Region

Fleischman oversimplifies

Wednesday, Nov. 5,2008 10:50 p.m.

I am the “Joe the Magician” who was referenced in Danielle Fleischman’s article, “Joe is Everybody.” Leaving the election and all politics aside, I wanted to point out that I am not “straight out of a children’s show,” nor was I “reduced to my employment” by that video project, in which I voluntarily participated along with hundreds of other people. The reason that “Joe the Plumber” became part of the vocabulary of this election is because of the reality and simplicity of the terminology, the ability for people to identify with real life jobs, and the fact that the use of professions highlighted the small business nature of the issues being discussed.

Early voting not the way

Wednesday, Nov. 5,2008 10:47 p.m.

While many of you were excited to vote on Election Day, more than 23,000 registered voters had already cast their vote in Monroe County before last weekend. Early voting has many benefits that make its implementation in this election understandable. Most importantly, early voting helps reduce crowding at the polls on Election Day. However, when it comes to making our elections run smoother, the U.S. government should simply expand operations on Election Day rather than continuing early voting. We have plenty of alternatives to deal with current problems. One way to do this is to make Election Day a national holiday.This would make the process less time consuming. As a national holiday, Election Day would allow many more workers to get out and vote. Also, because Election Day is on a Tuesday, people probably won’t be able to make it into a three-day weekend. Voting will be the most exciting thing to do on a cold Tuesday in November.The government should also make an effort to expand voting sites.More voting sites would make individual sites less crowded and also make voting less costly. With high fuel prices, simply getting to voting sites takes a hefty chunk out of the pocketbook. By having more voting sites spread out throughout each county, voting will be less costly and even closer. Voting would become a social experience, where the voter could interact with his or her community.Early voting rushes the voter’s decision.

Mao would be proud

By Jacob Levin · Wednesday, Nov. 5,2008 10:45 p.m.

BEIJING – There are many products for sale in China, but most of them can be summed up by this: It’s almost as good and a whole lot cheaper. In fact, for a pittance, a person can adorn themselves with near-perfect copies of any status symbol they can imagine. And for that reason, some status symbols in China don’t mean much any more. There are six-story malls, districts even, dedicated to providing wide-eyed tourists the chance to gorge themselves on everything from Ralph Lauren to Yves Saint Laurent. And it isn’t just clothes that you can buy forgeries of; even some cars can be faked. But here’s the problem: If it isn’t expensive, it isn’t elite. If it isn’t elite, it isn’t cool. And if it isn’t cool, it’s not worth buying.

Capitalist confusion

By DJ Funkhouser · Wednesday, Nov. 5,2008 10:44 p.m.

During the past year, we have all followed two candidates as they vied for that coveted desk. They’ve gone back and forth at each other countless times trying to out-do the other in an effort to show America who’s more Christian, more apple pie, more middle-class, even who’s more humble. Recently, as a result of the financial crisis, each has been trying to prove he’s more free market. I’ll leave aside the obvious implication here that free market capitalism is righteous as it obviously presupposes its legitimacy – because I’m mainly in agreement – and address instead the nature of each platform with respect to where America wants to go. They both say they are free market capitalists, John McCain even going as far as to dub himself “the biggest free marketer and free trader that you will ever see.”

Obama inspires, shows promise

By Bryan Payton · Wednesday, Nov. 5,2008 10:42 p.m.

My president is black. It’s 3:02 a.m. on Wednesday, and as I ponder those words, I am still somewhat speechless and attempting to wrap my head around the history made. I can’t tell you how much it means to me to see Barack Obama become the 44th president of the United States. I can remember having a conversation with my mother years ago, while in high school, about whether or not we’d ever live to see America elect a black president. I figured my parents would never see such a thing and I’d maybe see it when I was old and gray. Well, here I am at the age of 23 voting for and witnessing what I feared would never happen.

The clock is ticking on ‘24’

By Cory Barker · Wednesday, Nov. 5,2008 10:41 p.m.

Hey, remember “24”? You know, the FOX show starring Keifer Sutherland that garnered both critical acclaim – including the 2006 Emmy for Best Drama Series – and a major cult-like following during its first five years on the air? Even though it’s known for its real-time influenced plot, highly unbelievable leaps in logic and sometimes ridiculous story arcs – the cougar from season two comes to mind – “24” still remained relevant.

The case for political correctness

By Indira Dammu · Wednesday, Nov. 5,2008 10:40 p.m.

On college campuses, including ours, few words receive the condemnation and vitriol reserved for that dreaded phrase “political correctness.” The supposed evils of the P.C. movement are well- documented. We’re now subjected to classes about “multicultural studies” or “white privilege.” Students are generally not permitted to use stereotypical terms. Such accommodations are often seen as evidence of the radical left agenda, one that purports to squelching free speech on campus. After all, if I want to call someone a name, I should have every right to do so. Unfortunately for such free-thinkers, there is a perceptible difference between having the right to do something and actually exercising that right. Sure, we could all say generally offensive things about various groups, but whatever happened to promoting respect and tolerance for others?