In order to help increase voter participation one of two things should happen: 1. Election Day shouldn't just be a day. The election period should stretch over maybe two days. In order to prevent people from voting multiple times the voter must give their driver's licence/state ID number at the voting booth. It could be entered electronically.
I have always thought that Guantanamo Bay should be closed. The idea of holding prisoners indefinently and without adequate access to lawyers doesn't seem "American" to me at all. Bush and his people redefined torture as being an act which causes severe pain, organ failure or death. How does one know they're reached that point until after they've reached it?
School officials in Portland, Maine have just voted in favor of allowing perscription birth control methods to be available at the health center in King Middle School. Condoms had been available for the last serveral years at the school. The vote means that 7th and 8th graders can get birth control pills or patch as long as two things happen.
Everyone should boycott fast food establishments for a week to send a message we want healthier food. What do you think would happen?
There should be a Planned Parenthood or related organization in every community. Every person should have easy and cheap access to sexual care and information. In some states women have to travel quit a distance just to reach a clinic. This isn't just about abortion. People need to be able to easily access birth control and other family planning resources. Especially the poor.
No Child Left Behind is just a catch phrase. I don't see what the point is. Teachers teach to the exams only and don't help kids develop critical thinking. My neighboor is 9 and even though he received straight F's last year he was promoted to the next grade. I explained his homework to him the other day and I have to be honest. I was frustrated.
Sex education should start in 4th grade. A kid is going to be 10. Unfortunately by this age some kids are already going to be exploring sex in some form. There are kids at this age that get pregnant, so it's not unheard. Sex education should be repeated every year until the child graduates. Condemns should be available in the school starting in 9th grade.
