| In my social studies class, we are following the | | | | for Obama because he said he was GOING to push |
| upcoming presidential elections here in Costa Rica. | | | | healthcare reform, increase education funds, seek |
| Most of the students already have a candidate of | | | | environmental solutions, and seek peaceful strategies |
| choice, because of their parent's favorite choice and | | | | with nations, not in spite of his views or because he |
| because of the candidate's personality. However, it | | | | has a glowing personality. |
| seems that many of them did not actually know the | | | | The state of democracy is dependent on an |
| views and ideals that those candidates stood for. | | | | educated public, a public that stands by their ideals |
| This week, I am having them do an assignment | | | | and certain beliefs, not a public who is whimsical and |
| where they actually are researching the views of the | | | | childish in their voting patterns. If you are a liberal, |
| different candidates, then they need to write me a | | | | you need to vote for the liberal candidate. If you are |
| one page paper on why they have chosen their | | | | a conservative, vote for the conservative candidate- |
| candidate based on the issues and policies. Maybe, | | | | not the candidate in which you "like" the personality. |
| this is a general activity the American public could use. | | | | While it is true there always has been a segment of |
| Seeing the results come in this week was frustrating | | | | the public that favors personality over policy, it |
| for me. Not as much because a Republican won in | | | | seems to become a great problem recently. It is also |
| the liberal state of Massachusetts, but for the | | | | true that there is a general angst and suspicion over |
| reasons that he won and what it represents. I will be | | | | the party in charge, so many will vote against their |
| the first to admit that the Democratic candidate, | | | | beliefs to go against the party in power, which they |
| Coakley, was far from a good candidate. Her lack of | | | | soon see backfires very rapidly. |
| enthusiasm, her unwillingness to get out and do the | | | | On a more melancholy note, this election holds a very |
| hard work, and her unthinkable putting down of the | | | | sad irony. Ted Kennedy, who represented the people |
| local Baseball team were very unwise. Her calling the | | | | of Massachusetts for almost 50 years and one of |
| beloved Red Sox Player, Shilling, a Yankee's fan | | | | the most championed leaders of healthcare reform, |
| probably didn't help much either. But the fact is...we | | | | was the one who had to die in order to make the |
| shouldn't elect people because we do or don't like | | | | healthcare reform bill seem to come to a halt. |
| their personality, their style, their looks, etc. We | | | | Though I hope something passes, it is going to |
| should vote because of the values and ideas that | | | | become much more difficult (one reason being the |
| individual represents. I am not denying this happens | | | | abuse of the filibuster, but that is a whole other |
| on both the right and left...Obviously Obama's | | | | topic). The state of Massachusetts should be |
| personality and appeal were much greater than | | | | saddened that the let their general dislike of an |
| McCain in 2008, but if people voted for him only for | | | | individual and overall angst put in jeopardy the very |
| that reason than they were foolish and now, I am | | | | ideals that Kennedy fought for and in which the |
| sure they are angry with his policy choices. I voted | | | | majority of them have claimed to believe. |