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10/11/2004: "If im pro-kerry, so be it."

So I was asked to make a list of what I think should be reformed in the higher education system in america, so here that is. I know its nearly impossible, but still I can dream! And I am working on a research paper, I havent completly decided on a topic yet, but its either going to be something to do with teenage sex (sex ed? why to wait for marriage?), or divorce. Abortion and Stem Cell research are good topics, but I would probably argue more on moral issues, than statistical figures. It has to be an persuasive opinion paper, should be intresting.

So, what I want in america's higher education system?
1. Everyone should have the right and the means to go to whatever school is best suited for them. If someone is poor, but is smart and wants to go to harvard, give them the money. Now if someone is a C- student and wants to go to harvard and is lower class, dont. Base it on intelligence.
2. For the universities to actually look at a student. Applications, forms, written essays. I know with the volume of people who want to get into a college, its alot of work. Hire more people, create jobs, put more money in the education system. My future is determined by a few peices of paper, no interview, no personal essay (except the one on resistant germs, I didnt choose the topic), and the people will never meet me. They will look at a peice of paper, some figures about my test scores, possibly my high school grades, and 'activities' (as if there arnt a ton of people who join FCA and dont actually attend). They dont know who *I* am, yet they make these choices.

I am not saying that they need to know that my hair caught on fire when I was six, but they should know WHY I want to go to college. What I want out of it. Why I think their school is good for me. What made me the way I am? Why did I get that D in Algebra, when everwhere else I have A's and B's? No, I wasnt a dummy for a semester, I was in another state for two months waiting for my grandmother to live, but she ended up dying. They dont know that, they just see a 76.
3. Enough of this instate-outofstate stuff. Im sick of it. If the school I want to go to and is best suited for me is in Texas, I should be able to go to that school without playing 3 times the tuition cost. Its not fair. I lived in a *very* poor academic state before I moved to South Carolina. My only plausable option then was to go out of state, or pay 29000 in tuition to a private school. Luckly, im not in that situation anymore, but there are still people who are. So why hike up the tuition 3 or 4 times? If the schools in a state are bad enough people want to leave, you need to invest more to make those schools better.

A 4,000 dollar tax break would be a big help, trust me. 4000 dollars is alot per year, it seperates a dream from an average education. 4000 dollars is seperating me from somewhere I think is the best option for me, and somewhere where I still have good options, but isnt the best. Comeon, someone please help us pay for our education, so we dont have to spend thousands of dollars and years after college to pay for our education.

Im sure I had others when I first talked about it, I just cant remember them right now. But thats basically what I want.

In other news, I have been thinking about my morals. (Yes, I know, can be a bad thing to ponder) I have very strong ones, but sometimes I wonder just where they came from. One example is peoples choice not to have sex before marriage. 2 years ago, I would of told you I wouldnt have sex before marriage because its a sin, fornication. Now if you ask me that, religion plays little part in my decision (though it still does). I dont want to have to raise a child and have them ask 'wheres daddy.' Simple enough, right? If I knew the person would stick around, thats another story.

It just makes me wonder other things, like divorce. Do I base my dislike of divorce solely on the bible? Or is that just the excuse I give it? I dont know. Maybe I dont want broken up families. Abortion, why do I not like abortion at all? I DO believe conception is the point that live starts, and I base that on my own belief that if the chain reaction (so to speak) for life is started, you shouldnt end it. Egg and sperm may be able to create life, but themselves alone cant create it. But once its created, you shouldnt stop it, for any reason. But thats just my belief.

I dont force my morals on other people either. I cant stand people who do that. If someone has sex before they are married, I am not going to hate them for it. That was their choice, they take the consequences and its not like they did it alone. If someone has a divorce, Im not going to lecture them on how in the bible is specifically states that you shouldnt. And if someone came to me before they had an abortion, and asked what they should do, I would tell them about other options. Adoption, letting your parents take the child, but not abortion. But if they decided they wanted one. I wouldnt hate them for it, but I would be deeply saddened. Now if they make the same mistake twice, by getting pregnant and getting another abortion, then thats grounds for me to honestly dislike them on moral grounds.

Im a confusing person, arnt I? Brings me to another topics, this is what you get when I have no one online to talk to! Sex education. Abstinence only education may work in some cases, and some communities. But what about the 15 year olds who are already sexually active? Thats just an hour for them to daydream, no use what so ever to them, besides making them feel like used goods and worthless to their future husband or wife. Teach them how to protect themselves, dont just lecture. Inform them. "Second born virgins" are a good idea, no doubt, but nonetheless, people wont forget experiences. Teenagers ARE going to screw around, no matter who teaches what, its a fact of life. At least teach them to be careful, so that they can avoid things like abortions and diseases they will carry for the rest of their lives.

Dang it im starting to sound like kerry, someone shoot me. Well, actually, please dont. I want to see the end of the elections, darn you Logan. *makes face* And on the topic of the elections...I dont like stem cell research, its abortion to me. It may be for a good cause, they may be just using embryos that are already going to be destroyed, but they are doing it with government money, I dont like that. End of story.

Outsourcing jobs? Please dont...Guess what. I had a tech support guy on the phone twice last week. He is from freaking India. I cant pronounce his name, and I can hardly understand him. Twice! No more outsourcing jobs, I know my fathers wont be, or my mothers, but there are other people in the world who are.

Health care is so important too, yes this is becoming a political blog, so if you dont like it, stop here. I have good health care now, but thats because my father is willing to give up his life for his country. The day I turn 22, I lose that. And along with that, I get to pay for all my medical bills, my medicine, and all that. I was born with a lifelong condition, that will require medicines for a long time to come...and they dont come cheap. When im 22, I want to be focused on getting my job, paying off my student loans (looks to be no way out of it), and starting my life...not paying 250 a month in prescriptions, possibly more. Not to mention the monthly doctor bills. Im willing to go to modern day 'Columbia' (canada) to get my medicines. So, we need a better health system. And the person who can get everyone to pay less, gets my support. (even if I dont vote)

Ok ok, one more thing. Cars and gasoline. Get rid of the Gas, find new energy sources. I know its easier to say than do, but someone, do it. 1.84 for a gallon of gas is bad enough. Much less the pollution is causes, or *coughwarsitcausescough*. I would really like a hybrid car. They seem very efficent.

Anyway, if these political things make me a liberal and a kerry supporter, so be it.

Btw: Gay marriages should be allowed, and they have the same rights are hetrosexual couples. Just not be allowed to be married in a church. Civil marriages are fine. Oh yeah, and abortion shouldnt be *illegal*, but not a first option. So now im definitally a liberal, wunderbar.