Senior Reflection Blog #4: High School

High school. The name says it all. I couldn’t say I’m about to complete 12 years of my life of never-ending education. It just feels like those 12 years has been one long LOOOOOOONG dream. No, not dream, nightmare. Ugh, it’s revolting. God, I hate high school, and I’m sure that anyone that just read those last few words is thinking “Aw, why?” Or that’s at least what everyone asks me when I tell them so I just quit telling people. Do you really think I’m going to stand there and explain every single to you about my hatred for high school? Maybe if it were one of those days I would just have rant so bad, then I might. High school life is so full of stress, dread, hate, stupidity, and the list could go on. And moving from school to school every few years doesn’t help either. One reasons for sure: drama. I don’t believe high school would even be called high school if it weren’t for the drama; and it’s nothing like the high school in movies. It’s much much worse. The drama is so torturous that it makes you want to go jump off a bridge.

Of course, I’ve learned a lot, and I don’t deny that fact. But the drama is just so ridiculous. And that’s coming from an American-born Indian girl!! It’s horrible the way those Indian aunties huddle together and talk trash about EVERYONE. I mean, drama and stupid gossip is one of the reasons why I’m going to go to NOVA for two years before transferring to Mason. Yes, I didn’t have the money and my only choice was to stay home because of my parents, but would I willingly surround myself with Desi people and all their drama for another four years? Not if I don’t have to. Especially after putting up with it in high school for so long. It’s irritating.
People say that you’re a better person when you’ve gone through pain and suffering. Yeah right. All that high school suffering only taught me to watch who I make friends with…Well though, it’s finally over. And this is the last blog we’ll have to do, not that I dislike blogging. I don’t think this blog made any sense so I hope no one reads it.

“I mean high school? High school! Those are your prime suffering years. You don't get better suffering than that.” – from Little Miss Sunshine

So true. So true...

Current Event #4: Democrats’ Climate Plan Attacked

The article, “GOP attacks Democrats' climate plan,” explains how and why Republicans are so upset with the plan that Democrats crafted in efforts to fight climate change. Indiana Governor, Mitch Daniels, was the highlight of the article as he talked about how the climate plan would do more hurt to jobs and raise costs than do anything to help the deteriorating situation of the Earth, especially in his home state. In Indiana, thousands of steel- and car-making factory workers and coal miners would be removed from their jobs, according to the plan, and farmers and livestock producers would face a huge increase in costs. The solution Daniels proposed would help save the environment, keep energy costs low, save and create more jobs, and prevent tax increases. His solution was the development and expansion of domestic oil and gas. Any profits made would be then used for the development of nuclear and renewable energy and for carbon capture research.

The author of the article did a good job in present the issue to readers, but it did get a bit boring. That’s probably because it was a bit long and there was information in there that I already knew of. Besides that, though, I hadn’t known about the Republican argument against the Democratic climate plan so it was still interesting to read. I disagree with Governor Daniels about the plan only taking away jobs instead of making more. The last time I checked, the plan definitely included the creation of “green” jobs. Also, I knew that the plan would be costly, but it seemed like Daniels was exaggerating some. I did notice that while he was complaining about higher costs, what type of costs that were going to be raised was not mentioned anywhere in the article. I’m not sure. I was sure that the plan’s cap-and-trade program would not only help protect the environment, but also lower energy costs. I never read anywhere about tax increases. Anyway, I would really like to know what the Democrats had to say in response to this refute against their plan. Maybe I’ll keep an on this issue.

Senior Reflection Blog #3: Prom

I’m going to be very honest. I was never allowed to go to any kind of school dance, party, homecoming, prom, etc., and I really never cared. I still don’t care. It’s almost the end of the year now and a lot of other schools have already had their Prom (working at Target at least keeps you on top of news and gossip). My fellow Target employees were very excited to share their prom nights and I listened “intently” to what they had to say (not really). They even felt they had to share their stories with customers…like they really had that dying urge to hear about it…Really, who cares?

I think Prom and all those other little “like-oh-my-god-let’s-dress-up” parties are pretty lame and overrated. There’s way to much hype over all that business and it costs so much money on top of that. I mean, I’m sure people go for the “high school experience”, but I doubt you’re ever going to think about it again unless you happen to maybe run into your date 20 years later or it’s your child’s prom and he/she is complaining about how badly they want something (like that $1,000 dress she may only wear once in her lifetime but hey it is a once in a lifetime chance to go to Prom!). The cost of makeup, hair, tuxedo, limo, and all that other stuff is beyond reasonable. People are just trying to make money off of you, whether it’s the school or the salon. I don’t know if it’s my super penny-pinching Indian/Asian senses, but I think the whole idea of Prom or whatever is just ridiculous. Oh well!

After that looong current event blog, I hope I kept this short and sweet...Well at least short. :)

Enjoy the picture! Yes, it was photo-shopped.

Current Event #3: Photo-Sharing

Facebook and photo-sharing are two huge things for young adults and teens these days, and to find out that embarrassing or inappropriate pictures are still stuck on social networking websites (like Facebook.com or MySpace.com) could have devastating effects. Now this fear has become reality for sure after researchers concluded so in a Cambridge University study late last week. Of 16 websites that were tested, 7 sites failed the test to see if the pictures were gone completely about a month after the user had chosen to delete them. Obviously, these sites denied any such accusation, but the researchers discovered that Facebook, for instance, had two servers for its website because it’s so large. So when the pictures are being stored in one server, the other server is still being used for the main page. When the command is sent for a picture to be deleted, it takes a very long time to find that picture and delete it. The BBC followed up with advice stating that online users should not post any pictures that might come in their way of their future goals and hopes (such as careers).

One thing is for sure: this isn’t the first time I heard pictures being stuck on the internet even after people have removed them. I’m sure that people have been slapped on the wrist and lectured several times before, too, about putting up scandalous pictures. Whatever the case is, these pictures could really end up hurting people when they want to go out and get a job, for say. However, if you really think about, why would people really be stupid enough to put up “indecent” pictures of themselves or others on the internet? That goes for texting as well. The sad truth is though that people really are that stupid and would do anything to get attention (in most cases). As for the article, I was confused about the part if the pictures lasted longer than 30 days or never were deleted at all. Maybe Cambridge researchers should test for a longer period of time.

Here’s the article if anyone wants to read it:

Study: Photos stay online after you delete them

The buzz online this morning is about a Cambridge University project that found photos posted to some social networks, blog and photo-sharing sites stick around after they’re deleted by users.

Researchers tested several photo-sharing sites to see if photos still existed on the Internet 30 days after they were supposedly deleted by users. Seven of the 16 sites, including Facebook, failed the test. From a researcher’s blog post:

Facebook alone hosts over 40 billion photos, over 200 per user, and receives over 25 million new photos each day. Hosting such a huge number of photos is an interesting engineering challenge. The dominant paradigm which has emerged is to host the main website from one server which handles user log-in and navigation, and host the images on separate special-purpose photo servers, usually on an external content-delivery network.

Sound confusing? Basically that means Facebook and other sites store photos in one place and their main Web page in another place. That makes it difficult to know where your photos actually live. And it apparently means there can be some major lag time between when you delete a photo and when it actually goes away.

The BBC says the problem comes from “shaky” business models for social networks:

What the Cambridge experiment has shown is that networks like Facebook and MySpace have decided that they just can’t afford to give users as much privacy as they might like. And that means that entrusting your photos to the cloud can mean relinquishing control of the way you appear online.

A Facebook spokesman reportedly denies the study’s findings: “When a user deletes a photograph from Facebook it is removed from our servers immediately.”

The BBC repeats a familiar mantra: don’t put anything up that you wouldn’t want the world to see:

you’re bonkers to put anything online that you don’t want a future employer, partner or aged relative to see – because, if the experiment is to be believed, that embarrassing shot of you in fancy dress at a stag night will remain online even after you’ve deleted it.

Check out the list of which sites passed and failed the test, and also follow the conversation on Twitter. It’s happening under a search for “Are you sure those.”

Source: CNN.com

So there you have it.

Senior Reflection Blog #2: Seniorities

I think I was one of the lucky ones: I caught a very mild case of seniorities sometime back before winter break. It was hard, but I have miraculously still kept my focus of my grades (though I admit there was a slight slip in grades but that usually happens every fourth quarter). I see all these seniors now, especially with about 29 actual days left of school, slacking off and skipping school. It’s going to really suck for them when they get into to college and realize that they’re going to have to start working hard again. Teachers are cramming all these tests, projects, and last minute work into the last three weeks or so of work left; and even though it’s probably for our own good, it’s such a drag. I mean, not that the government project is an issue, but even the regular classes are getting these huge tests and assignments still. And that includes Mr. Bedford’s business classes! We barely do work in there, and we’re still learning business accounting and bookkeeping.

Maybe we had too many expectations for the end of the year and graduation. But tracing the entire life of a single star that lasts for billions of years for a 200 point grade or writing and presenting satires to a class is a bit of a stretch, no? We just took a test in calculus of stuff we learned a month ago and during classes I had to miss for college class registration. I got about 84% on that. I’m not very happy.

Obviously the teachers would disagree though with all the work, but cut us some slack! Government is probably the only class I have now that’s laid back. I should probably stop whining because none of the teachers that I’m complaining about are even going to read this…oh well. I’m still alive.

I think I’m done with this rant as well. Sorry.

Current Event #2: Obama and Unemployment

The unemployment rate has risen to about 8.9%, but, the actual rate of people getting laid-off has dropped from around 600,000 people to less than 550,000 people in the month of April. Even though the economy is showing some positive growth, President Obama said that the road to recovery will take a while. However, he has suggested a plan for the unemployed to be able to get back into college (to finish their degrees or for training) and still be able to keep their unemployment benefits, which they tend to have to forfeit once they go back to college. Also, financial aid packages would be increased (like those offered by the government) and offered more widely to low-income students. Increasing the benefit amounts to people shouldn’t be a problem for states because they received several billions of dollars for that purpose win the stimulus bill was passed earlier this year.

The author clearly explained the basics of Obama’s plan for the unemployed without getting into too much detail or confusion. So overall the article wasn’t too bad. It’s nice to hear that people unemployed are getting more help from the government. I was sort of skeptical at first while I was reading the article about the funding and increasing in benefits or financial aid packages, but then the article mentioned the recovery plan Obama initiated in February this year. What really bothered me was that low-income students would be getting more help, too. Honestly, that’s great with people that can prove their low income and struggle, but what about the struggling middle class that isn’t rich enough or poor enough to get anything? They’re not poor enough to receive about 4/5th of most forms of financial aid and they certainly can’t afford to pay for higher education on their own. The article did mention making it easier for the unemployed that couldn’t receive aid because of previous income amount, but I would like see what happens before I believe that everyone will be getting help, equally.

In my personal opinion though, I feel that President Obama is trying to tackle too many things at once. He went from the economy earlier this year to speaking about abortion this week at Notre Dame. Everyone really had high expectations of him, unfortunately, and because he’s not living up to what they had expected, I’ve already begun to hear how incompetent Obama is. He has just completed his first 100 days in office and people already are getting impatient. It takes time to fix things, especially the state the economy is in. He wan a landslide victory in the popular vote back in November 2008, so people should keep mum and let him do his work.

Senior Reflection Blog #1: Scholarships

When it comes to scholarships, I noticed everyone tells you, as a senior in high school, to “Apply! Apply! Apply!” So you do. You fill out 6-9 pages (or more) worth of personal information and possibly another 2 pages for essays on some of the dumbest topics like “what this scholarship means to me” or “the value of education.” It doesn’t seem so bad the first couple of times; but then when you’ve reached about like 50 or 60 scholarships, every question seems so discouraging—especially when you’ve been rejected for about 59 of those scholarships.

There are advertisements everywhere for scholarships: in school, fast food restaurants, grocery stores, etc. There are even advertisements from people on the decision board of these scholarships complaining about how much trouble they’re having with giving away money. But the thing is they don’t want to give away the money. They want to give the money and “all the help they can” to the low income students, no offense, who usually don’t even met the educational standards of an average high school student. Or they want to give the money away to no-life geniuses that are the presidents/leaders of 10 out of the 20 clubs they’re in and have over a 4.0 (and usually are part of a pretty well-to-do family). When you’re neither, like I am, you get nothing. Even when you wasted every Thursday afternoon since school started staying after for clubs like Math Honor Society when you could have been home sitting in front of the TV like a normal teenager, you immediately lose all chances you may have had when they see your “financial state.” You could have the perfect application, but when they ask for your parents’ income, you should stop right there. I even wrote separate essays explaining my “financial circumstances” (for instance, living in one of the richest and most expensive counties America has to offer), but who knew people could be so indifferent.

So this rant could probably go on for quite some time, but it’s really frustrating. For students that need the money don’t get it; and people that could use the money don’t really care about it or don’t really need it. So what’s left for the struggling middle class? That annoying 8 to 5 retail job where you stand for more than 8 hours a day, putting up with people that have no life and no brains? Really!?

Sorry.

Ok. I’m done :)

Thank you for shopping at Target! Have a nice day!!

Current Event #1: Swine Flu

The article I chose this week, “WHO reports 2,500 cases of swine flu,” obviously covers the latest news on the swine flu. The World Health Organization has declared about 2,500 confirmed cases throughout the world with about 44 deaths. Twenty-five countries have either confirmed cases or reported deaths, including the United States. In the United States alone, there have been two reported deaths and around 1,600 cases in 43 states. Forty-two of the deaths have occurred in Mexico, where the virus originated from. The illness is still at phase 5 (widespread human infection)—phase 6 is the actual global pandemic phase. President Obama spoke about the virus, stating that the virus may not be as severe as we may fear it to be, but precautions still should be taken. Britain has announced that they have gotten the complete H1N1 genetic code, which is the first step in finding a vaccine for the virus.

Frankly speaking, I think the swine flu has really been bloated into a huge deal (mostly likely because of all the media hype). I understand the reason why most people may fear the illness, considering it’s a phase 5 out of 6 in Epidemic and Pandemic Alert and Response (EPR) meter and there is not proven vaccine for it yet. Tamiflu, medication for the treatment of influenza, is being used as a possible cure for the swine flu virus However, I heard that the normal flu virus alone claims about 36,000 lives alone each year on CNN. Also, there really isn’t that much of a threat to most ordinary people because those people that have the illness have been hospitalized (and you could most definitely point out some one with a fever over 100 degrees and severe body and stomach pains if they were to be walking around at all). So all in all, I think the swine flu is much milder than the media is making it seem, and fear may be the more of the culprit than the virus itself.

Editorial #6: A Bear Escape

Last week, President Barack Obama signed a memorandum to the Endangered Species Act that would require agencies to consult with the Fish and Wildlife Services before taking any actions that my put an endangered species in harm’s way. Before, during the George W. Bush presidency, Interior Secretary, Dirk Kempthorne said polar bears were threatened because of melting ice caps in the Arctic pole region. Through his regulation, he was able to correctly prevent climate change by consultations between agencies. However, the act was reinterpreted by Kempthorne to sound that the agencies wouldn’t have to consult with the Fish and Wildlife Services first before carrying out their plans. Now that President Obama has signed the memorandum, the checks on the agencies and the give-and-take consultation process will be restored, also a way to insure there will be minimal harm done to the threatened species.

To be frank, the article was very confusing. I had to read over it several times to make sure I was getting the basic idea behind the article, but I still had to go back and look over it a couple times. I probably didn’t understand because I didn’t know the people being mentioned, or maybe because I was not familiar with the act. Anyway, whatever was being done, as long as it doesn’t hurt anymore endangered animals, I’m fine with it. It’s bad enough animals are having to suffer, a majority at the hand of mankind. I don’t know, I’m an animal lover.

Anyway, another thing I noticed was that it seems like Obama’s doing a lot more in the name of science. First it was push for more stem cell research, which many people are likely to have opposed, and now it is this Endangered Species Act. He is making sure that science can continue to move progressively forward without the hurdles and restraint of political beliefs; and it may completely turn around the role of the president in the scientific sector. It could be added to one of the president’s top duties (chief diplomat, chief economist, chief pro-science person—I’m not sure what they would term it though).

Editorial #5: Mr. Marri's Day in Court

“Mr. Marri’s Day in Court” focuses on a suspected terrorist’s, Ali Saleh Kahlah al-Marri, unjust sentence to almost six years of detention in a military jail (by the command of former president, George W. Bush). He was arrested back in 2001 after evidence of alliance to an al-Qaeda sleeper cell aiming on ruining the U.S. financial system and information on bombs and chemical weapons on his computer were found. Now, the Obama administration is demanding that Marri’s case be sent to the Supreme Court for a lawful hearing that he should have had years back. However, the writer goes on saying that the Supreme Court should not put the case on the docket because it’s no longer a serious issue. Also, the U.S. Court of Appeals (the 4th Circuit) ruling should be vacated because it would not only eliminate the right of the president to “indefinitely” hold a person without charge, but also assure Marri’s place and hearing in the federal system. No president should be allowed to simply get rid of another person like that, and Supreme Court Justices should not allow anything like this to happen again in the future.

This editorial was another very different and interesting topic. I had never heard of Marri before and was surprised to hear the way he was treated. If even the most brutal of all dictators, Saddam Hussein, was given a trial, then you would think that this one person would have gotten one, too. I was able to understand the parts where the different federal courts were involved, and I believe that no president should have the right to just say and have someone punished like that. The duty of our court systems is to interpret law and justice and every person is given the right to a fair trial – especially if Marri was a legal citizen at the time of the arrest (which he was). Even if Marri is convicted guilty, the justices are just going to reaffirm the label of “enemy combatant” onto Marri and will not challenge the president’s authority to detain a person without charge (because it’s a precedential power).

Editorial #4: Banal in Baton Rouge

In response to the Republican response to President Barack Obama’s first State of the Union address, the editorial, “Banal in Baton Rough,” stresses how Bobby Jindal, Republican Governor of Louisiana, failed to provide any new ideas or alternatives to Obama’s record-high stimulus plan. The author complains that Jindal only picked out the flaws from the plan and didn’t really provide any concrete ideas. According to Jindal, it’s better to cut taxes on businesses and income, credit homebuyer taxes, and business incentives. However, Jindal did not address the soaring foreclosure rates and the frozen credit markets. He also commented on the failures of big government and its reaction to Hurricane Katrina, suggesting that civilians lost trust in the government as soon as the hurricane hit. Nevertheless, if cutting government spending is the solution, then maybe the $175 billion that came from the government for the Katrina recovery effort fund wasn’t the answer Louisiana was looking for.

It was an interesting editorial with a different point-of-view. I’m still trying to figure out if a hard-core Democrat wrote it or a very upset Republican. It seemed to me Bobby Jindal handled the response as any other politician would have: stand their party ground and get the job done. What I’m thinking caused the writer to feel this way is actually President Obama himself. After listening to such a charismatic and powerful speaker like Obama, no one sounds rights; and so people were still under Obama’s enticing spell when the GOP response was aired. So I wouldn’t be bashing Jindal so much: he was only doing what he was supposed to. What else was he supposed to say? “Hey, Democrats, you guys are right—you’re always right. Let’s all be best for friends for life?” He defended the GOP values and he did a pretty decent job. I can understand where the author was getting at, but do you really want to go there? If the author can find a better speaker for the response, fine. I’m not a Republican and I wouldn’t claim myself as a Democrat, but I know comments like the ones in the article are just one of those that you should just rather ignore.

Editorial #3: Burma’s Clenched Fist

The editorial “Burma’s Clenched Fist” from the Washington Post focuses on President Obama’s foreign policy with the Southeast Asian nation known as Burma. For decades, the country’s government has been tyrannously suppressing its people—even eliminating or imprisoning political opposition. Since the late 1990s, the U.S. has kept strict economic sanction from the nation, sanctions which were tightened last year by Congress. Former president George W. Bush could only point a finger at Burma’s junta during his presidency. Bush refused to press the issue on China because the Bush administration was not willing to risk limited or no results. The author goes on reminding readers about Obama’s inaugural address where he spoke of helping nations in need but only if they would (quite literally) put down their guns: “We will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.” Imposing sanctions on Burma hasn’t influenced the junta at all, claims Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton. The effort for help and change has to be two-sided. The U.S. has been providing food and fuel to North Koreans for some time now, but the government has yet to turn a leaf. Therefore, for the United States’ help to have any effect, the Burmese government will have a willing to accept help first.

I felt that the article was really interesting. It was a fresh change from reading about all depressing drama that has been happening in America lately. I had heard about the Burmese government police shooting people they were protesting some time back. However, I had no idea that this was an ongoing issue. If the Bush administration had been refusing to take action against the wrongdoing of the Burmese regime because they feared China’s reaction, they I think more cooperation and mature thought should have been taken to account. Surely, being the world’s most powerful nation, a decent negotiation could have been compromised. It was very thoughtful for Clinton to bring up the issue because now President Obama can prove his position, skills, and words as the country’s chief diplomat.

Editorial #2: Awash in Troubles

The opinion article I found in the Washington Post titled “Awash in Troubles” talks about the confusion and stress over drinking water in the D.C. area. Apparently there has been a lead contamination issue for quite some time now and D.C. residents are not sure if it’s safe to drink tap water. The city’s water authority hasn’t been helpful when it comes to looking for answers. The D.C. Water and Sewer and Authority (also known as WASA) had been the agency that dealt with the lead crisis from 2001 to 2004, obviously they didn’t do a very good job. There was an article written in the Washington Post previously by reporter Carol D. Leonning about the high lead levels not having a serious impact on health. The article was dismissed as being “scientifically dubious,” but an earlier article in the Environmental Science and Technology Journal is being looked at. The author insists that Washington D.C. being independent water testing to insure the safety of the public. Early 2008, an independent testing program proposal had been submitted by D.C. Council member Jim Graham, but didn’t get through. Currently, the D.C. Department of the Environment is looking to find construct some kind of program for water testing, and Graham and council member Mary M. Cheh are looking to “press the city’s inspector general to look into WASA’s actions.”

To be honest, I thought the article was very boring, confusing, and random (among the other editorials involving intense politics). Undoubtedly, with the huge lead scare with products being made in China, finding lead in your drinking water, which you think is supposed to be safe, would disturb any ordinary person.

Families are probably most worried about the drinking water and the safety of their children. I saw on the news that the other day that there was a drinking water lawsuit, so maybe the D.C. residents have finally decided to do something about this. If there has been a lead crisis going on for about three years, action should have been taken a while back. D.C. is the capital of our nation, it deserves to shine bright. Issues like this shouldn’t be a problem. The people shouldn’t have to worry about things like contaminated water in 21st century America; but if there’s an issue, that too in the nation’s capital, that’s saying a lot about American standards.

Editorial #1: Executive Payback

The editorial I got from the Washington Post, “Executive Payback”, comments on how banks are giving bonuses to executives from money received through government bailouts. Billions of dollars of taxpayer money is being gifted to top executives to “attract and retain talent at a time when [banks] need it more than ever.” Normally, Americans wouldn’t care how much money companies are giving in bonuses to executives, but when it involves money that comes out of their wallets, it’s something else. President Barack Obama seems to see this issue, deciding to put a cap of $500,000 on total yearly pay and on stock gains. The author of the editorial explains that perhaps a large bulk of money going to these people is one cause of the present failing economy. However, this government regulation may cause “market distortions and unintended negative consequences.” Though dealing with the economy is the most important issue right now, President Obama should find some kind of long-term solution to make up for any possible consequences.

I agree that the huge bonuses being given to executive heads in banks with or even without taxpayer money is ridiculous. Rather than rewarding these “talented workers” with even more money than the millions they’re making already, the companies should focus on getting back on track. If they were so worried about keeping their jobs, companies can act more responsibly and use that money saved for when they might be thinking about laying off jobs. Sacrificing a couple hundred thousand in bonuses to save their jobs shouldn’t be too painful. However, I disagree that this government regulation in executive pay is going to have serious negative effects on the market. Executive pay probably could have made up for more than half the billions of dollars banks asked for from the government in the bailouts. I realize most people hate to give up their money, but if taxpayers can pay for billions in dollars of bailout money, then surely our wealthy executives can live without some.

Also, it isn’t a guarantee that by giving away bonuses, there is a promise a strong circulation or boost to our sagging economy. If annual salary can go beyond $500,000, bonuses can reach into the millions. With our middle class and lower middle class toiling to make payments and keep food on the table, the nation’s economy is struggling just as well. Businesses need consumers, and if the consumers have no job or no money left in their wallets, businesses will tumble. The millions of dollars given away in bonuses could have been added to the billions of dollars in stimulus plans to get money back to taxpayers even if it’s only a hundred or so dollars each. I think now is not the time to be greedy and act vulnerable, big businesses hoping to stay alive need to focus on trying to fine a solution instead of begging for more money.

Political Cartoon #5:

The title of the cartoon for the political cartoon this week is “Lipstick on a Deficit” (it wasn’t specifically written anywhere)—the cartoon speaks for itself. President Bush, President-elect Obama, and Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, are featured standing outside of the White House. There’s a humongous pig covered in filth with the words “$1.2 Trillion Deficit” on its side that’s blocking Obama’s way into the White House. Obama seems shocked to see the giant pig in front of him, and Bush explains apologetically about not having enough money for the lipstick (reference to a famous expression that was used in the 2008 presidential campaigning).

I don’t think Obama is really as shocked to see the enormous deficit that the Bush presidency is so kindly leaving behind for him. He made it clear that the felt that President Bush was a pretty big failure. Besides that, the economic crisis will be the first thing President-elect Barack Obama will have to face as soon as he takes office. The 111th Congress is already looking into his stimulus plan which has a price tag hovering around $800 billion. The stimulus plan includes public works projects (to create jobs), income tax cuts, and business tax cuts (having some resemblance to FDR’s New Deal program). A Gallup poll says that a majority of Americans support Obama: seventy-two percent support income tax cuts, seventy-five percent support business tax cuts, and seventy-eight percent support the infrastructure program. There’s definitely a sense of optimism for the new presidency, and the nation seems to be ready for a new, fresh start.

Political Cartoon #4:

The political cartoon I found this week titled “The Ball Drop, 2009” features the globe falling down along an arrow labeled “economy.” A New Year’s celebrater stands by watching the Earth falling. The cartoon symbolizes how the year 2008 was financially horrible for most Americans, affecting nations worldwide as well. Hopes are up for this year’s economy taking a rebound, and the stock market managed to close above 9,000 points (which it hasn’t in quite some time). However, it is expected to go back down as the markets usually do after some days of growing numbers. This morning, the Dow Jones was down 78 points, ending below 9,000 again to about 8872.00 (according to CNN Money).

There is a lot of optimism for the year 2009, even though this political cartoon doesn’t really show it. The political cartoon seems to have a little more of a “helpless” feeling compared to the optimism that was going around during the New Years. I remember on Fox during the night of New Years, people that were interviewed predicted that the economy would get better by Christmas or December. When ever it will, people all over the world are hoping it will be some time soon.