt like then? It was the feeling of knowing what tomorrow held. We would go to school, read our Harry Potter Books and go to bed knowing we would do it all over again tomorrow. But that Tuesday morning changed everything, and we came to realize after 9/11 that tomorrow really wasn’t a sure thing. After 9/11, while many of us were trying to understand basic algebra or trying to get a (then perfect) 1600 SAT score, we were also trying to understand the malignant diatribe between nations, terrorists, and countrymen that have seemed to unravel our world with every utterance.

In 2001, I would have bet my newly downloaded Aaliyah CD from Napster that I was not the only one who thought, “will things ever be normal” after 9/11. And today, I’d bet my (rumored) iPhone 5 that a lot of us still don’t know that answer. To those of us now Gen-Y adults, the past 10 years have played out like an elaborate movie plot. Only Hollywood could interject such a level of political absurdity, death, devastation, and unknowing into our lives. As we’ve watched and listened, our developing minds have seemed to stand still since 2001, as the world continues to stumble around us.

Why does it seem that after 10 years, our world cannot regain its footing? Was this how the world felt for our grandparents after WWII? Did the young generation of that time find a gleaming and defining moment that reigned in “normality”? Many would say things are back to normal, but the truth is the past decade has raised a generation of children watching adults squabble, steal, and murder—and now as adults, what are we supposed to do?

The road to the “status quo” has been repaved over the past 10 years, and no one knows where the median is; leaving us to decide if we will be the ones to answer “will things ever be normal,” or are we still waiting for someone to tell us, “Mission Accomplished”?

Jenna Wessinger: Editor-in-Chief of Quarterlife Magazine

I remember exactly where I was on September 11, 2001 when I heard about the World Trade Center being hit. I was in the 11th grade, and everyone had just arrived to homeroom for 1st quarter progress reports. Everyone, including our teacher, sat in silence watching the news, not sure of how to react. It was completely inconceivable. First processing that we, our country, had been attacked; and secondly, the repercussions of this attack on our lives. The latter of which I don’t think is something that will ever be able to be fully understood.

In the aftermath of this day, in the last ten years, our country has shown incredible durability, and incredible hubris. Immediately following the chaos of 9/11/2001, our country, our leaders, our people, everyone showed a remarkable ability to band together and refuse to cower in the face of such unequivocal evil. While we mourned for the loved ones who were taken from us, we proved that we, as a country, are far more than the sum of our parts. We were attacked by people who simply had no capacity to understand what it was they were attacking. Freedom, simply put. Our inalienable rights as Americans.

Our enemies hate it, because they don’t understand it. And that’s something that should be remembered, but often seems lost in a world now consumed with hate and finger-pointing. This was not an attack on a religion. This was not an attack on a political party. This was not an attack on a race. This wasn’t Christianity vs. Muslim, Radical vs.Extremist, Black vs. White vs. Yellow vs. Brown, vs. Green vs. Blue. This attack was on the fundamental principle for which all of the Americans just listed live and base their lives.

Freedom.

My most fervent wish in the coming decades is that we are able to remember that all creeds and types of American citizens were attacked that day – “We are all Americans”.

How are you feeling 10 years after 9/11?

The Usual Suspects: A Goat Rodeo?

Donald Trump:

Campaign Slogan: “I’m Hired”

Why he’s in it win it:  He’s running on claims that he’s fiscally sound and that he’s created more jobs than President Obama (not sure if this includes Celebrity Apprentice).  He’s against pro-choice, gun control, and same-sex marriages.  In other words, he’s got his stance on the big talking points, and they are all republican friendly in a broad sense.

Why he’ll screw the pooch: He’s filed for bankruptcy three times so his fiscal policies could be a little questionable.  His family values are shoddy at best (how many wives has he had?).  He spends his free time mediating fights between NeNe Leakes and Starr Jones, and Gary Busey and Meatloaf.  As soon as he is asked to give his stance on anything of substance or to elaborate on his current positions the words “Obama” and “birth certificate” are the only things that seem to come out.  Sorry Mr. Trump, but if you can’t come up with anything except a tired issue that’s even been debunked by Bill O’Reilly… ya fired…

Mike Huckabee:

Campaign Slogan: “I think I’m gonna need a bigger soapbox…”

Why he’s in it to win it: He’s the social conservative poster boy.  The former Baptist Minister has probably one of the most outspoken social agenda’s out there.  This is the guy who criticized Natalie Portman for showboating her pregnancy sans marriage to the world after she won her Academy Award earlier this year.  He typically holds his rallies and events in Church reception halls and really knows how to energize the religious-minded of the Repbulican base.

Why he’ll screw the pooch: Yay remember that Natalie Portman thing…well unfortunately Mike doesn’t always know when to walk away from a talking point.  After his disparagements of Natalie Portman’s pregnancy out of wedlock (btw she’s engaged to the baby’s father) he went on to characterize most single mothers as being under-educated, under-employed, and on welfare.  I don’t care how good your platform may be Mr. Huckabee, you’re never going to make it to Pennsylvania Avenue if you continue to alienate the “woman” vote.

Sarah Palin:

Campaign Slogan: “I’d like to give that politician thing a try, maybe.”

Why she’s in it to win it: She’s got a grass roots backing that doesn’t care what she says as long as she’s saying something.  And so far, that’s working great for the Reality-TV star.  She can deflect any scandal, gaffe, mis-step, etc with the ease of a Kennedy.  Here is a woman who claims to be a politician without ever having done anything political, and her supporters love her for it.  She knows how to play to the charged emotions of a crowd and she has an uncanny ability to make nothing out of something and something out of nothing.  Maybe she’s better at this political thing than we thought…

Why she’ll screw the pooch: Interestingly enough, the same points that will score Palin points, are the same attributes that will lose her any hope of securing the White House.  Her “folksiness” has run its course and at this point, she’s acquired all of the support she ever will.  Now all she can do (and already is doing) is push away and alienate the rest of the country with her outlandish and baseless remarks.

Tim Pawlenty:

Campaign Slogan: “Revenge of the Nerds”

Why he’s in it to win it: Pawlenty has been keeping his name in the headlines since Al Franken became a Senator.  Recently, the former Governor of Minnesota will show up to the opening of an envelope.  Dude is everywhere, so he has the name recognition a candidate needs when going up against an incumbent President.   He has in the past talked about wanting to make the Republican Party more accessible to the middle of the spectrum.

Why he’ll screw the pooch: He has recently backtracked and is now seriously courting the Tea Party movers and shakers.  Plus, he tried working in a little Charlie Sheen in one of his more recent guest speaking endeavors.  Sorry Tim, no amount of tiger’s blood is going to help you at winning in 2012.

Rick Santorum:

Campaign Slogan: In the words of Dick Harpootlian “If Darth Vader could be elected president, he would be my first choice.”

Why he’s in it to win it: He’s a staunch social conservative and was a winning Republican in a traditionally Democratic state (Pennsylvania).  He’s proved to be both a fiscal and social conservative, which there aren’t many of so far in this race.

Why he’ll screw the pooch:  He’s about 4 years too late.  Yes he won in a blue state but he hasn’t done that since 2006 when Bush still had an “ok” approval rating.  He is extremely socially conservative with his stances on political staples like abortion rights and illegal immigration.

Even former Bush and McCain advisor Mark McKinnon criticized Santorum as being “dangerous” for the future of a GOP that needs to attract more women and start attracting Latinos.

Michelle Bachmann:  See Sarah Palin

Mitt Romney:

Campaign Slogan: “The GOP Dreamboat”

Why he’s in it to win it: This isn’t his first time at the rodeo.  Romney went pretty far in the 2008 cycle.  He’s learned his lessons and now he’s back.  He’s probably one of the best public speakers the Republicans have in that he’s not so new that you can’t possibly take him seriously but he’s not so old that you wonder if he can even spell Twitter.  He’s probably the best looking candidate we’ve got in this bunch (not including the ladies) and I think this party learned that lesson in Kennedy vs. Nixon.

Why he’ll screw the pooch: For a man who wants to lead the Republican ticket, a lot of his political history is devoid of Republican stances.  In fact, some of his actions are downright liberal.  He instituted a healthcare system in Massachusetts that resembles Obamacare way too much for any serious Republican contender.  He’s bounced around between pro-choice and pro-life so many times he probably doesn’t remember which life the choice is between.  Romney will be hit so hard by his own side in the primaries, they will basically write the script for the Democrats criticisms if he makes it out alive.

Mitch Daniels:

Campaign Slogan: “I’m not Tim Pawlenty”

Why he’s in it to win it: Fiscal conservatives…this is your candidate.  He doesn’t just talk fiscal policy, he’s lived it.  As the Governor of Indiana, he took a $200 million budget deficit and turned it into a $1.3 billion surplus.  Plus, he’s known for his Harley Davidson preferences and typically prefers to write his own speeches instead of relying on campaign consultants.

Why he’ll screw the pooch: He once proposed the much dreaded value added tax in a discussion on redesigning or current tax system.  This is a shocking and toxic tax for most fiscal hawks because it levies a tax on the estimated market value for products at every stage of production.  He once said he wanted to declare a social “truce” with the left side of the aisle.

Haley Barbour: You don’t actually know who he is

Herman Cain:  See Haley Barbour

Newt Gingrich:

Campaign Slogan: “The Sequel is always better”

Why he’s in it to win it:  Newt is the old warhorse of the pack.  He’s been around some of the most notorious (note I didn’t say best) politicians his party has ever had.  He’s got arguably the best pedigree of any of the contenders so far in this presidential cycle.  In a debate he could probably flatten the rest of the competition with little effort (though that’s not really saying much as evidenced by this article).

Why he’ll screw the pooch: The sequel is never better (except for Rocky, the Godfather, and Star Wars).  Yes Newt is a seasoned vet, but he’s been run out of town once already.  He spent most of the mid to late 90s a punchline instead of a viable political component.  He’s been out of the game too long to even know how to play.  Not to mention (but I will), he can’t seem to unload one Mrs. Gingrich before acquiring the next.  That’s not going to fly with the party of “family values”

Gary Johnson:

Campaign Slogan: “Ron Paul 2008”

Why he’s in it to win it: He’s the token Natar/Paul-esque candidate of this cycle.  Every election has one. He’s a libertarian leaning Republican much like Ron Paul before him in 2008.

Why he’ll screw the pooch: He supports legalization of marijuana, same-sex marriages, and abortion.  Yea, this dude is going to get creamed in the primaries.

Which candidate do you think has the best shot at a 2012 run against Obama?  Who do you think needs to be added to this list?

About a year and a half ago I wrote my first article for QL Magazine.  The topic was about the pull and presence that Generation Y currently holds in the political arena on both a domestic and international level.  I think that given the recent and ongoing events in the Middle East, that is a topic that needs revisiting.

People Power: A New Gen-Y Contribution?

For 18 days, the world marveled over the sheer voracity at which protesters marched on Tahrir Square day after day.  On February 11, President Hosni Mubarak stepped down after 30 years in office.  At once a barrier of fear it seemed, had been broken.

Now the fight has moved to the African nation of Libya.  Moammar Gadhafi, the latest tyrant under attack, has taken to the airwaves to convince his people and the world that Libyans love Libya just the way it is.  But already there have been victories for those inclined to revolution.  The Eastern border of the country has been taken over by protesters, more riots are encroaching on the capital Tripoli, and government officials are defecting and taking up arms with protesters.  Gadhafi himself has tried to blame these protests on any and everything he can, including pill-popping youthful followers of Osama bin Laden!  Yea, talk about a blast from the past.

Many experts watching have labeled this a tsunami of people power and a domino effect of change in a region often seen as completely out dated and out of touch with the current world order.  Since Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya, protest’s have been forming and gaining steam in nearby countries like Bahrain, Yemen, Iran, Algeria, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq just to name a few.  Many other countries are still at risk for similar unrest.  The majority of the protester’s are seeking retribution and action against extremely high unemployment (35% in Yemen), extreme poverty, and shortages on basic elements of life like food and water.

But there is still another common thread to these protests.  The age of the protesters themselves.  The countries with the largest generational gaps between the empowered regime and those protesting on the streets seem to be the places most lacking in stability.  This young generation is proving to be a worthy opponent to presidents, dictators, and royal families 3 centuries-long in power.  They are far more organized and far more secure in their stance against greed and oppression than their predecessors.

In January of this year, a Tunisian college graduate, who was unemployed and recently beaten by local cops, set himself on fire in protest of his government’s inability to react to the rampant unemployment and poverty of Tunisia.  His name was Mohammed Bouazizi, and he was 26 years old.  He was also, it could be argued, a catalyst.

In less than two weeks after Bouazizi’s death, the Tunisian dictator Zine El Abedine Ben Ali had been overthrown and fled to a neighboring country.  A few weeks later, rallies similar to those seen in Tunisia were forming in Egypt’s Tahrir Square.

The protests in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya, not to mention those that are now spreading to the majority of the region, were and are different than most seen in this region of the world prior to 2011.  They are being planned, advertised, encouraged, and popularized on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter.  In Iran, mass texts are being forwarded from person to person to spread the word faster than people had been able to before, not to mention faster than the government can quash them.

Most experts agree that regime change is unlikely in the near future for any of the countries now under protest.  Moammar Gadhafi has sworn that the only way he’ll abdicate is through death.  But change has happened.  Bahrain’s king has promised his subjects new reforms.  In Jordan, the king swore in a new government last week.  This should stand as a warning to other similarly affluent countries.  If this change is ignored, time will continue to click by on this powder-keg region, waiting for the slightest spark to ignite again as in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya.  A spark like 26-year old Mohammed Bouazizi.

Opinion: Can 2010 be a reset
for the future?

*Image from CBSNews.com

But at the very next event, depending on the color of the state or district, we’ll hear how everyone needs to ban together to oust “The Left” or “The Right”.  What’s funny is that while our politicians “flip-flop” their rhetoric to incite cheers of patriotism/uniting America…there are some state ballots include buttons for voters to press to just to vote a straight party ticket. How is this uniting America?

Some call it courage, others call it conviction, while some even dare to call it the courage of conviction. I call it extremism, and extremism, even in defense of liberty, does not a patriot make.

Opposition is sometimes looked at as an obstacle to progress.  Which it can be, when used simply as a blind tool to keep “the other guy” from getting a good report card come mid-terms.  But opposition is also how this country grows.  It’s how we learn of the varying opinions within our country.

The results of the midterm elections has shown, again, that we have a divided government between the conservatives and the liberals.  But, in the words of Former Senate majority leader Trent Lott (R) “a divided government does not have to mean that the government comes to a screeching halt”.

My question and about our government after the midterm elections on both sides of the aisle is simply this:

Is this the point when rhetoric stops, and action begins?

At what point do we tell our elected politicians to put down their “weapons,” and stop the theatrics. I mean, can we all please agree that an ad of a politician literally shooting cap-and-trade legislation is a bit much? Instead of coming up with such (not so) clever ads, can we put our minds to more purposeful pursuits?

Somewhere along the way solving America’s problems and the problems of Americans has taken a back seat to making sure that one side does everything possible to obstruct any success for the other side.  We even heard this on the campaign trail leading up to the midterm elections.

Just because two people don’t agree on how to accomplish these goals, doesn’t mean a compromise can’t be struck to still achieve them. This country can’t afford to remain in a state of gridlock for 4 years.  We need to recognize that we all, Democrats and Republicans alike (even the Tea-Party followers) want to move this country forward, and try to use this Right/Left split to our advantage.

If you think about it, President Obama now finds himself in a situation not too dissimilar to many of his predecessors.  Both Clinton and Bush were faced with working directly alongside their party’s opposition in order to pass some of their most notable legislation. Clinton passed major welfare reform, as well as achieved a balanced budget after the 1994 midterms, which gave him a Republican majority.  Bush passed the infamously dubbed “Bush Tax Cuts” and the educational reform package “No Child Left Behind” with the help of his Democratic brothers.

There will be always disagreement in the hallowed halls of Congress and the State.  There will always be a left and a right.

The trick is not to see one side as right and one side as wrong; but how we utilize those differences is what will keep our American legacy long.

Black Republicans: Race and Politics

In fact before the 2000’s this was a group of people that were  largely not sought after by the Conservative side, due to its perception of being a “lost cause” to the Liberals. Most of the 90’s it was joked that Bill Clinton was the country’s first “Black President,” or at least the closest we’d ever come.

Today however, there is no more joking. America now has her first Black President, who deals with these racial stereotypes in his own way. Immediately after his election in 2008, Barack Obama faced racial backlash with the perception that he only one because of the “black vote”. However, when looking at the racial make-up of Obama voters, indeed and even generational statistics, Barack Obama carried every race and age group with the exception of middle-aged white males. In fact, Obama carried a larger percentage of the “white vote” than his 2004 predecessor John Kerry.

A sign of the times? Perhaps.

This could be the affirmation of the country’s willingness to move past race as a factor in presidential electability. However, this racial cliché of Black and Liberal political association is not propagated solely by members of our society living outside of Black Culture. This idea of Black-Liberal alignment is proliferated largely by the Black Community itself. In his book “What Color is a Conservative?: My Life and My Politics,” J.C. Watts discusses the possible repercussions that a Black politician would face from members of his or her own race, when aligning themselves to a conservative ticket.

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“Those who don’t follow the group identity pay a heavy price as they are vilified; their blackness and their motives are questioned in the most personal language. Simply put, many black leaders, today, have become the new arbiters of black orthodoxy. If we are African American, we are expected to obey their ideological commands without question. Should we stray too far from black orthodoxy, we are punished and isolated in a warped kind of ideological apartheid.

I realize this is a harsh analogy, but when a fine man like Clarence Thomas is torn to shreds before the nation because he dares to think differently – to think outside the group identity- we are in danger of betraying what the civil rights movement stood for: the right of black Americans to control their own lives and destinies.”

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This isn’t a struggle faced by the Black Community alone; this is something all in the United States grapple with. At its base form, it is a struggle with the tension between preserving an ethnic identity and assimilating into the larger community. A balance of holding on to one’s ancestral heritage, and embracing the culture of one’s current environment.

And this struggle is overly magnified in the political spectrum, especially on a national level. This is because now a person who wants to identify with his or her ethnicity must walk a tightrope between alienating the majority of voters who do not share the same ethnic background, and facing charges of assimilation from those who do.

Although America prides itself on being the “melting pot” of the world, sometimes it appears to be a phrase only rhetoric deep. We are the land of many cultures, colors and people, yes…and yet this same land, with fair and balanced representation for all, is still largely run by upper-middle class, Caucasian males.

We are making strides as a county to minimize the role race and ethnicity plays in our politics, but is a Post-Racial America something this country could ever achieve? I say most certainly yes.

I’m sure our parents sat amongst themselves 30 years ago, when they were in their 20′s and said, “Do you think a Black President is something we could ever achieve?” It’s possible.

As long as we are aspiring to move past ethnic/racial ties to political lines internally, and look to what is best for us all as a nation, we will one day become that true “Melting Pot” we’ve longed to be. A melded nation, with a Black Republican President and all.

Top Political Gaffes and Stories
of 2009-2010

Even Saturday Night Live has continuously had trouble parodying Obama for anyone who has seen Fred Armisen’s impersonation of number 44.  But thankfully my worries never came to fruition.  When you’ve got people like Uncle Joe, Mac Daddy EmCee Michael Steele, and…of course, Sarah Palin on the scene, how can we expect anything but an ESPN-worthy highlight reel?!

So with the country just coming into the home stretch to the November mid-term elections, let’s take a look at the 10 best Political Gaffes since January 2009.

1. Obama’s Oath of Office (January 2009) – It’s always important that you show up to the party with a grand entrance and a big splash…but I don’t think this is quite what Obama had in mind.  I’ll try and give Chief Justice John Roberts some credit and say that he was nervous being in front of such a big crowd (over 1 million people in attendance with over 35 million watching at home) or perhaps was distracted by Aretha Franklin’s hat.  In any case, Justice Roberts flipped a couple of words saying “I will execute the Office of President to the United states faithfully”, instead of “I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States”.  Yea.  That’s it.   After about a day of uproar from just about everyone, Justice Roberts re-administered the oath correctly although there was no Bible present which began a whole new, but slightly smaller, uproar.

2. Special Olympics with Obama (March 2009) – Oye-vey…  Most have probably made similar jokes comparing our athletic skills to someone who participates in the Special Olympics.  I know I’m guilty.  Now of course this is done, hopefully by all, with no malice intended.  But when you are the President of the U.S., a bit more tact is needed when discussing your 129 bowling score on national television with Jay Leno…  Obama attempted some damage control by issuing an apology to the Special Olympics before the clip had even aired.  Since this incident, Obama has pledged to become more active with the organization and have athletes over to the White House to help him improve his skills.  I think we might have nailed down your bowling problem sir if this foot-in-mouth thing continues

3. Where in the World is Mark Sanford (June 2009) -  Ok…now I’m from South Carolina.  I have to say, I never realized there was a secret trail that connected Appalachia to Argentina.  There is an underlying theme that connects this item with #4 on our list and that is “Oh how the mighty have fallen.”  Mark Sanford managed to come out of November 2008 being touted as a possible Presidential Candidate for 2012.  That’s a big deal when your state was nicknamed the corridor of shame and is known for the lowest test scores, the second highest unemployment rate, and state highways are nicknamed “Dieways” by the South Carolina Department of Transportation.  In June 2009 Mark Sanford disappeared off of everyone’s radar when he went on a “hiking trip” through the Appalachian Mountains.  But as days went by it became increasingly more obvious that no one, including Sanford’s own people, had no idea (or perhaps were in denial) as to his whereabouts.  After Sanford was seen at the Jackson-Hartsfield airport in Atlanta (not exactly a mountainous region) the whole scandal erupted.  Afterwards, Sanford endured numerous press conferences in which he just made himself look worse, possible impeachment by his own state party (there are only about 3.25 Democrats in SC btw), and a verbally public ass-kicking by his frickin’ awesome wife Jenny.  Magic 8 Ball Presidential Outlook: Don’t count on it….

4. Sarah Palin quits (July 2009) – This is one I’m still trying to understand.  Sarah Palin was another Republican coming out of the 2008 election as someone to look out for in 2012.  So to show everyone her political prowess as Governor of Alaska…she quit being Governor of Alaska.  Oh sure she had her “reasons”.  And apparently too many to choose from.  Sarah gave every valid (and many not-so-valid) reason under the sun for her stepping down from office.  She had ink-poisoning from having to write on her hand so much.  She wouldn’t waster her time working with a Lame Duck Congress (very presidential).  A Governor’s schedule interfered with any possibilities of a Ray-Ban Eye Wear endorsement.  She wouldn’t waste the state’s money to finance the continuously growing number of lawsuits being filed against her.  Her foot hurt from stomping on the ideals of feminisim.  The point is, no matter what her reasons were, you can’t expect to prove that you are qualified for the highest office in our nation by quitting.  Even Joe Maverick the hockey playing Pitbull knows that.

5. Beer Summit (July 2009) – This has become a running punchline since Obama and Uncle Joe sat down in the Rose Garden to have a kick back over a very publicized altercation between Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Cambridge, Mass., police Sgt. James Crowley.  I just like knowing that Obama choose my favorite frothy beverage, a cool Bud Light.  In case you were curious, Biden choose the non-alcoholic Buckler as his personal libation for the day.

6. Hillary Clinton “I’m Secretary of State” (August 2009) – Don’t mess with Hillary.  I thought everyone knew that.  Apparently Hillary (Ms. Secretary of State if you’re nasty!) needed to teach this lesson to a Congolese university student.  When asked what her husband thought about an international matter Hillary set the record straight saying “My husband is not secretary of state, I am.  I am not going to be channeling my husband.”  Ouch.  The student was never heard from again…

7. You Lie! (September 2009) – Another great moment brought to us by a South Carolina Politician.  Regardless of your thoughts on Obama policy, this was a completely unnecessary & uncouth action by Rep.  Joe Wilson.  If Democrats can make it through 8 years of George “Dubya” Bush with nary a shoe thrown (still makes me giggle), then you sir can make it through a Presidential Address to Congress.

8. Tom Delay on Dancing with the Stars (September 2009) – I just…I mean…I can’t…well here… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUqL3_uCD4Q Why can’t we be friends Tom?  Did I just see a Heel Lead in a Samba?  You’ve gotta be kiddin’ me.

9. Joe Biden… he’s a BFD (March 2010) – I love Uncle Joe.  Let the record show.  I love Uncle Joe.  I don’t think anyone else could better serve as the comic foil to Obama’s straight shooter.  Who knew that this guy had been waiting in the wings of Washington all those years just waiting to give us gems like his opinion of Obama’s Healthcare Plan.  In his defense, Biden didn’t realize he was so close to a hot mic when he told Obama that the signing of his healthcare bill was “a big f*#@ing deal.”  Classic Biden!

10. Michael Steele and strippers (March 2010) – I decided to take it easy on old Michael (he’s got enough problems trying to keep his job) and only list my favorite Micheal Steele moment of the past year and a half.  The Stripper Scandal!  Steele came under more fire from his own party (the Democrats don’t even have to go after this guy anymore) when it became known that the RNC had spent $2,000 at a bondage-themed nightclub featuring topless women dancers imitating lesbian sex.  The GOP, good ol’-fashioned porn.

There’s no doubt that it’s an Anti-Tax world out there.  With the Tea Parties ready for blood, the healthcare debate between Democrats and Republicans trying to see who can out-spend and over-spin the most while in office…local and state governments are desperately trying to find budgets to pay for necessities like schools and roads.  One solution that has been gaining steam recently is the idea of a “Soda Tax”.

Soda Tax: Can you be taxed into a healthier you?

Though there have been several variations of this tax proposed, the most popular one seems to be a “penny-per-ounce” tax on all calorie-sweetened drinks.  This would include soda, sweetened teas, sports drinks, sweetened waters, and energy drinks to name a few.

Recent polls haven’t shown much support for such a tax; with one such poll stating approximately 56% of Americans are opposed to a tax on soft drinks with less than 1/3 supporting such a tax.

While this debate is heating up and gathering more and more steam, it’s not exactly falling on traditional party lines.  However each side, while not clearly a republican vs. democrat issue, is employing their go-to fear tactics.

Those in favor of a “Soda Tax” are preaching obesity is “bloating” (see what I did there?) the healthcare system and we should be thinking about our children’s future!  While those against the tax are claiming it would cost jobs during a time where Americans need all the work they can get, not to mention it wouldn’t actually do anything to help curb America’s enlarging (another pun!) problem with obesity.

I myself am on the fence when it comes to this issue.  The financial benefits this tax has been projected to incur are pretty compelling in my eyes; especially when these are under-funded cities and states considering such a tax.  Now I hear some of you out there already…”Well, we should cut spending instead of ANOTHER tax.”

Wonderful.  Love it.  Great idea.  So what are we cutting?

I hear this from so many people, and have yet to get any answer.  The “Pork Projects” you say (thank you McCain campaign for this little gem of a phrase)  Well here’s the thing.  If you take all of the “pork” and add it together, it only amounts to about 2% of the national budget….sooooooo what do you want to do about the other 98%?  Let me know how that goes.  (I’ll wait…….here’s a Sharpie.)

In all honesty it’s important to keep in mind that this is not a federal consideration…at this point.  This is being investigated at a city and state level.  You want new roads…want the lead paint stripped from your schools (or even a school building depending on your location)?

Do you want teachers, bridges and basic infrastructure for your city?  This tax is for you.  Well, to be fair, it’s being proposed for you.Where it actually goes is another topic for another time.

Now, the one part of this tax that gives me pause, ironically, is the reason being given to justify the tax: “Personal Health.”

If not handled correctly this could turn into a slippery slope of legislature.  Where do we draw the line?  Taxing soda may support better nutritional habits (although the line at Starbucks says otherwise), but so could taxing candy, fried foods (I would cry), or pizza.  And then what next?

Tax credit for gym memberships?  What if we tax a person’s television intake and subsidize American Literature?  No this won’t work, American Literature isn’t that great (remember…J.K. Rowling is a British Author).

This takes us to a philosophical political question.  To what degree should we use the power of the state to protect us from the power of the consumer?  Why soda? Why not fast food or hike up cigarettes more?  Those guys have been getting it for years.  (I hear you smokers coughing up a lung in outrage because you are already so heavily taxed for your unhealthy habits.)

Sorry to say, I don’t see it as the same situation and here’s why.  When you light up your ciggie in a bar, restaurant, or even outside, it’s having negative effects on me and my environment in the short term (now I’m going to smell like an ashtray too) and the long term (second-hand smoke anyone?).

Why do you think there are smoking and non-smoking hotel rooms?  That smell is never coming out.  When I pop my soda tab and take in an ice-cold can of Mountain Dew, who am I really hurting?  Sure there’s the follow-up of recycling and non-recycling your cans but that isn’t something that is constant across all canned goods.  However that puff of smoke that fills your air, also fills mine.

Now as far as curbing the growing rate of unhealthy consumption habits with threatening to raise price…anyone who has been to a Starbucks in the morning knows that higher prices don’t necessarily equate to lower consumption when it comes to a beverage fix.

In the 70’s, teens drank about twice as much milk as soda.  However, by the 90’s, teens drank almost twice as much soda as milk.  Since the 70’s obesity rates have tripled in children and teens.  But is this a misnomer?  Well here are some interesting statistics that further make me question the true nature behind this proposed soda tax.

Soft drinks, sports drinks, sweetened waters, and energy drinks combined only account for about 5.5% of the American diet.  Add this with the fact that while soft drinks sales have declined 10 percent since 2000, while obesity rates have increased and…well, the argument just isn’t stacking up.

If our governments are truly concerned about the rising problem with obesity in our country, I just don’t think taxation is the way to go to address the problem.

In all likelihood, this tax is being proposed for its financial benefits alone.

The health smoke screen is just that, a smoke screen to divert your attention from another new tax.

Do Americans drink too much soda.  Yes.  Should we be healthier.  Undoubtedly.  Would a tax on soda provide some financial relief to cities already strapped for cash?  Yes. Am I still not sure how I feel about this tax?  Yes.

How about you?

I know perfectly well how these things work – there’s always a reader sitting at home asking “What about…” and “How could you not include…” whilst shaking their heads, stewing in a political rage that could move the heavens.  But never fear, readers…I’d love to hear your thoughts, so please comment below! – Jenna

Top 10 “OMG” Major Political Events of our Generation

Picking the Top 10 Political Events of the last decade is no easy task, especially since our world leaders have given us plenty of fodder to populate a Top 100 list of events. However, we like the number 10; not only is it the number of years we’ve been in a new millennium, but it makes you really focus on what was important. So this is my list, arranged in chronological order, that left us all OMG-ing over the past 10 years.

1. Dot-Com Bubble burst & Pre-fix investing:  The new millennium kicked off during a time of economic booms. This wasn’t purely a U.S.-driven economic boom either; industrialized nations saw growth with the recent Internet explosion among consumers. Companies often found their stock prices rising if they simply added an “e-“ prefix or “.com” ending to their name (A “Get Rich Quick” scheme if ever there was one). It seems while everyone was paying attention to the virtual world, no one was keeping an eye on the real world. The Monday following the NASDAQ climax, a large amount of delayed sell orders were processed, triggering a chain reaction of selling the fed on itself with investors unable to keep up. This, coupled with the United States vs. Microsoft monopoly federal trial, and a disappointing ’99 Christmas season for Internet retailers caused the first (but not biggest) economic disaster of the new decade. What a great start!
2. 2000 Election: The ushering in of a new U.S. President for a new millennium didn’t come without some bumps and bruised egos (here’s looking at you, Katherine Harris). This election will forever live in infamy due to the unusual event of the winner receiving fewer popular votes than the runner-up and the chaos that ensued. It took over a month for the results to be announced, questioned, announced, questioned again, and finally finalized by the U.S. Supreme Court. After all the chaos had settled George W. Bush was pronounced the winner and 43^rd President of the United States.  “Dubya,” as he came to be known, took office in 2001.
3. 9/11: It’s a day that really needs no explanation. Over the past nine years, 9/11 have become more than a date. It’s a moment. It’s a feeling. Everyone remembers exactly what they were doing when they heard about two airplanes flying into the World Trade Centers of New York City. Many people remember watching in shocked horror, the images of the first tower falling, followed by the second; hearing of the plane crash at the Pentagon; listening to the stories of passengers aboard Flight 93 trying to retake control of their airplane before it could be used in a similar attack in Washington D.C. It was a day that the entire world knew one enemy: terror. It was a day when “we were all Americans.”
4. War on Terror: Beginning on October 7, 2001, less than one month after the September 11^th attacks, The U.S. and its allies launched a war whose main objective was to prevent further terrorist attacks from a number of terrorist cells operating under the umbrella of al-Qaeda. Over the course of this decade, the War on Terror has reached several different fronts in the Middle East including, most notably Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as included the involvement of many different countries and international organizations. One of the more significant events during this conflict was the fall of Saddam Hussein in Iraq. Hussein spent the majority of the ’90s in disfavor with its neighbors and the US.  However, after the end of Hussein’s regime, the US found another, more violent coalition in Iraq, the coalition of Iraqi nationalists and pan-Arabists. Argued by many on the world stage as a way to justify unilateral “preemptive” war, others argued just as loudly that such practices would have prevented an occurrence such as the 9/11 attacks.  As this decade saw the beginning of the war on terror, it can be hoped by both sides of the argument that the next decade sees the end.
5. Darfur: In February 2003, several Sudanese militia groups took up arms against the government claiming black Africans were being oppressed in favor of Arabs in the region. The government has a history of tampering with evidence and harassing journalists so many of the details surrounding this conflict are not known. Darfur became the center of such controversy due to the escalation of chaos and destruction in the region with little to no reaction from the rest of the world. Three years later, after numerous horrific reports of actions taken against civilians in the Darfur region, the United Nations agreed to send 26,000 peacekeeping troops to Darfur to assist in protecting civilians on both sides of the conflict. In 2009, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.  However, the Sudanese government is unlikely to execute it.
6. Same-Sex Marriage: Even though this issue has been in the public eye since the ’70s, and gained steam in the ’90s, it became a major political issue on November 1^8th, 2003 when Massachusetts became the first state in the U.S. to legalize same-sex marriage. Since then, five other states have also adopted a similar stance. California’s Supreme Court voted against the opposite-sex marriage definition on the basis that it violated constitutional rights.  In November 2008, Proposition 8 was placed on voting ballots for the California constituency to decide whether same-sex marriage would be legal in the state or not. Though Proposition 8 passed, effectively nixing same-sex marriages in California, an appeal filed the next year was upheld by the state Supreme Court that all marriages granted prior to Prop 8 would remain legal.
7. Iran elects Ahmadinejad: In 2005, Iran elected its sixth President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.  Immediately, Ahmadinejad became an outspoken critic of current world order though he does uphold the long-standing Iranian tradition of not recognizing Israel as a legitimate nation. With comments about Israel being wiped “off the map” and accusations of not believing the Holocaust really happened (and all with a smile), Ahmadinejad became a media darling and immediate target for the Bush administration. The major point of contention between Iran and the U.S. leaders was Iran’s continued nuclear program with Ahmadinejad claiming the program is being developed for peace instead of war. In August 2009, Adhmadinejad was re-elected amid charges of fixing the election from opposition supporters. Iran erupted in protests in late-August that usually ended violently. Several countries, including France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the U.S. announced that they would not send letters of congratulation as is usually customary.
8. North Korea tests nuclear weapons: North Korea’s October 9, 2006 detonation of a nuclear device re-instated the country as a nuclear threat to its neighbors and the world. Worried that North Korea would attempt to sell some of its nuclear weapons to terrorist organizations or other enemy states of the U.S., Bush named the country to his now famed “Axis of Evil.”  On May 7, 2007, North Korea agreed to shut down its nuclear reactors immediately pending the release of frozen funds held in a foreign bank account. On September 2, 2007, North Korea agreed to disclose and dismantle all of its nuclear programs by the end of 2007. By May 2009, North Korea had restarted its nuclear program and threatened to attack South Korea.
9. An Age of Firsts – Barack Obama and Hilary Clinton…and Sarah Palin: Put aside the mud-slinging. Forget about the crazy and crazier accusations. Focus on the good. The 2008 Presidential election saw firsts on both sides of the political aisle, as well as that gender-specific glass ceiling. For the Democrats, it was a choice between the country’s first African-American Presidential candidate or the first woman to lead a major party campaign. For the Republicans, it was the first time the party had included a female constituent on the presidential ticket. No matter your political preference, it was an encouraging race for the leaders of the future and an affirmation for the leaders that came before. And with the election of Barack Obama, the world saw “change” brought to a political system long thought to be set in its ways. A system uninviting and unwelcoming to newcomers who wanted to change the game. Hopefully this started a chain reaction of “change” that will carry over well into the new decade.
10. The Great Recession: We all know this one. It’s been called the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. It was a slippery slope of a mess that left virtually no one untouched. Key businesses failed, the U.S. lost over a trillion (wait for dramatic pause) dollars, and the entire world saw a decline in economic trade and activity (and that’s the good news). What followed was, arguably, even more depressing with world leaders and business aficionados attempting to point fingers and lay blame instead of trying to solve a problem that left the rest of us floundering. Governments have since taken aggressive, unprecedented, and yes, even questionable steps to recover. But we’ll keep our fingers crossed that the next decade Top 10 Recap will include a line item for the economic rebound we’re all hoping for.

What would you have included on the list?

What makes an effective local leader of a big city for Gen-Y citizens? Fiscal conservatism or a more liberal government programmed approach?

I grew up in a small town and have spent nearly my whole in small towns, with the exception of an eight-month stint in Washington, D.C. Being a student of politics, I have studied this issue and have come to the following simple conclusion. Gen-Y citizens are far and away liberal when it comes to social issues and most don’t yet make enough money to see the economic impact of their unwavering support for liberal candidates when it comes to election time. I do, however, predict that the election of Barack Obama will somewhat change this as we see massive tax increases come from Obamacare and out-of-control deficit explosion…and we aren’t even a year into his administration yet…

I digress, the question is about metropolitan leadership. My analysis here is simple. I will use the city of New York as an example. New York cracks the top 25 in terms of most liberal U.S. cities, yet its two most recent mayors have been Republicans. Citizens of New York have trended toward somewhat of a hybrid in that they prefer the social freedoms that liberal policy provides yet at the same time prefer the fiscal restraint and economic guardianship that a more conservative policy approach provides. Hence the leadership of Rudy Giuliani and subsequently Mayor Bloomberg, who just won a third term for himself in what is the most expensive local government race ever run.

On that point, I find it a bit odd for Republican candidates to preach fiscal restraint yet spend recklessly when it comes to their own races. Mayor Bloomberg spent a whopping $35,000 PER HOUR on his reelection bid. I just find that astounding.

So what kind of candidate would I consider a more effective leader for Gen-Y citizens? The bottom line is this. Find the candidate who supports me as an individual, who doesn’t want government getting in the way of my progress, wants to get government out of the way of economic growth in the private sector, who stays out of my personal life….and makes sure that the government does the same, and who makes sure that my tax dollars are wisely cared after….because I work hard for the money that I make, and don’t want to see it wasted.

What do you think would make a great leader for Generation Y?

I’d love to hear from you,

Justin E.

If you were to ask my grandfather whether or not Generation Y is spoiled or not, you’d probably get a big ole “Hell yes!” – immediately followed by a 30-minute diatribe involving 5 a.m. chicken feedings, walking 30 miles to school, making beds to pay for college and the ever infamous curious two-sided hills that, were always led uphill, etc…

I’m sure you know this, but can we really disagree that in comparison we are over-privileged on a whole? Is this really a bad thing?

Perhaps it’s a more accurate statement to say that we take many of our generations’ privileges for granted. Compared to the generations before us we are entirely spoiled with our cell phones, computers, Facebook, etc. But isn’t this the natural “progression” of things? Isn’t each generation supposed to take further strides and expect more than those that came before?

Consider the alternative.

If a generation had less available resources than that of its predecessors, what would you call this?  A step back, or perhaps a call to simpler times? P.S. Andy Griffith was awesome!

Would our older generational peers, parents and professors decry the ‘decline of civilization is upon us’ if Generation Y were to backslide into these “simpler times?” …and who then would be spoiled?

I’m sure this argument is not new to Gen-Y and the Xers and Boomers…I mean, I’m sure in the Middle Ages the upwardly-mobile over-30 crowd considered their younger counterparts spoiled…what with their refrigerated meat and immunity to the plague and lavish fineries of such.

So who’s at fault for each generation of forthcoming brats? Is it our parents who are to blame?

Well Glenn Beck has a very interesting perspective on our generation. 

(Writer’s Note:  please ignore the irony of a man who named a show after himself referring to others as “me”-centric.)

I’m convinced we are raising a generation of would-be killers: the ‘me generation.’ … A generation that was brought up by parents who wouldn’t spank them because it was too barbaric and were graded in purple pen because red is too frightening. A generation too busy trying to get noticed on YouTube or Facebook or Twitter to accomplish anything of real lasting value.

We never expected it of them. We promised them a land of sunshine rainbows and lollipops.

So it should come as no surprise that the ‘me generation’ enters the workforce demanding high salaries, corner offices and promotions in the first few months — all while wanting to dress down and work less than 40 hours a week

I find it hard to believe that this is a new phenomenon owing only to our generation. Even Socrates complained about the youthful generation of his time saying “The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise…”

Perhaps, in all we can look at this as a for of…(Earmuffs Mike Huckabee & Company!) …Evolution.  Social evolution of course…

Tell you what, to appease the political spectrum and palate of our readers, we’ll call it “progress” so that everyone can have a warm and fuzzy feeling inside.

Generation Y being “lazy” is simply the product of Boomers desires to be lazy coming into fruition through the innovation of Generation X and being enjoyed by Gen Y…and I’m sure 30 years from now we’ll look at the 20-year-olds with their crazy virtual cellphone displays and self-driving cars and say, “When I was growing up…”