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Voting Issues for Kids

May 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Reading articles at Kids Speak for America it became apparent to me that Kids Speak for America believe that our nations youth should become involved in politics at an early age. As a young parent I would agree that kids should be involved in politics.

As I look around it seems to me that too many people consider politics to be for adults only, an archaic way to think. Politics has a profound affect on young people before and after they become old enough to vote. Young people need to understand the issues and become involved in them.

During the last presidential election the Obama campaign did a amazing job at getting young people to vote. While I was taken in by his promise of change I found the only change to be for the worse and have been disappointed with my vote ever since. Many other young people have also found themselves disillusioned. While we may be disappointed in the performance of President Obama we should give credit to his campaign for getting young people to vote.

Today when I look at politics I find myself a bit more educated and as I look around I see many issues that should be of concern to teens and young adults. As teens and young adults we are the ones that are going to be paying future bills for today’s new spending programs. Spending though is not the only issue that has an affect on our life and many young people may be able to better relate to some of these other issues.

Should the Age of Consent Be Lowered?
A lot of young people have sex in their teen years. While I am glad that I waited until marriage to have sex many of my friends did not. While I believe you should wait until you are older and in a committed relationship before you have sex, my view is not the issue. The issue is, should the age of consent be lowered?

The age of consent generally refers to the age that a young person is considered legally competent to consent to sexual acts. In the United States the age of consent ranges from 16 to 18 with 30 states setting the age at 16, 8 states at age 17, and 12 states at age 18. There is even greater variety throughout the rest of the world.

Age of consent is an important legal issue as there are serious consequences for the violation of the age of consent, including punishment for child sexual abuse, statutory rape, illegal carnal knowledge, and corruption of a minor.

If an 18 year old has consensual sex with a 17 year old in a state where the age of consent
is 17, the 18 year old can be in serious trouble. The 18 year old may be criminally charged, jailed and even have to register as a sex offender. You may be such an 18 year old or may even be waiting until you are older to have sex. Either way, Age of Consent is an issue that you should care about.

Legal Drinking Age
In the United States the minimum legal age for purchasing and or drinking alcoholic beverages in public places is 21. This legal age is higher than many countries that have drinking ages ranging from 18 to 20. The reasons for having a legal minimum age include promoting safety, preventing abuse, and preventing children from having access to alcoholic beverages. Most states in the United States do allow the consumption of alcoholic beverages in the privacy of their homes under the supervision of their parents.
Are you for or against the lowering of the drinking age? Drinking age is certainly an issue that young people can become involved in.

Voting Age
In the United States the legal minimum voting age is 18. Until the middle of the 20th century the minimum voting age throughout the world was usually 21 years of age. The political issue surrounding the minimum voting age is that until a certain minimum age a young person lacks the necessary knowledge and judgment to independently cast a vote. Do you believe that the legal voting age should be even lower? If you do or don’t this is another issue you could become involved in.

Corporal Punishment
Do your parents or school still spank? If they do you may have threatened them by telling them you were going to turn them into child protective services. They have probably told you to go ahead for spanking is legal. In fact, the use of corporal punishment in the home is legal in all 50 states and 20 states still allow schools to use corporal punishment. There is a difference between a spanking and a beating and states do recognize that.

Proponents of corporal punishment claim that it has the benefit of being quick to administer, effective in deterring inappropriate behavior, and inexpensive. If you are on the receiving end of a spanking I am sure you would disagree! Critics claim that there are better disciplinary alternatives and that spanking lowers the self esteem of the child being punished and that it teaches young people to use physical violence. Obviously corporal punishment should be an issue that young people have an interest in either for or against.

In this article I have offered these political issues for your thought. These may or may not be issues that you have an interest in. These issues do suggest though that each and everyone of us regardless of our age is affected by how politicians and those of voting age. As teens and young adults we need to make our concerns and desires known.

Seth at Kids Speak for America likes to give OoRah and I want to give one back.

OoRah Kids Speak for America

~Denise~

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Young People In Egypt Protesting for Democracy

January 30, 2011 By 3 Comments

I feel so lucky to have been born in the United States where I can say what I believe in and am not punished for doing it. I might be a Conservative Kid and do not like some of the things going on in the United States but am happy I do not live under a Dictator in Egypt or anywhere else. When I watch this video I see so many young people protesting that also want to be free to express their views and experience the freedoms we have in our country. I don’t understand everything that is going on there and maybe you would like to make comments to help me understand.

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Martin Luther King Was a Republican

January 16, 2011 By 6 Comments

We celebrate Martin Luther King Day and few people realize that Martin Luther King, Jr. was a Republican. Martin Luther King was a Republican for many reasons that seem to be forgotten in today’s political arena. As a kid either conservative or liberal is is unlikely that you will get this information from the news media so I have listed here  a number of those reasons that everyone should learn and know. While I am a Conservative kid this information is true though the liberals will often try to convince you that it is not.

  • Since its founding the Republican party has been the party of anti-slavery.
  • The Republican party has championed freedom and civil rights for blacks.
  • It was the Democrats who fought to keep blacks in slavery.
  • It was the Republicans who fought to free blacks from slavery and amended the Constitution to grant blacks freedom (13th Amendment), citizenship (14th Amendment) and the right to vote (15th Amendment).
  • Republicans passed the civil rights laws of the 1860s, including the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and the Reconstruction Act of 1867 that was designed to establish a new government system in the Democrat-controlled South, one that was fair to blacks.
  • The Democrats started the Ku Klux Klan.
  • In 1912 Democrat President Woodrow Wilson kicked all of the blacks out of federal government jobs.
  • It was Republicans who founded the Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
  • Republican Sen. Everett Dirksen from Illinois was key to the passage of civil rights legislation in 1957, 1960, 1964 and 1965.
  • It was Republican Sen. Dirksen wrote the language for the Civil Rights Act of 1968 which prohibited discrimination in housing.
  • In the 1960′s Dr. King fought Democrats who tried to keep blacks from entering schools by turning firehoses and dogs on them.
  • It was a Republican President  Dwight Eisenhower who pushed to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1957.
  • Republican President Eisenhower sent troops to Arkansas to desegregate schools.
  • While Democrat President Truman is credited for issuing an executive order to desegregate the military it was Republican Eisenhower who took action to end segregation in the military.
  • While Democrat President Kennedy is lauded as a proponent to civil rights Kennedy voted against the 1957 Civil Rights Act while he was a senator, as did Democrat Sen. Al Gore Sr.
  • After Kennedy became President he opposed the 1963 March on Washington by Dr. King, a march that was organized by A. Phillip Randolph, a black Republican.
  • Democrat Atty. Gen. Robert Kennedy, had Dr. King wiretapped and investigated by the FBI and wiretapped on suspicion of being a Communist in an attempt to undermine Dr. King.
  • Democrat Sen. Robert Byrd (W.Va.),who was a former member of the Ku Klux Klan, called Dr. King a “trouble-maker” who starts trouble, but runs like a coward. after trouble is ignited. It was only a few weeks later that Dr. King returned to Memphis and was assassinated on April 4, 1968.

During the pasts 35-450 years the Democrats have gained a stronghold on the black vote through making promises they have not kept and telling lies about the Republican party. The mainstream media made up of mostly liberals supports the lies of Democrats  and Liberals and tell lies about Republican and Conservatives and today most black Americans vote for Democrats.

If you want to know the truth about Democrats just take a look at the inner cities that the Democrats and liberals have been running for these past 35-45 years  Poor blacks and poor whites are complaining about the same problems. The Democrats blame the Republicans for the problems in inner-cities while at the same time doing everything they can to incite black Americans and they in turn vote against the Republicans who actually offer poor people of all races the best opportunity for success in the United States of America.

All Americans need to see the truth about the Democrats who promote slavery and promoted the Ku Klux Klan. You need to put your foot down and fight for the truth. You may also want to watch the video.

To learn more about Martin Luther King and other well known black leaders, visit  National Black Republican Association (NBRA)

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Bulls Eyes and Cross Hairs on Arizona

January 10, 2011 By 1 Comment

In the wake of the Arizona shooting some in the liberal and conservative media seem to be throwing gasoline on the flames. You hear Democrats and Republicans blaming each other for the terrible acts of an out of control individuals that had views that were unacceptable to most people in either party.

You hear people blaming the Republicans and Sarah Palin for her Cross Hair Map.

During the 2010 elections, on her Facebook Account Sarah Palin had posted a Cross-hair map of states and candidates to beat in the elections. And the Democrats have been using Bulls-eye maps to target states and candidates to beat in the elections.

You hear people blaming the Democrats  for their Bulls Eye Maps.

The above map targeting Republicans was on the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) website.

This Bulls Eye Map appeared on the Democratic Leadership Committee website (dated 2004 during the Bush years).

You hear people blaming President Obama for his Speech such as those listed by Jim Hoft at Gateway Pundit in his short list of Obama’s “greatest hits”
** Obama: “They Bring a Knife…We Bring a Gun”
** Obama to His Followers: “Get in Their Faces!”
** Obama on ACORN Mobs: “I don’t want to quell anger. I think people are right to be angry! I’m angry!”
** Obama to His Mercenary Army: “Hit Back Twice As Hard”
** Obama on the private sector: “We talk to these folks… so I know whose ass to kick.“
** Obama to voters: Republican victory would mean “hand to hand combat”
** Obama to lib supporters: “It’s time to Fight for it.”
** Obama to Latino supporters: “Punish your enemies.”
** Obama to democrats: “I’m itching for a fight.”

As conservative or liberal kids there is only one map that we should honor and that map is the map of the United States. We cannot fall victim to the hatred being delivered by any politician, newscaster, columnist or blogger. As kids we must be able to recognize that there will always be hatred in one form or another. As kids we must be aware of what is going on around us but we must also understand that this tragic shooting in Arizona was not the fault of Sarah Palin, Barack Obama, the Democrats, Republicans, Conservatives or Liberals. This shooting was a violent act committed by one lunatic shooter a 22 year old whose name I will not even mention for he has already gotten too much press.

May God Bless America and tone down the Rhetoric.

~Submitted by a Friend of Kids Speak for America~

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Should Our Troops Go or Stay

January 3, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The Karzai government asked the United States to keep troops in Afghanistan beyond Obama’s July 2011 timeline. I know that the Democrats and Republicans all have their own ideas why we should be there and why we should not be there.

As an American kid it is my opinion that Afghans request to keep troops in Afghanistan is a good idea for a simple reason. By having troops in Afghanistan we can better keep our eyes on the crappie  terrorist to prevent actions such as them shipping bombs to the United States.  If there is a terrorist attack or threatened attack close to Afghanistan  or some other nearby country we can be quick to eliminate the scum or defend .

During  World War II when we raided the beaches in Normandy almost 1,500 American soldiers lost their life on D-Day and over another 5,000 American solders were wounded. I wouldn’t want to see this type of slaughter ever happen again on a single day like it did then and on  D-Day or 9/11 when terrorist attacked America. I know that Normandy is not the same type of war as it is in Afghanistan but when I think of how easy it is for our troops to be killed when we are not prepared this bothers me.

A disadvantage of keeping troops in Afghanistan could be if an attack happened in the USA or very close we will have a lot less troops near by. Even so, we now have troops stationed overseas in over 150 different countries.

For these reasons I hope  our president will allow a few of our troops to stay in Afghanistan instead of having all of our troops come home.

~Seth W.~

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Are Kids Dumber Today Than in the Past?

December 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment

It is often said that American kids are not as well educated as our kids were in the past. From both sides of the political aisle we are told that the modern educational system is failing us. There is broad disagreement on how to improve the situation. While some say we need to spend more money others say we are spending too much money. Money aside could there be another side to what is happening today?

Indeed there are studies that indicate that American students receive lower average test scores than do students in some other countries. These studies imply that today’s American children are not receiving as good an education as they did in the past. Some say that today’s student is “Dumber” than in the past. Others argue that while many kids do get it, many of them are too distracted by their I=pods, cell phones and whatever else is out there.

While one may find it difficult to argue with these studies there is another side that we need to examine. The reality is that kids today are wiser and more sophisticated than ever before and here are several reasons why.

Not too far in the past, students in kindergarten used to learn counting numbers and the alphabet but did not learn how to apply operations to the numbers or how to read words and sentences. The students learned how to count things and how to write their own name but math operations and reading were not taught until they were in the first grade.

In most schools today our kindergarten students are taught these first grade skills. They are taught how to add numbers together and are provided with games and other tools that teach them how to solve simple math problems. It seems amazing that tiny and adorable kindergartners are developing math skills that students in the past were not taught until a year later.

The same thing is happening with written language skills. Today’s kindergartners are not only taught how to write their own name but also how to write and read simple words. Further, the kindergartners are taught how to put together simple sentences, and as a fun project they learn to draw pictures, write sentences about their pictures, and put them together in a book form to take home to their amazed parents.

One of the tools used by kindergartners to learn simple math and word skills is the computer. The young students make regular trips to the school’s computer lab where they sign on to the computer with their name and a password and then navigate to a fun math program or an equally fun language program. The students are thrilled because the programs are presented in the form of games. The students think they are just playing games but really they are learning sophisticated math and language skills that students in the past did not learn until a later age.

Further, students in past generations learned fundamental math and language skills through rote memorization and recitation. Today’s young students learn the skills through the more sophisticated method of applying critical thinking and problem solving, which makes them much wiser and more sophisticated than students of a similar age in past generations.

Not only is the Elementary School curriculum today pushed to a younger student but the same is happening at the Middle School level and at the High School level. Students in past generations used to graduate from sixth grade to attend Junior High School as seventh, eighth, and ninth graders. In many schools today Middle School now encompasses sixth, seventh, and eighth grades. Where students in the past would step up to the more sophisticated world of High School in the tenth grade. Now students in the ninth grade join the faster paced High School environment and curriculum.

For these reasons I disagree that our educational system is the failure that many would have us believe. I further disagree with placing labels such as “Dumber” on today’s students. Today’s student does go about learning things differently. In many ways they are actually  becoming wiser and more sophisticated at a younger age than did students in past generations. Everyday living requires more wisdom and sophistication today than in the past and the educational system has changed to meet the needs of today’s students. Perhaps a better way to classify students would be the motivated and the lazy!

~Anonymous Teacher~

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Dumb and Dangerous or Just Dumb?

December 29, 2010 By 1 Comment

A man flying from Boston to Jamaica had his bag detonate when a baggage handler doing the “careful handling” of his bags dropped the bag igniting one primer which in turn set off the remainder of the ammo reloading primers in the bag. Whether or not this man gets charged with a criminal charge he should be charged with stupidity.

The moronic flyer now faces the possibility of up to 5 years in prison.  To point out just how moronic this was, packing primers in his bag regardless of how roughly handled would have been totally legal had this idiot declared to Boston security that the primers were in the bag. Another thing if the primers had been properly packed in the correct containers they should not have gone off.

The wrong thinking or non-thinking man is lucky that he did not drop the bag inside the terminal where the popping primers could have caused a panic or injury to many. Or perhaps they could have been set off near a fuel truck that was releasing fuel vapors causing more then just a pop and the baggage handlers soiled underwear.

We don’t need to comment on how our bags are obviously “well handled” since primers ignite on impact. The baggage handler must have been real careful with the bag. The fact that the bag cleared TSA security checks in Boston to have made it to Miami where the bag was dropped and popped says something. This makes me wonder with all the changes and added security checks why did something that is hazardous and was not being hidden make it through security.

This occurrence leaves me with questions about TSA security, baggage handlers, and the intelligence of people in general.

~Submitted by Seth’s Dad~

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Lame Duck Congress

December 18, 2010 By Leave a Comment

I don’t know if it is just kids but I think it is also most adults that have no clue what a Lame Duck Congress is. When I first heard the term all I could think of was a duck walking on a crutch. Will a lame duck is not quite that but it might as well be.

As you know we just went through an election. In even numbered years following the election Congress goes back in session and they are suppose to take care of unfinished business. If they do or don’t that is another matter. Anyway some representatives lost their job in the election and won’t be in congress the next year so they are called lame ducks and the congress is called a lame duck congress.

Some people say that lame duck sessions are bad because the people that got fired by the voters will just go through the motions or just get in the way and it might be hard to pass things that the majority want. As far as I am concerned that can be a good thing since the congress that is now lame has been lame in the head for a long time anyway. Maybe that explains why they have so many sessions late at night or on weekends because these lame headed people cant seem to get it right. Okay, I am getting off the subject but that is my opinion.

In lots of years Congress fails to complete its work on spending. Yeah, this Congress has been real good at spending but these lamo’s are also suppose to pass an appropriations bill to keep the government running. This year like sometimes in the past they will pass a continuing resolution so the government can keep on running. In this type of bill they will fund the government to operate temporarily at the previous year’s level until the federal budget process is completed and that is far too much money already. Even so a continuing resolution might be better than what they could do if they weren’t so lame.

Now kids you probably have some idea what a lame duck congress is and if you don’t start paying attention to the conservative news and less time to cartoons and the network news (the same thing) you will be lame too. Now it is up to the voters how lame our representatives are even in even numbered years. Remember lamo’s that got reelected or just got elected – if you don’t listen to us kids we will be old enough to vote sooner than you think!!!!

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WikiLeaks News or Espionage?

December 4, 2010 By 1 Comment

A few days ago I heard more about WikiLeaks leaking Government classified files. I don’t like the guy that leaked this information to WikiLeaks in fact I think he is a dirtbag. There are some things that the public does not need to know.  I also dislike this WikiLeaks guy Julian Assange for leaking this information that can cause harm to our country and our allies.

There are some things our country needs to do to prevent a war. Giving out military or other Government documents on the internet is not smart because they end up in the hands of spies or terrorist.

If the government wanted us to know this information they would tell us, give a speech or let the news stations know.  Then it would be up to the people getting this top secret information to either keep it secret or share it.

Some of the data that is being leaked by WikiLeaks is very important. With top secret info on the internet a foreign country could find out what our top secret weapons are and start working on something to counter them or attack us in a way that our top secret weapons cannot stop. If another country finds out where a USA spy is they could kill that spy or pump him for top secret information and start a war. Obama should not allow low grade soldiers and so many other people to have top secret information.

Julian Assange and those that are leaking classified information should be charged with espionage or treason and held accountable for leaking it. All of them deserve no less than a well placed bullet in the head.

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Promote Tolerance

November 20, 2010 By 1 Comment

I am perplexed that so many are against a mosque being built near Ground Zero. I think it should be the goal of every American to be tolerant. The mosque should be allowed, in an effort to promote tolerance.

I propose, that two nightclubs be opened next door to the mosque thereby promoting tolerance within the mosque. We could call one of the clubs (which would be gay) “The Turban Cowboy” and the other being a topless bar “You Mecca Me Hot”.

Next door a butcher shop specializing in pork. An open barbecue pork rib restaurant next door, called something like “Iraq o’ Ribs”?

Across the street there could be a very daring lingerie store called Victoria Keeps Nothing Secret with sexy mannequins in the window modeling the goods.

Next door to the lingerie shop, there would be room for an Adult Toy Shop (Koranal Knowledge), its name in flashing neon lights.

On the other side of the adult toy store a liquor store, maybe call it “Morehammered”?

Then the Muslims could be allowed to show their tolerance. Problem solved.

If you agree in promoting tolerance and you think this is a good plan, let us hear from you.

~A tolerant fan of the president~

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