New York's Trash Can

Aren't they classy?

I tend to flip through channels when avoiding doing my homework, and I often find myself stopping on MTV to watch the disgusting train wreck that is "Jersey Shore." While I have never seen an entire episode, I have seen enough to know that MTV did a good job of finding some of the most outrageous and flat out stupid people that have ever lived on the east coast. I was surprised to find out that only one of the main characters is actually from New Jersey. Some have expressed that this makes the show inaccurate, but I feel otherwise. I think the main basis for the show is that people that spend their time on the Jersey Shore are trashy, not that all people living in New Jersey are. I think that the overall negative impression of New Jersey also plays into the appeal of the show.

I am sure that we have all heard at one time or another that New Jersey is known as New York's trash can. I always love this expression, and I use it frequently to refer to places I am familiar with. I always find it funny when going to Omaha that as soon as you cross the bridge into Council Bluffs everything goes downhill. This is strictly an opinion, and I apologize if you live in Council Bluffs . . . really. One of my friends that grew up in Millard also refers to Council Bluffs as Counciltucky, which always makes me laugh. This just goes to show you that comparisons like New York to New Jersey happen everywhere. Now back to laughing at trashy guidos and praying that there is never a show depicting my home as a steaming pile of crap.

Bipartisanship is Nice, But Unlikely

Last week the election of Massachusetts Republican Scott Brown to the Senate caused uproar among liberals and conservatives. While conservatives boasted of a changing tide in public opinion, liberals began panicking about a possible hemorrhaging of seats when the general election takes place in November. The loss of one Senate seat leaves Democrats one vote short of the filibuster-proof majority they held for the past year.

Democrats have spent much of the last week crying over spilt milk and pointing fingers at who is to blame for the loss of their supermajority. The supermajority that they once held in the Senate was actually never that useful to them. In her nightly news show, Rachel Maddow pointed out that the supermajority was the “Magical Unicorn” of the Democratic Party; it was nice to have, but the Democrats were never really able to keep their own party on the same page enough to take advantage of it. The health care bill that was passed through the Senate scraped by with 60 votes, but not before having to add special concessions to gain the support of Senators like Joe Lieberman and Ben Nelson. These concessions made the Democratic Party look weak, as well as lowering public support for the bill.

Many Democrats feel that the election of Senator Brown is the end to all hopes of passing the heath care bill, as well as any other bill of substance. Thinking this is a recipe for failure in November. Republicans want the American public to turn against the majority party, and they are doing everything they can to make this happen. By caving in to the will of Republicans, the Democrats are proving that they are weak, and decreasing their chances of being the majority party after the November election. Republicans are correct in the fact that many Americans are unhappy with the current leadership in Washington, but that does not mean they want the Democrats to completely stop pushing for the passage of legislation all together.

Many leaders in both houses have stressed the need for bipartisan support of legislation, which would give citizens the change in Washington they have been waiting for. This is entirely unrealistic in the current political climate. Republicans have vowed to vote no on all bills that the Democrats introduce in an attempt to make it look like the majority party is unable to pass meaningful legislation. This leaves Democrats with the choice of playing dead or taking a stand and using methods like reconciliation to pass bills. Reconciliation may not be viewed as a good process by some, but it is much better than the alternative. The process was used extensively by the Bush administration to pass bills that were unable to gain enough support.

Democrats should attempt to work with Republicans on legislation, but if they continue to vote no, other methods must be used to pass bills without their support. America needs strong leadership in Congress, and seeing that Democrats are willing to overcome obstacles to pass legislation is a great first step to show this. The time may come when both parties work together in harmony, but that time is clearly not the present. We are not holding our breath for this to happen, and neither should anyone else.

No . . . "Avatar" targeted conservatives?!?

In the editorial "Avatar" -- torture for conservatives, the point was made that many conservatives were offended by James Cameron's "Avatar" and viewed it as "Anti-American, liberal propaganda." I found this editorial extremely interesting because James Cameron makes no attempt to hide his attempt to criticize the United States' involvement in Iraq and other foreign countries. I think that the editorial made a good point of mentioning that the meaning behind the movie doesn't take away from the fact that it is a visual masterpiece, and that we may just want to appreciate it at face value instead of digging for deeper meaning.

The fact was also mentioned that many science-fiction movies contain social commentary, and that "Avatar" doesn't go as far in critiquing society as many movies of the past. When you really think about it, most movies and television programs we watch tend to slant one way or the other on societal issues. People tend to choose the content that fits their own opinions the most, and rip apart the content that doesn't. The LA Times proves this point by mentioning that many conservatives would rather watch an episode of "24" on Fox, where the torture of terrorist detainees is glorified. This is something that would be considered a conservative worldview, which is in direct contrast with the supposedly liberal worldview of "Avatar."

I share the opinion of the writer of this editorial. Who really cares whether or not "Avatar" has a liberal perspective? Although I walked away from the movie thinking about how similar it was to the United States' involvement in the middle east, I spent much more time thinking about how amazing the graphics were.

The Power of Social Media

I received a link on my Facebook wall this morning to a video that talks about social media, which caused me to think about the influence that social media has on my life as well as the rest of the world.

The influence that social media has over our lives is astounding, especially considering that a few short years ago this media form did not exist. It is almost impossible to communicate with people these days without using some form of social media, because many no longer use conventional ways of communicating such as standard mail or even email. We are truly in a rapidly advancing world of technological change, which can be seen as a good or bad thing. Many members of the older generations see this shift as a bad thing due to the lack of intimacy that it appears to create. While this concern may be valid, it is important to notice how much easier it has become to keep in touch with people all over the world, and how easy it is to spread information.

The 2008 presidential election is evidence of how much power social media can have in the world of politics, and the recent campaigns to raise money for the earthquake victims in Haiti is evidence of the value of social media in humanitarian efforts. The video below looks into the effects that social media has on our lives, and how much the media form has evolved in the past few years.

Happy Obamaversary!

These are some of my favorite editorial cartoons from this week that reference the political situation in Washington. I think that no matter what side of the aisle you are on, these are a few lighthearted ways to look at the outcome of the election in Massachusetts and the future of both parties.


This was my favorite cartoon of the week, because of the way that the people in it were drawn. I laughed for a long time when I saw the way that Nancy Pelosi was drawn. Unfortunately for her, her facial expressions make her an easy target.


This cartoon was a little depressing, but I think the important thing to remember is that one year is a short amount of time to completely turn around a terrible situation. America needs to look to the future with confidence and hope.


How can you not laugh at this one?

Tell It Like It Is, Rachel!

I am a big follower of politics, and I often find myself watching The Rachel Maddow Show to hear about the news of the day. Last night the main focus of the program was the election of Scott Brown to the Senate. I found it fascinating how many Democrats were acting like the sky was falling because of losing one vote in the Senate. I understand that this makes their filibuster-proof majority go away, but there are still many ways to push their agenda.

I think that Rachel Maddow puts this situation into perspective by showing how the Democrats are mourning the loss of their "Unicorn." The fact remains that the Democrats still hold 59 votes, which is still a huge majority. Rachel makes a great point about the Democrats needing to either quit and let the minority run things, or fight to pass their agenda. I think that the main point is that if the Democrats want to lose even more seats in November they should keep acting the way they have been. If they want to restore the confidence of their constituents they need to move forward and stop focusing on the loss of one seat.

This clip from The Rachel Maddow Show talks about the "Magical Unicorn," and how the Democrats need to move forward. I think Rachel puts an interesting and humorous spin on politics, which makes it easier for simple minded people like me to understand.

Avoiding Charity Fraud

The article “The people who steal hope” by Bob Greene addresses the attempted fraud that happens whenever a major disaster occurs around the world. The article points out that “when a natural disaster hits, it reveals both the most noble side of human nature and the most venal.”

When an event like the earthquake in Haiti occurs we are all forced to think about what we should do as members of a more fortunate nation to help others. I know that personally there are times when I would like to help others, but I am unsure of how to do so. When potential scam artists set up fraudulent organizations they are discouraging people from giving money. If someone gives money to one of these scam operations they are not only encouraging a criminal, but they are also decreasing their chances of ever giving to charitable organizations again. It is a natural reaction to feel suspicious of charitable organizations, especially if you have been scammed in the past.

I don’t blame people for wondering what an organization is going to do with the money they are given, but it is still important to help out any way we can when disasters like the Haitian earthquake strike. As long as people use common sense and check into the organization they are thinking of supporting there should be no major problems. If the organization sounds suspicious it most likely is, and people should find a more reputable source for spreading their goodwill.

Hello World

This is my first blog post! Pretty exciting, I know. I am really looking forward to exploring the world of blogging this semester!