"Electronic Voting"

A Major Improvement

These computerized voting systems are easy to use. Among their several advantages, DREs, make it impossible for a voter to make more than one choice in a given race. Unlike other voting systems, DREs can be made fully accessible to disable persons, including those who are visually impaired. Those DREs that do not have a paper trail capacity can either be modified to do so or replaced. E-voting virtually eliminates that problem.

Beware of Electronic Voting

Many reputable computer scientists see a number of serious flaws in the DREs currently available. Several of them are most concerned about source code, the language of the software. Many also worry about the transmission of voter totals to central locations. Those results are not usually sent via the Internet. They may be transmitted by a direct modem connection, however, and intercepted by a hacker.

Exploring the Issues

1. Several of them are most concerned about source code, the language of the software. It is altogether possible, they say, that those who program a system, or hackers who gain access to it, can mainpulate the outcome of an election.

"Health Care Reform"

A Free-Market Solution

The root of our health care crisis is runaway spending. Any attempt by government to extend health insurance in its current form to those without coverage will only make matters worse. High spending makes insurances more expensive, so fewer workers can afford it. People could make deposits into tax-free Medical Savings Accounts(MSAs) to pay for expenses. Affordable insurances would still cover costs of catastrophic illness.

Let Government Provide

Government should act immediately to meet the nation's health care crisis. High-quality health care should be a right, not a privilege. All Americans should have access to government-funded health care. Medicare should be extended to cover every American. Our current system links health care to jobs.

Exploring the Issues

1. The Federal Government is the only institution big enough to provide inexpensive, effective health care to all citizens, working or unemployed.
2. Employers, who currently must pay rising insurance costs for their workes, could make deposits to employees' MSA accounts instead.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/16/senate-begins-tackling-health-bill/?scp=9&sq=health%20care&st=cse

"Obama 1 Year Later"

The public's view of Obama is critical to his clout. It affects his ability to persuade reluctant moderates to sign on to revamping the health care system and to persuade liberals unhappy with some of its compromises to stay on board. It will help determine how much public support he can command for his decision on whether to deploy more U.S. troops to Afghanistan.

A year ago, the public was nearly desolate: In a USA TODAY Poll the weekend after the election, just 13% were satisfied with the country's direction. That was in the middle of a three-month period of the most downbeat views in the 30 years Gallup has asked the question.Now 26% are satisfied — not exactly a gleeful mood, but less glum. Six in 10 predict the country will be better off in three years, the end of Obama's term.

The political landscape has shifted, too. A year ago, nearly two-thirds of those surveyed said the economy should be Obama's top priority. Now that's declined to four in 10 — still the dominant issue, but by a less overwhelming margin. Attention to health care, the deficit and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan has grown.Confidence in Obama's ability to deliver on his campaign promises has eroded, especially on domestic issues. A majority of those surveyed now say his administration won't be able to control federal spending or improve the health care system.

Let Minor Party Candidates Debate
The Commission on Presidential Debates is staffed and run by Republicans and Democrats. Minor parties have promoted ideas that have radically changed Americana life.

Serious Contenders Only
Democrats and Republican have maintained a stable government and presided over orderly transfers of power. Only the two parties have the popular support, the track record, and the alliances to get their message out, election after election.

Exploring the Issues
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The 2nd Amendment

Control Guns in America

The first part of the amendment states that a well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state. The Framers of the Constitution clearly intended to guarantee each State the right to maintain armed militia.

Respect the Right to Bear Arms

The 2nd Amendment says that any one have the right to own a gun. The Amendment is meant to protect individuals from being disarmed today as the colonists were in the 1770s.

Exploring the Issues

1.The English Bill of Rights (1689) allowed Protestants to own arms for their own defense. Moreover, several early colonial laws went so far as to require civilians to own guns.

2.Public Safety is a sound reason for limiting constitutional rights, because for public safety gun ownership may be limited according to the wishes of the people by their elected representatives.

Hey, my name is Simone Smith. I attend East High School. I'm in the 12th Grade.