Who Needs Marriage?

In the past few years, it seems most of my friends have gotten married and started families. Meanwhile, I’m still stuck sitting at the kiddie table during holidays and fending off inquiries from my mother about when I am going to give her grandkids. The old saying “always a bridesmaid, never a bride” certainly applies to me. So when this month’s Time magazine came in the mail with a cover story entitled, “Who Needs Marriage?” I sat down right away to read it, and what I found out is pretty interesting:

• A Pew research study recently revealed 39% of Americans say marriage is becoming obsolete.
• In 1960, nearly 70% of American adults were married, now only about half are.
• Eight times as many children are born out of wedlock, compared to fifty years ago

The article analyzed several reasons for these trends from women becoming more educated and independent to children of divorced parents not wanting to marry themselves. It discussed the status and the benefits of being married and why some people don’t choose to go that route, even if they are in committed relationships. As author Belinda Luscombe stated, “When an institution so central to human experience suddenly changes shape in the space of a generation or two, it’s worth trying to figure out why”.

So my question to you this week is two-fold. “Why do you think marriage is becoming obsolete? How do you personally feel about it?” You must answer both questions to earn full credit. Answers are due no later than Sunday, December 5th, 2010.

Thankful for Thanksgiving

Now, I have made it clear in class that Thanksgiving is not my favorite holiday. I don't like the way schools fictionalize a story that sounds good, while ignoring the sad facts about how we really treated Native Americans in this country. That being said, I have learned to treat Thanksgiving as a reminder of all the things I am thankful for.


This year, as always, I am thankful for my faith, my family and my friends. I am blessed to be surrounded by people who love me. I am also thankful that I have two jobs in an economy where people often can't find one. I have been blessed this year in buying my first home and I am thankful that I have the means to do so.

So, in honor of the holiday my question to you this week will be an easy one. "What are you thankful for this holiday season?" Answers are due no later than Sunday, November 28th, 2010.  Have a happy and safe holiday weekend!

Bush: Anyone Miss Him Yet?

President Bush has been making the media rounds lately to promote his new book, "Decision Points".  I happened to catch him on Oprah and was surprised to find myself laughing along at his corny jokes.  He actually seemed likable.  There were times during the interview when I even felt a little sorry for him, like when he discussed his responsibilities after September, 11th.

Now I try very hard to stay neutral in class and keep my political opinions to myself.  If anything, I try to play the devil's advocate to get you to see the other side of things.  However, I will admit that by the time President Bush left office, I was glad to see him go. It had nothing to do with the Republican party, or politics in general, it was just him.  I had just had enough!  Then here is is on Oprah, and I find myself actually seeing his side of things for the first time.

Last week in class I asked you if you though history would judge President Bush better than America does currently.  Most of you thought that history would judge him the same. So my question to you this week is "When you think back on President Bush's years in office, what do you remember him most for?  Name one positive and one negative thing that you think came out of his presidency".  You must answer both questions to earn full credit.  Answers are due no later than Sunday, November 21st, 2010.

Should Newspapers Be Saved?

Recently, we studied how the media affects our political culture and why it is sometimes called the fourth branch of government. The media's influence on politics has always affected how we view our politicians; from the times of the penny press, FDR's fireside chats and the televised Kennedy/Nixon debates. However, it is now possible that some major cities will soon no longer have a newspaper.

In a recent cover story, Times author Walter Issacon notes that although readership is on the rise, fewer consumers are paying. According to a Pew Research study, more people got their news online for free last year, than paid for it by buying newspapers and magazines. The newspapers, which traditionally have counted on sales from subscriptions and newsstands are now only relying on advertising dollars, thus making the content beholden to the advertisers themselves.

Walter Issacon makes a case for charging for the news we access. Whether we pay an online subscription fee for the newspaper of our choice, or we are simply charged a "user fee" for each article we access, Issacon stresses that charging for content might just be the only way to save our newspapers.

You are all creative students, who produce artistic content that I am sure you would like to get paid for, yet at the same time, I am sure many of your access news for free off of the Internet. So my question to you this week is, "Do you think we should be charged for the news we access, and if so, with what kind of fee?". Answers are due Sunday, November 14th, 2010.  P.S.  Thursday is Veteran's Day!  To all those who serve - thank you for your sacrifice!

Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

I was shocked last week when I saw a headline come off of the wire which said, "Indiana parents told to drop disabled kids at shelters". Surely, I couldn't be reading that correctly.  There must be more to the story...right?  Wrong - apparently that is what has been happening around the state, as Indiana's budget crunch has become so severe that many familes haven't received the Medicaid waivers they need to help pay for services that support disabled people living independently.

There have been no confirmed cases of families dumping servely disabled people at homeless shelters, but according to the Lexington Herald-Leader, Indiana's Bureau of Developmental Disabilities Services has told parents that is one option if they can no longer care for children at home.  Some families have been on waiting lists for Medicaid waivers for ten years, while budget cuts have also resulted in the state moving foster children with disabilities to a lower cost program that doesn't provide services for children with special needs.  Hundreds of developmentally disabled adults have also had their grocery benefit eliminated under the budget cuts.

Now, I come from a family of teachers.  I'm used to hearing them complain how education is under-funded and how many times they buy their own school supplies.  I work with people who get public-assistance, so I see first-hand how people no longer have access to basic services such as food, shelter and healthcare.  It's sad to say, but I'm used to living in a world that doesn't care to, or can no longer afford to care for it's own.  That being said, I was outraged when I read this article!  I'm at a loss for words!  I just can not believe it!

I'm sure most of you will feel the same way when you read this post.  So, my question to you this week is, "Where should Indiana get the money to pay for these services?  Should we cut funding from another area, and if so, what"?  Budgets can be hard to read and understand, so you can use this link as a guide to Indiana's budget: http://www.agecon.purdue.edu/crd/localgov/Topics/Essays/State_Budget_Outlook.htm
Answers are due no later than Sunday, November 7th, 2010.  Polls are open from 6:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.  tomorrow, so don't forget to cast your vote before or after class tomorrow!