During President's Obama speech, he spoke of many concerns and problems that must be worked on to improve our country, including issues like the economy, the war in Afghanistan, immigration, women's equality, gun control, the environment, education, among others.
Choose one issue that the President spoke about, explain what he said we should do about it, and share how you feel about his solution.
By Friday, please respond to this prompt, and then respond to two other students' responses.
Choose one issue that the President spoke about, explain what he said we should do about it, and share how you feel about his solution.
By Friday, please respond to this prompt, and then respond to two other students' responses.
Education is a huge issue in our country, and I feel that Obama made a good point when he commented on the distressing lack of early education. His plan for nation wide high quality preschool attendance is a very good one in my opinion, and I believe, as the President does, that if we start every child learning as soon as possible, the gaps will close and the general future of the rest of their education will brighten. Obama also spoke about the other end of education, college. Perhaps because it is so relevant to me, I focused mostly on Obama's comments on higher education. I personally worry a lot about student loans and the debt I may incur while trying to make myself as educated and qualified for a harsh job market as possible. I greatly appreciated the President talking about a "shared responsibility for affordable higher education" and the fact that college needs to become an option for everyone. I hope that real action will result from this speech, and that effective change is seen in what is arguable our most important issue.
ReplyDeleteThat resonated with me too. I want to know more about how he plans to work with colleges to keep costs down.
Delete-Mac Craik
It is crazy how hard affording college and finding a job is today. This issue is one the biggest issues right now. Hopefully there will be a solution in Obama's second term.
DeleteI also agree and I think it is really important to address this issue. I really hope something can be done about it but I am not sure what the plan really is to do something about. I also help that this country can increase preschool attendance and hopefully this can get even more children to stay in school and go to college.
DeleteI'm not so sure college should be available to everyone. Where I have to agree college does make for a better and brighter future due to the higher paying professions that would become available to you, who would then take the minimum wage jobs? No one with a master's degree would have their career be climbing the ranks at McDonald's. There have to be lesser educated people to take the minimum wage jobs or society would crumble.
DeleteI liked that Obama talked about using science and technology to innovate the job market. Obama talked about the plant in Youngstown, Ohio that is coming up with ways to build better products.
ReplyDeleteThe idea of changing the job market appeals to me. I think that America needs to make better products that will be of more value to companies. Some of the product ideas that I liked were the longer lasting battery and more green technology. I think that the government should sponsor smarter companies in the United States.
-Mac Craik
I remember Obama talking about that plant, and how he has plans for more. The forward momentum he talked about, as well as the initiative he wants the country to take are good signs. I agree that the government has a responsibility to help the country start necessary change and facilitate such change for the benefit of all.
DeleteThe science and technology fields are going to be the jobs of the future. I'm glad to see that Obama is promoting various types of jobs and manufacturing in these areas.
Delete-Daniel Cox
I also agree and since I am not sure America can every get back all of its factory jobs I think we should invest in other areas like green and innovation. If we support the right companies in the right way I think this will help grow our economy.
DeleteWhat caught my attention was when he talked about the education issue, and how there are about three in ten 4 year olds who are enrolled in a high quality preschool program. He said that most middle class parents can't afford paying hundreds of dollars a week for a private preschool. Especially the poor kids who need help the most, it would be hard for them to go to school period.So due to this issue, he proposed working with states to make high quality preschool available for every child in America. I think that this is a good idea because parents would want to have their children going to school and succeeding. This kind of idea would be a good opportunity for especially the lower class, because if they're unable to afford their child's schooling, they would need all of the help they can get so that their child can have the same education as middle and high class.
ReplyDelete- Tylor Adams
You and Saraphina both bring up really good points. There is a huge divide with education. Those who get a good education generally had parents and grandparents who did as well. Same goes for those who do not get a good education. Those who can afford a good education for their children will most likely continue success for many generations to come.
DeleteI agree with Tylor because poor children need to be able to have a right to education just as much as the middle class and upper class children.
DeleteObama talked a lot about domestic policy. One topic that resonated with me was the raising of the minimum wage. This highly debated issue seems to divide economists. Obama said that it would be increased from $7.25 an hour to $9.00 an hour by 2015. However, I do not think this change will occur. Republicans will most likely claim that a raise in the minimum wage will stop companies from hiring low-skilled workers. I personally do not agree with raising the minimum wage. Minimum wage jobs are designed for "low-skilled" workers. Raising it will create much more competition for jobs. Though the minimum wage increase would greatly benefit me, I do not think it will be beneficial to the economy. Forcing wealthier Americans to pay higher taxes, in my opinion, is more effective.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Having the wealthy pay a small percentage more in taxes won't really affect them, but it will add up and eventually contribute towards the growth of our economy.
Delete-Daniel Cox
I believe raising the minimum wage would benefit society. Minimum wage keeps people at, or below the poverty level. Even taking two minimum wage paying jobs doesn't allow people to go far past ends meet. Many of these people working at these minimum wage paying jobs also recieve government aid. Possibly, if the minimum wage were increased, they might be able to come off government aid because they would be making enough money to support themselves. This would create a self sufficiency in people and also allow the government to spend their money on other pressing issues.
DeleteThat's interesting. I hadn't thought of the competition factor. Do you think that Republicans will allow Obama to raise taxes though? I think that we need a lot more than higher taxes too.
ReplyDeleteWho wrote this? (don't forget your name!)
DeleteI agreed with Obama when he discussed investing in renewable energy (mostly wind and solar energy, to be specific.) I do believe that we need to catch up to other countries, like China, with cleaner energy. I thought it was interesting, and logical, that he wants to use new found natural gas to fund the research of renewable energy and try to construct cars that don't run on gas. I think that, overall, the environment is one of the most important political issues as the health of our planet affects every one of its citizens. Therefore, I think that it was a good idea to construct a plan for the economy around environmental issues.
ReplyDeletePresident Obama spoke about numerous ways to improve the United States in his State of the Union address. But, then one concern that stood out to me the most was his plan for comprehensive immigration reform. It has been an on going issue, but definitely one that has gained more attention recently.
ReplyDeleteI agreed with Obama's idea of cracking down on illegal immigration while promoting legal immigration. By making the path to United States citizenship a swifter and more efficient process, it would attract more hard working and intellectually gifted individuals which would promote the growth of our job and manufacturing industries.
-Daniel Cox
I agree but also disagree. I agree because for so long our government hasn't been able to put illegal immigrants and legal immigrants into two different cateogories. I believe that after the State of Union speach many more people will support legal immigrantion and not just assume that all immigrants are illegal. But I also believe that illegal immigrants should also have that opportunity even if they did break the law by crossing the border. Many of the illegal immigrants that have crossed over are mainly looking for a better life for their family. Instead of completely opposing the idea of illegal immigrants, Obama should find a way to make them legal.
DeleteOne of the many things Obama addressed when he talked about the economy was minimum wage. He made the point that minimum wage has not keep up with the cost of living and I think this is really important because minimum wage does not allow someone to make above the poverty line. Obama proposed to raise the minimum wage $9 an hour. While I think this is a good idea it could be bad because companies may need to raise their prices if they have to pay their employees more. Mostly I think it a good idea for the American people and would help the minimum wage- Margaret Davis
ReplyDeleteI agree because if companies do raise the cost of their materials if Obama raise s minimum wage, then it does nothing but put everything back where it started. It would be a better idea if only minimum wage increased instead of minimum wage and companies prices.
DeleteI agree with Meg because so many people are struggling with what they make now and it would help out so many people if they made just a little more money for their jobs. $9 an hour seems pretty good but also companies will most likely raise their prices because they will have to pay their employees more.
DeleteWhat really stood out to me during Obama's speach was that he wanted to raise minimum wage. For the elderly that need to work because of their situation, its so important that they get enough money to survive. Just like what Obama said, "...this can be the pay check that doesn't have to pay by the skin of their teeth...". Many people whose salery is minimum wage deserve a chance too. I believe if he's able to raise the minimum wage our poverty rate will decrease, which gives everyone more of an opportunity to achieve.
ReplyDeleteYou bring up a good point Shey. We definately need to think about the elderly that still need to work because of their situation. Not everyone is lucky enough to retire early or even to retire. I think if we raise the minimum wage people will get more of an oppurtunity and more motivation. I also agree that the poverty rate will decrease.
DeletePresident Obama made a huge point towards the beginning of his speech about the deficit and budget cuts. He said that before anything, we should begin by making basic decisions about our budget. He thinks that budget cuts are a bad idea, especially the kinds that have been instated in the past. He made the point that preventing defense cuts by making even bigger cuts to things like education, social security and Medicaire, made no sense at all. I agree with this. In order to combat the deficit, he said that both parties, Republican and Democrat, have worked to lower the deficit by 2.5 trillion dollars. This was done mostly by spending cuts, but also by cutting tax breaks on the top 1% of America. I also agree with this, because the top 1% of America most likely would not even miss the money that was cut. I think we need to create more of a balance between rich and poor, and with Obamas plan for an increasingly abundant middle class, hopefully this can happen.
ReplyDeletePresident Obama addressed the issue of the lack of pre-school education. He said that he plans to work with states to get pre-schools available to everyone. I believe this is important. The whole point in "pre-school" is to get children ready for school. It starts them socializing with others at an early age. This way, they are used to being around others and won't have social problems in school. Also, children who need help learning, with possibly a learning disability such as dislexia, can get help early on and will be prepared for school. What assistance they would require would be discovered early and they would be all taken care of for when they began kindergarten. All in all, pre-school is important and our government needs to see this through.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you in the importance of pre school education. WIth younger siblings in our family, it is important that they too get an education early in life. We have been very lucky with our education and my hope is that our younger siblings and cousins can get the same.
DeletePresident Obama talked about giving poor children a chance at education. I think this is great because now all children from different classes has the ability to get the same education. Poor children will now have the same opportunity as other rich or middle class children. This will also help the rate of children going to college because the poor children sometimes do not go to college because they do not have the money for them to be able to go.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with you Kira because now children all around from all different classes would be able to get an education. Everyone deserves the right to have an education but it's just the people that can't afford to give their children one that can't. We can all have equal opportunities and everyone will get the chance to go to high school. Maybe they could even graduate into college which can lead them to a better life after college to get jobs and be successful.
DeleteI agree with Obama that the government needed to work on cutting the deficit. It is a good thing he has proposed plans that did not cost the government a dime. Laying off more teachers and public jobs will not help the middle class move forward as Obama said. It is good the congress has plans to brings a lot more jobs from over seas, back to America. If the government creates more jobs then the middle class can move forward. Also he plans for more opprotunities for children to receive an education at a younger age is a good idea. We need children to start learning as soon as possible because it will keep the youth better occupied towards education. We need more powerful smart minds in this country and early education would be the first step to acheive that accomplishment.
ReplyDelete-DeQhaun Vance
During Obama's speech, one of the many things that stood out to me was how he wanted to be more strict about comprehensive immigration reform. I like how he wanted to be more strict about illegal immigration and promote legal immigration. By doing this, our government wouldn't be getting as many complaints about how hey don't protect our nation as well as they should be and also our security and boarders would be more safe and efficient. And for the people who are legal immigrants, they are welcomed here but some people believe that all the illegal immigrants that are here are in America to take our jobs and money. I just agree with Obama on what he said about immigration and that we should be more strict about illegal immigration.
ReplyDelete