GEOFF P. — Republican
I was born June 11, 1984 just outside Rochester, New York. I am
currently proud to be a senior at West Chicago, where I am involved
in a plethora of activities, including but not limited to Scholastic
Bowl, Math Team, Band (I play the clarinets), Tennis, Lifesmarts,
and FBLA, as well as Spanish and National Honors Societies. I
am taking Spanish as a language, so if you want to talk to me
in that, go right ahead. I enjoy the practice. I am currently
employed as a Pharmacy Technician at Target in Wheaton, and attend
Holy Cross Lutheran church in Wheaton. I plan to attend a four
year university, and go on to pursue graduate studies. I am still
rather hazy on the specifics of where I'd like to go or what I
will study, though.
I strongly believe in fairness, and in liberty and justice for all. I support the values and ideals that this great nation was originally based on. I believe that the natural state of being is generally good, and without intervention the power of the people, the will of the majority, will determine what happens. In the market, for example, this means that under Laissez-faire I believe the economy will achieve its greatest potential. The government should not play nearly as large of a role as it does. I believe in the American dream, and that the actions of an individual will determine his or her destiny. People should be free to do as they wish, and should stand responsible for the results of their actions, be they extreme profit or the death sentence. My beliefs align more closely with the right side of the political spectrum, and so I am proud to declare myself a Republican.
Governmental Powers. Last year in American History, I played
the role of Patrick Henry in the Constitutional Convention. I
agree with his platform of increased rights for states. I believe
that a state can better govern its citizens than a larger federal
government, but, taking it further, I believe that each individual
citizen is best able to govern their own lives, better than any
government would be able to. I am not proposing anarchy, but I
do believe the government should play a smaller role. Obviously,
only a federal government should have the power of creating and
using an army, for example, but in many other places, such as
the marketplace, citizens can decide quite well for themselves
how things should be. Affirmative Action. This is one social program
that I have real problems with. Even now, searching for colleges
and scholarships, I often come across programs and scholarship
opportunities that list as one of their requirements that you
must belong to a certain race. I believe that this is counterproductive
to the professed goal of equality for all. The best way to acheive
equality would be to consider people of all races in the same
light, not in a government enforced different way. Even if some
companies only hire less-qualified white people, those companies
will suffer from lower-class employees. The bottom line is that
this program is creating differences between races, and implements
an atmosphere where the color of one's skin is once again an element
to be considered. Taxes. I am strongly opposed to a progressive
tax. First off, I am against the basic principle, which is that
we will make those who have more money pay more because they can.
Charity is and should be optional. Further, I believe that this
tax punishes hard work and innovation, and is one of the greatest
injustices of our society. As it is, those who make more money
are paying more with a flat tax, but at least that is proportionate.
To do anything more than that is wrong. Capital Punishment. I
believe that capital punishment should be maintained in our country.
Obviously it is not the correct consequence for all crimes, but
it should be an available option for the judicial system. ...
International Business. I believe in free international trade.
Tariffs, quotas, and other protectionist tactics are unnecessary
and counter-productive. Once again, Laissez-faire and competition
for supply and demand will naturally produce the most favorable
economic conditions. Social Security. In my mind, the purpose
of Social Security is for the government to save money for those
who otherwise would not wisely invest and would be impoverished
in their old age. Ideally, I think there should be an option of
sorts in the program, where citizen who could prove that they
were safely investing enough of their funds would be exempt from
the social security. Obviously, they would not then recieve social
security benefits later in life, but they would not need them.
This allows people to use their money as they see fit, and doesn't
require them to give money to the government to hold for them.
ARIANNA C. — Moderate Republican
Hey wuzz up! My name is Arianna and I grew up in West Chicago. My favorite sport is Soccer ever since I was a little girl I played soccer. Soccer is all I do now and I love it and can't live with out it. I played for the high school for the past 3 years and I am looking forward to it this year. I used to be involved in tennis my sophomore and junior but I wasn't much fond of it. My favorite kind of animal is dogs and once I get a house I would want to own a rotwiler. I have no idea what I want to do after high school so I am going to C.O.D. but don't have any majors picked out yet. For the next 2 years I am just going to wing it, cuz I am cool like that. All I am interested in right now is getting good grades and keeping up with the "boyz" and the sports of course. I would also like to follow dreams of my own and accomplish my goals. Peace out! 1
I am a ModerateRepublican and have a couple point of views that fall on the left side as well. I believe that Americans should have lower taxes, and that the state should have the right to govern themselves. As a women I feel that we should have the right to make certain decisions about our body, I believe in pro-choice and believe in Capital punishment and there should be little to deal with the government in states. There are many things that I do believe in but these are my main issues.
In order to move on with life, you need to have a certain kind of freedom to enjoy life like entertainment. I believe that taxes should be lowered and involve the Flat tax. All taxes should be fair this is basically about having equal rights. I think that its fair that all people should give out the same amount of taxes. It is not fair to punish those people who tend to work hard and make a living. Many people have worked hard to get where they are like going to school and getting their education. I understand that some people have trouble; they might not have come from a wealthy family or have might have money problems. I think it is up to the individual to make an effort to go accomplish their goals or go further in life. If they want to have more money then they should do something about it and to stop complaining about wealthy people, and how it is not fair that they are giving little tax while poor people are having trouble coming up the money. Now there are government programs that do help those in need like Welfare.
Being a moderate republican I do believe that this program is a great idea but their should be stricter restrictions because there are people who do take advantage of that and are just being plain lazy. I very much believe in having individual rights. Women should have the right to choose how they want to live and the consequences they have to deal with. I am very much against abortion. I wouldn't do it if my soul counted on it but I do believe that other women shouldn't be limited to their choices. I believe that people should have the freedom to do what they want like freedom of speech or owning a gun but at the same time having it stricter law about owning a gun. People that want to get a gun should go to basic training or school and then wait a period of time to get the license and the permit. I also believe that there should be a small part in the government. It should be up to the state and local government to make certain choices like the drinking age or if there should be a pro-abortion state or not. Then the state or local government should talk to the main man just to see what they believe in and what other choices they can offer. What I do believe in is that the government should do what is right for the people. What I mean by that, is that the government should protect our nation, like the terrible situation of what happened on the 11 of September. Our president is claiming an Anti-terrorism act and is getting rid of those in Afghanistan and other tourism states. I am defiantly for Capital Punishment and in my opinion there should be stricter laws for severe criminals with the very bad records. I believe that justice is done when criminals pay their dues of the crime that they have committed. Even though this is selfish act, people that have lost their loved ones for the criminal's selfish act it would never be the same. The death penalty should be stricter and more reliable. These are the few things that I do believe in and there are more things that I would like to talk about but we wont have enough time.
My name is Kevin F., and I grew up in West Chicago. I went go to West Chicago Community High School. I played football, basketball, and baseball my first three years of high school. My senior year I'm playing football, and going to tryout for baseball. My hobbies are working on the computer, and high-powered rocketry. My college plans are to go to a four-year college and to major in a field that has to do with computers.
I am a Republican. I believe that the tax system should be a flat tax system. This is how it should be because then you will not be punishing people for making a lot of money. In progressive tax system, you are punishing the people who make more money by making them pay even more then everybody else. I also believe that laissez-faire, the government shouldn't be putting in so much money and trying to make the economy go as we want it to go. we should leave it alone and let the economy help itself out. Another big issue I'm against is affirmative action. It is just reverse discrimination against the ones it doesn't apply to.
I'm to the right of the spectrum. This is because I believe
that they should abolish abortion. You should not kill an innocent
baby, if he/she is fully born or still developing in the mother.
He/she is a living person, and does not deserve to die. Also,
I am against gun control. People kill people, even if you make
guns illegal people will still be able to get them. No matter
what you do to try to get rid of them, they will still be available.
Hi, my name is Jill and I'm 17 years old. I live in Winfield, and I grew up there. I went to Winfield Elementary School and Winfield Middle School, and now I go to West Chicago. I have one older brother who is 20 and a junior in college. I am a competitive figure skater and I have been for over nine years. I'm not sure where I want to go to college yet, but I would like to major in Pre-medicine and become a Pediatrician.
As of today, I am officially declared a Republican. There is no word to describe what kind of Republican I am because I am not strict and I am not moderate. I'm not strict because I do understand the views of the Democrats, but I am not moderate because I feel strongly enough about my views to be the Republican Caucus leader. I believe strongly in abolishing abortion except in cases of rape, incest, and when the mother's life is in danger, which seems to be a popular Republican opinion. I also believe that the government of the United States should only get involved when the interests of the United States are threatened.
I'm very interested in the abolition of abortion. I think it
is wrong to kill a healthy innocent baby as a form of birth control.
However, I believe that in cases of rape, incest, and when the
mother's life is in danger, the woman should have a choice as
to what she wants to do. I also think that a flat tax should be
used. It is not fair to punish those who earn more than others.
Even in a flat tax, the richer pay more, but the percentage is
the same, so nobody is getting an unfair deal. Lastly, I think
that the government of the United States should only get involved
in outside cases when they are extreme or when the interests of
the United States are threatened. Because we are such a strong
nation, I don't think we should completely ignore other countries'
problems. We should help moderately. However, the government needs
to worry about what its own country is doing as well.
I grew up in St. Charles, IL and am seventeen years old. I currently attend West Chicago High School and I am in my senior year. I have a sister who is a freshman and my brother is seven and is in first grade. I enjoy playing football, going to the movies, jogging, playing Rummy 500, and many other things. I have been looking at many different colleges including; Millikin University, Illinois State University, NorthCentral College. I do not have a definite major as of now, but I am possibly looking in the field of Human Resources.
I am a moderate republican and I am one of the many supporters of the death penalty. I feel that if one person takes the life of another person, then they deserve to have their life taken away in all fairness. I also feel that abortion is wrong, however, I feel that it is up to the mother and her doctor in making the decision of whether the child lives or dies. It is a harsh reality, but it is also a realistic reality. I feel that the distribution of wealth should be up to society. I do not believe that the upper class should give their money to the lower classes to even out wealth in our society. I feel that the amount of effort and individual wants to put into their work will be rewarded by the amount of money they make. Our market economy is one of the best markets out there. I feel that people should be allowed to sell and buy legitimate products to further better their lives. If we don't realize that the government cannot solve everyone's problems, then the world is going to collapse, as we know it. I feel that the profits earned should be kept to the people that earn them. I feel that welfare is a drain on the economy and that people need to get off their lazy behinds and find jobs. Everyone can make the argument that people who don't have the opportunities can't find decent jobs...that's not true. If a teenager can find a part time job, then there is no reason why a person who is on welfare can't find a job. I just think that it is up to the individuals in society to make a living and get what they want out of life. The government should only intervene with society when it is necessary. II. Such views as homosexual rights, elections, individualistic rights, gun control, and other issues only need to be controlled by the government due to the hostility that would be involved when society tries to figure out solutions to these problems. Political rights should be given to those who are able to vote. People who are either 18 or past that age is able to discuss and vote on any topic they feel that is important enough to discuss. Everyone should have political rights because they are a part of society and everything has an effect on their lives, therefore, they should be able to have their say in what goes on in their society.
In terms of issues, I am in favor of issues on both the right
and left side of the spectrum. However, more of my views are in
favor of the republic side of the spectrum. I am a firm believer
in the death penalty and I feel that abortion is acceptable when
the mother's life is in danger or the woman was raped and it pregnant
due to being raped. I realize that people think that the death
penalty is wrong, but if someone takes the life of another person,
then I feel that they should have their life taken away. It's
only fair and there is no other way to bring back the person who
was killed, so why should we throw another man in jail when we
can just get rid of him because of the horrible crime he committed.
The death penalty is a good way to get rid of the scum of society,
and better for the environment too. I also feel that abortion
should not be outlawed and it should be allowed for the following
circumstances. The first reason would be because the woman is
in danger of her life. If there is complications of pregnancy
and the woman will absolutely positively die, then I feel that
an abortion is up to the mother. If she feels that the babies
rights supercede hers, then I am all for it. Either way, it is
up to the woman, her husband, and her doctor. The only other time
abortion is acceptable is if a woman is raped and she gets pregnant
and she doesn't want to give birth to that baby. I feel that all
decisions are up to her mother. I realize that she can give birth
and put the kid up for adoption, but I feel that it would hurt
the mother even more if she has to give birth to a child that
isn't even hers. Once again, it is up to the woman and her husband
and her doctor on whether or not she's going to have an abortion
or not. Other than those two cases, I am pro-choice when it comes
to abortion. If a woman gets pregnant and she doesn't want the
responsibility, then too bad. She got pregnant and she has to
give birth to the baby then she can give it up for adoption. I
feel that a flat tax system is the best system to have. Everyone
has to pay the same percentage no matter what their income is.
If we have the people who make more money paying more taxes, then
we are infringing on their right to use what money they have worked
very hard for. There is no law or force that says that people
are limited to doing so much. People make their life what they
want to be and if they do become successful and make a good living,
then why should the government punish them for being successful?
Leave them be and stop whining about how much more money they
make than other people do.
Hey, this is the Brad homepage. I am a senior at West Chicago High School. I have lived in West Chicago my whole life, but was born in Geneva, IL. I play defensive end on the football team and this is my 4th year and my last playing football. I enjoy hanging out with my friends and especially Jessica. After high school, I plan to take a job in the culinary arts field. Which is basically saying that I want to be a chef. When I'm not busy with school or sports, I like to relax and enjoy my down time. I have two brothers and a dog. I am the middle son. In the future, I hope to own my own restaurant and take plenty of money, but never have to work because I will be able to pay people to work for me.
I am a Republican all the way. There are no issues on the left that I agree with. I am way to the right on the political spectrum. I feel that the government should allow people to have more power and distribute central power to the states. The government should not be as big of an issue in people's lives and should step back a little.
When I am rich because I worked hard, I don't think that the government should be able to take a lot of my money just because I worked hard to have a lot of it. It would be like punishing me for working hard in life to be successful. Another issue that I feel strongly about is abortion. The unborn child should have the right to life, just as much as anyone. They deserve the fair chance to live a life just like the person who is having them. If the mother does not choose to care for the child, they should have the baby then put it up for adoption. Either way, abortion should be outlawed. Another issue is that we should cut our foreign aid. We should worry about ourselves first, then, if we are able, we can help other countries. One last is that we should increase defense spending. This is in light of current events taking place and the danger that we may be in.
Hey, this is Jessica and this is my homepage. I have grown up in West Chicago. I am a senior at West Chicago High School. This is going to be my fourth season playing basketball. I also play golf and use to run cross-country and track. I enjoy hanging out with Corey, Brad, and other friends. I also enjoy traveling some favorite places I have gone are Bahamas, Jamaica, and Cancun. Cancun was the all time best. After high school, I plan to go away to a four-year college.
Throughout the discussions I have heard in class I declare myself a strict republican, I am to the right of the spectrum for almost all of the issues. There are a few issues that I disagree with. Gun control is one issue that I disagree with. I believe that there should be stricter laws own who can own a gun. In doing this it will create more safety for all others and it will limit the ability for young children to get a hold of guns.
I agree with pro-life unless there was a case in which you were raped. The unborn baby has a right to life and that should not be taken away. I think that Flat taxes are what should be used. It should not be a punishment to those who work hard and make a lot of money to have to pay more than the people who don't work as hard or do not make a lot of money. I agree with the death penalty. I think that if a serious murder was committed that the murderer deserves to die. The killer took away an innocent life. I also think it is okay to have religion in the schools as long as it is not forced upon anyone. It will be your decision if you want to be involved or not. Many people may agree or disagree with my views, but this is what I agree with.
I was born on a cold night in Melrose Park on December the 4th in 1983. My place of residence is in Carol Stream; I have been there for all my life. I went to Benjamin middle school... all the Bengies here's your shout out. I play football and baseball for the school, this will be my fourth season in both. Hanging out is cool. But nothing is better than Mrs. K's home cooking. That is some good stuff. I have had two near death experiences and they both were with Norman driving with Me, Brownie, and Kooch being in the car. Every Senior knows about pretty much both of them but if you have a question please consult him. I hope to go to college with some friends so we can party together just like we do now. But I don't know which one yet.
I am a moderate republican, which basically means I am a republican but I have some democratic views. Which is cool, because I am pro-life but I do believe that abortion is a good thing in some situations, but partial birth abortions are wrong and should be banned in every situation. Gun control is good when it comes to handguns, because they are easier to conceal than trying to put a rifle in the small of your back. I think the government should play a small role in everyday things. And should worry about our country rather than other countries around the world. Or else things that happened on Tuesday September 11, 2001 could happen again or even be more severe.
The most important issue in light of the recent tragedies would have to be foreign aid. I believe we have to help ourselves and should worry about our own affairs before we stick our nose in other peoples business. Other countries should have to be capable of helping themselves in a time of need. Another issue that is very important, is the need for stricter criminal rights. I don't believe that criminals will become rehabilitated by watching TV all say. I believe the government should fund more rehab programs for criminals. But I don't think that as soon as they finish we should put them up for parole. They should be confined to a cell for 23 hours a day, with 1 hour for a shower and recess. No TV, no phone, and no conjugal visits (except by immediate family). The visits are monitored and could last for 30 min. If the inmates are good they get more and more visits. That will be a way to promote good behavior throughout the jail. The way to clean up society is to set an example through the jails. If you commit a crime you will be punished and treated the way a criminal should be. We have to do something to make Americans feel save about the way crimes will be handled.
Biographical Information Hey my name is Ben. I was born at Delnor Hospital in St.Charles on April 24, 1984 but have lived in West Chicago. I was born into a family of three children, all boys. My two brothers both older have moved out and are starting to pursue lives of their own. Living where I do placed me in district 25 so I attended Evergreen school for grade school and Benjamin for junior high school. I now attend West Chicago High School and am active in cross-country, swimming, and track. My hobbies are hanging out with friends, making movies, music, cars (old chevys), and pretty much anything outdoors. Looking ahead in my life I plan to continue with school and lots of i. I plan to major in pre-med, the human body fascinates me and my dream is to specialize in cardiac surgery. I have not really given enough though to college yet but I hope to soon have my choices narrowed down so I have some idea of where I might end up next year.
I have found myself on the left side of the spectrum. One of the big reasons I have leaned towards being a democrat is because I believe in personal freedoms and free expressions. I also believe that for our country to operate smoothly we need to have government intervention. I think the government should play a role in economy, by making sure that the economy is strong and if there is any problems I think that they should step in to help. I also think that the government should play an active role in society as well, I think that the government should strive to equalize society as much as they can and also make sure everyone's basic needs are met. I believe that the American government should also play a large role in world affairs and support the UN in their efforts for world peace.
The one issue that I feel the strongest about is capital punishment. I believe that today it does not serve the intention it was originally established for. It is an unfair way to deal with criminal, it is biased by race, gender, and wealth and I feel that it is a barbaric and out dated. I think that the main role of prison should be rehabilitation and not punishment. Another issue that I feel strongly about but also am very opinionated on is foreign affairs. I think that America should help in world affairs but only when they are asked to intervene, however, I feel our problems need to be dealt with first before we try to solve someone else's. Another issue that I support is separation of church and state. I do not feel that religion should be a public thing. There are too many different religions and no state establishment can cater to every religion so therefore I think it should be left out all together. I also feel strongly about the government's role in society. I believe that the government should help everyone meet their basic needs but I do not think handouts (welfare) is the way to do this. I think the government should spend money on developing work programs so not only do people get jobs to help themselves but they are also contributing to better America. I also believe that taxes are an essential to keep America running strong. Without money how can a government run effectively? However I believe the tax money needs to be directed into different areas. Instead of spending it on defense we need to spend it on programs that help the people living with in our borders. The last issue I feel strongly about is gun control. I believe that if we limit and monitor the sales of firearms America would be a safer place and less fearful place to live.
HEATHER E. — Democrat
Hey Everyone this is Heather's Home Page. I grew up in West Chicago,
IL. I'm currently a student at West Chicago Community High School.
The activities I'm involved in are: Varsity Soccer Cheerleading,
Colorguard for the award winning Wildcat Marching Band, I'm also
part of the Wildcat Concert Band, and I'm on the Lady Wildcat
soccer team.
I'm to the left of the spectrum, and that is because I believe
that the government should be more on the people's side. I don't
think that the government should have as much power as it has
now when it comes to
more state related issues.
Some things that I believe in are: I'm VERY pro-choice on the abortion subject, I'm against capital punishment, I also believe that there should be more privacy laws, because I strongly believe in personal space. I also believe that there should be no censoring on the radio and the t.v., and that is because people who make music are considered artists and they have the same rights as painters and painters can express them selves how they want without censoring. So musicians have the right to express themselves without censoring. I also believe in the legalization of marijuana. I believe that, because many people use it for medical use. And I also believe it should be able to be used for recreational purposes. Alcohol is used for recreational purposes and is legal and it kills hundreds of people a year. You very rarely here about someone dying from smoking marijuana. That is why it should be legalized.
Hello to all. My name is Colin. To just briefly sum up the past events in my life that have brought me to this place, I was born in Evanston IL, on October 9, 1983. I lived up on a 70-acre horse farm in Big Rock IL until I was 7, when my family moved here to West Chicago. Before that, I was home schooled, but since then, I have attended Wheaton Christian Grammar School, Wheaton Academy, and now West Chicago. As of right now, my plans for the future include either 2 years at COD and then two more years at a university, or I may enroll in a 4 year school right after high school. As of right now, I am undecided as to what I will study.
To simply say that I am a Republican would be an injustice to me and to my party. I am a die-hard believer in the ideas, the principals, and the values of the right wing. I believe in the great tradition of our for-fathers. I believe that although times change, some things must remain the same. I believe that the same constitution that served our ancestors and turned America into the greatest nation on earth is still relevant today, in it's original form. I believe that we need to hold on to the freedoms of our for-fathers and protect the Americans right to own a gun to defend him. We need to hold on to the faith of our for- fathers and put prayer back into school. We need to hold on to our for-fathers understanding of fair business and reduce the government's control in the market place. We need to hold on to the morals of our for-fathers and put an end to the reckless genocide that masks itself as a woman's right to choose. And I believe that we need to hang on to the for-sight of our for-fathers and reduce the size and the power of government and return the power to the states and to the people, as the tenth amendment tells us to.
There are many issues that I, as a conservative, feel strongly about. I will take the following space to go into a little more detail on exactly what I believe concerning ABORTION, GUN CONTROL, PRAYER IN SCHOOLS, PRISONS, and ANDCENSORSHIP. ABORTION: First and foremost, I believe in the sanctity of human life. I believe that life is God's most precious gift to each and every one of us, and the decision to take that away from anyone must be based on something much stronger than mere preference. I believe very strongly that, from conception, a human life is created, whether in fetal or infant form. There is a heart and a soul and to put an unjustified and premature end to either of these is nothing short of murder. Our society is appalled and sickened when we see a dead baby in a plastic bag being pulled from a dumpster after being thrown there by a mother who did not want to take care of it anymore, and demand that whoever is responsible pay the price. So, why should our horror be any less severe when the mother uses medical procedures to murder her child before is has a chance to take its first breath? I am not against a woman's right to choose. I am against a woman's right to choose to murder her own baby, either before or after it is born. I am against the reckless genocidethat occurs in abortion clinics across the country every day. I am against the slaughter of countless unborn Americans. GUN CONTROL: As an American and the traditionalist at that, I believe very strongly in the wisdom of our ancestors and in the constitution they passed on to us. I believe in the bill of rights. I believe it applies just as much as it ever did, and that includes the right to bear arms. Granted there are times and places here this right can only be exercised to a certain extent in the interest of public safety, but that does not, by any means, justify the radical left wing gun control laws that have already been passed and have yet to be passed that are putting a stranglehold on our constitutional right to defend ourselves. For example, in a place such as Harlem, caring a concealed weapon is different than in a place such as Montana, but the principle still applies. Every law-abiding citizen has the right to own a gun; if they so choose, and must be allowed to do so without government interference. Let's face the facts, criminals will always have guns, regardless of the laws we may pass, but we can help protect the innocent people be allowing them to protect themselves. All gun control laws accomplish is keeping the guns out of the hands of responsible, law abiding citizens and leave them vulnerable to those who would seek to use guns for the purpose of crime. Harsher penalties and consequences for those who misuse guns is what is needed rather than massive restrictions on gun owners. After all, guns don't kill people, people kill people. PRAYER IN SCHOOLS: You see it everywhere you look, from our currency to our constitution to our pledge of allegiance. We are, or where originally, a God fearing nation. Doubtless things change and it is well they should, well, some things that is. A house may have many different tenants over the years, many different styles of decor, many different functions, but no matter how much it may change in appearance, it's foundation must remain the same or it will fall. Up until the 1960's, our educational system was still teaching Bible classes in public schools. Every president our country has ever had has been, or has claimed to be, a God fearing man. To keep the constitutional principles that make us strong, but take God out of the picture is like building a great tower and then removing the supports. Besides, how can a nation such as the United States, who prides itself on freedom of speech, tell it's youth that they may not speak, or in this case, speak with the Lord God himself, wherever and whenever they choose. It was the strong moral foundation that our forefathers embodied in the constitution that has built us into the greatest nation on earth and we must not allow our so-called "progress" make us lose sight of who we are as Americans and who we were meant to be. After all, we are one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all, and in God we trust! PRISON AND PUNISHMENT: America, today, prides itself on being a tolerant nation and while this may have many positive effects, it can also lead to dangerous and often destructive errors in judgment. We, as a society, are at the point where we see almost everyone associated with any sort of tragedy or unfortunate circumstances as a victim, whether they are the subject or the instigator of the event. It is difficult for us to pick out those who are truly evil anymore because, in many cases, we try to justify their actions. Murderers are no longer seen as the dangerous, sick, twisted monsters that they really are, but rather they are victims of an unloving and unaccepting society. The individual is no longer responsible for his actions, but rather, society is responsible for his actions. We no longer see evil for the unacceptable scourge that it is, and, therefore, we see little reason for the punishment of evil. Why punish him for what he's done? It's not his fault; he's just a victim of society. We shouldn't punish him, let's just teach him love. OK, you and I can both see that ideas like these are ridiculous. There is a time and a place for love, but once one has crossed the line of unlawful action, they must be punished, and this punishment must so shake them, so disrupt them, that they will never fall into the same folly again. We must make it so our country knows that they can expect certain consequences for certain actions and it is the judicial system's job to see to it that these consequences are as terrible as is justly possible in order that we might put an end to as much crime as possible before it starts. CENSORSHIP: First off, let me begin by saying that I am an ardent supporter of free speech. I believe that people have the right to whatever they want. However, where and when they can do this is more of an issue. Having sex is not illegal, however, having sex in public is. There is a time and a place for everything. While it is within a person's rights to produce obscene comments or materials, others have an equal right to be sheltered from these comments or materials, if they so choose. A person should have the right to be able to go through their daily routine without being unwillingly exposed to things which may offend them, or at least without due warning. To take the issue of TV and movies, directors and producers have the right to put as much sexuality, nudity, language and violence as they please into their films and shows, however, these programs do not belong on primetime TV, where absolutely anyone, from children to adults could simply turn on the screen to see the evening news and be appalled by what is on in front of them. If there are controversial or obscene shows that you would like to see, get the premium channels added to your TV. The same applies for music. An artist has a right to make whatever controversial statements he or she would like, on their album, but on the radio, there is a line of decency. In no way am I attempting to infringe, in anyway, on an individual's right to the freedom of speech, I am simply trying to ensure that other individual's right to decency by limiting when and where controversial speech or material is exercised.
My name is Hilary B. I was born at Central DuPage Hospital on June 11, 1984. Every since I was young I have been a very opinionated individual. I grew up in Hanover Park and moved to Carol Stream when I was in the second grade. I attended elementary school at Evergreen Elementary School, and middle school at Benjamin. I look forward to attending a four-year college or university, however, the location and major are undecided. I am very interested in science and have always dreamt of being an astronaut. I also enjoy singing, writing, playing the piano, volleyball, and photography. I am also involved with Student Council and FBLA, in which I study Parliamentary Procedure and attended the National Conference, placing 8th nationally.
I am on the left side. On a majority of major issues, I found my self with liberal views. For instance, I am pro-choice as to the issue of abortion. I feel that life is important, but I also feel that it should be the woman's decision. I also agree with the democratic view to abolish capital punishment. In my opinion, two wrongs will never make a right, and granting a prisoner the death penalty only lets them off the hook. I also have a strong belief in political rights. The liberal philosophy supports my views. I also see importance in maintaining power of the federal government as opposed to only state power. Having a strong, influential federal government is part of what makes us the UNITED States of America. I also agree with a more even distribution of wealth, through graduated taxes and a combination of government and local programs.
An issue that is of importance to me is the governmental control of biotechnological applications. I feel the government needs to step in and maintain control, allowing only applications that cure genetic diseases. This is important for the survival of our society and its standards. Allowing unresricted applications could have many disaterous consequences. Controling applications would prevent this.
My name is Chonelle.I am 17 yrs of age.I live in West Chicago, IL.I have lived in WC for 2.5 years. I uesd to live in Bellwood, where I attended Immanuel Luthern.I lived there for 14 years.I live in a new home with my family,including my grandparents. I have no pets, only sisters and a brother. Jason-13,Rachel-11,Ashley-10 ,Mom-40,Dad-39,grandfather-86,and grandmother-76.I transfered to WE-go last year as a junior.I have begun my Sr year here.Previous to WChicago I attended Wheaton Academy with some of our other students.My birthdate is July 18th.I plan to attend college after this year.I am planning to attend ONU(Ohio Northern Univ).I enjoy singing, dancing,and acting as extracirr activities.I live about 2 mins from the HS.My favorite colors are purple,drk blue,& mahoghany.My fav. class last year was AM. Studies w/Kosek &Strecker. Definately b/c of the other people in the class!They were off the eazi-fo-sheizi!!I want to throw a shoutout to all the 5-8th period Am Studies last year,ya'll were of da chain!That's about it!One love! P,L,&H!! (Ghetto Queen rep. pha sh'ow)!!!
Deciding which side of the specturum I was on did't come as easy as some people.I remained in the center for most of the issues we discussed, but unfortunately I couldn't stay there forever.Coming to the conclusion that democrate was the 'right-side' for me, came with much discussion and thought.I would have to say it felt good for me to declare demo. and not repub.
Hello, I am Jeff . I am 18 years old and I live in Winfield IL. I am enrolled as a senior in West Chicago High School. I am involved with a lot of activities. I was in my schools fall and winter play productions my junior year. I am vice-president of our student government's executive board, I am a member of peer helping, thespians, forensics team, I played football my freshman and sophomore year, indoor and outdoor track my freshman year, and Prom Court last year. I have one sister (15) one brother (19), and 2 stepsisters (19, and 21). I will turn 19 next June. I love old rock'n'roll music, mainly from the late 60's and early 70's. My hobbies include camping out, having campfires, hacky sack and Frisbee are always fun, and I play a considerable amount of videogames during my free time, but I am working 25-40 hours a week on top of 7.5 hours of school everyday. I love acting and debating. I plan on going to a community college in LA or San Diego and establish residency and get some credits so I can have them transfer over to one of the "University of California's" whether it be the one in LA (UCLA) or in San Diego. I will major in American History education and I will minor in acting on camera and voice impersonations. When I'm all grown up, I plan on either being multiple voices for cartoon characters, a sitcom star, or an American history teacher and be in charge of the drama department at whatever school I work at.
I, Jeff Raun, declare myself a democrat. I believe that natural order should be attained, we should have ultimate personal freedoms, except when we are called on to save the environment or natural resources. I am pro-choice on the issue of abortion, but the choice should be just as much the males as it is the females, and if either individual decides they want to keep the unborn fetus, that decision supersedes either party wish to abort the fetus. I think that capital punishment should be banned. The government shouldn't have the choice of what are the appropriate consequences for John and Jane Doe. I support a restricted graduated tax. I believe that inheritance should go to the government and legacies should not be allowed to be formed. I believe that most of the power of the government should lie in the hands of the people of America, not representatives of states.
Abortion: On the topic of abortion, I am pro-choice. If either parent feels that they would like to keep the child and raise the child, then the fetus should not be aborted, but the parent that wants to raise the child will raise it. If the father wants to have the baby and the mother doesn't, then the mother still has to carry through with the pregnancy and allow the father to raise the child on their own. Laws: I think we should eliminate most of the existing laws and allow our country to once again be free. We should have the freedom to do as we please without having to worry about what an authority figure will do to us. We should suffer our own natural consequences, in most cases. No person or groups of people should be able to decide what an appropriate consequence is for another person's actions. If we had our society encourage social mores and discourage harmful and unnecessarily cruel acts and deeds, we would advance as a society and start to rely on the good in man instead of the restrictions placed upon us. Personal Freedoms: I hold Personal freedoms on an incredibly high pedestal, I will sacrifice my personal freedoms minimally and with detest. I also do not believe that two rights make a wrong. The government should not be able to decide what a consequence is for a dispute between citizens; the government should have no say in anything that doesn't directly affect our governmental process.
MEGHAN Y. — Democrat
My name is Meghan and I go to West Chicago Community High School.
I am approximetly 17, 2 months and 11 days old. This makes my
birthday June 17, 1984. I live in a small suburb of Winfield,
population 8,000 (One of those is me and half of Jeff too:)!).
I have two parents, a mom and a dad, and two brothers and a dog.
My oldest brother, Jerry, is 22 years old and goes to DeVry. My
other brother, Daniel, is 20 years(21 in November)old and goes
to Mizzou college of the University of Missouri to become a Jounalistic
major. I also have a dog named Scottie. He is 7 in people years
and about 49 in dog years. He enjoys running, eating, being pet,
and getting as many cookies as possible. My parents are Garry
and Pat Young are 53 and 47 respectively. My dad is a stock room
manager at JcPenny's(which is where they met) and my mom works
at a nearby family doctors office. I was born at Central Dupage
Hospital in Winfield but at the time lived in West Chicago. I
moved to Winfield when I was two years old. I at first went to
Winfield Elementary School , then to Winfield Middle School, and
now am at West Chicago Community High School. I plan on going
to a four year college and studying elementary education with
a minor in sign language. I also plan on pursuing my basketball
career there.
Hi, my name is Stacey P., and I was born in Elgin, IL on December 5, 1983. I now live in Winfield, IL and I've lived here for about 15 years. I am a senior at West Chicago Community High School, and I am involved with the school band for my fourth year now. I'm planing on going to college on the east coast to major in Marine Biology. Ever since third grade I have loved penguins, and have always wanted to work with them. I have a collection of over 100 different penguin objects. I love to travel, and in my life time I would like to travel as many places possible.
After all the class discussions ,and the political spectrum project, I've decided that I am a moderate democrat. There are some issues that I would agree with republicans, but I mostly agree with the democrats.
One issue is gun control. I feel that there needs to be many restrictions on gun control. Not anyone and everyone should be able to own a gun. Some people just don't know how to use a gun, or use them in a criminal way. Another issue would be about illegal immigrants becoming legal because they have been working in the U.S. for five years. I totally disagree. We have laws that need to be followed. If there is an illegal immigrant, they need to go back to where they came from. If they want to come back the right way, they can. I also disagree with the experimenting on animals when you know it will hurt them. Not all medicines will test the same on animals as they do on humans. We could use dead people or even people who are in prision for life. The people who are in prision are going to be there for life, so why not use them for scientific experiments.
I was born in Winfield, IL on May 8, 1984 but I immediately moved to Indiana. I lived there for a couple years. Then my family realized how much they hated Indiana and moved to West Chicago. I have lived in this town ever since then. I am a senior at West Chicago. I love sports and regularly play all kinds of sports. At west Chicago I have wrestled and have been in 3 plays. I am currently the only male cheerleader here. It's cool hangin with the ladies.
I am a Moderate-Conservative Republican. I generally agree with the Rebublican views. Often I can listen to and acknowledge the Democratic side of an issue. I am a strong believer in less government involvement. I also belive that everyone should be on a level playing field and not punish the rich. The rich Americans should not have to pay a much higher tax rate just because they make more money.
One of the things that I feel strongly on is a flat tax. There
should be a flat tax. Not having a flat tax destroys the idea
of America. This is the country that was created for people to
be free. This country was created by and for entrepreneurs, and
now we go and punish these pepole that stand for America. This
is the land of opertunity, unless you are rich. Also, imigration
should be stopped. We don't want your huddled masses any more.
We have all that we want. We let people in and now we have lost
thousands of lives. Also, I hate affirmitave action. It is a plan
that contradicts itself. Lets end dicrimination by discriminating
against white males. Wow, what a great idea.
hey what up this is nick's homepage...my name is nick and i am currently taking gov. i was born on jan 24 1984 so i am currently 17.....i enjoy playin baseball in my free time....i guess it is because that is what is going to pay for my college....i hope one day to make it to the minor leagues and then hopefully to the pro's.....but college baseball is my main goal right now....i live in carol streamand have my whole life.....when im not playing baseball i like to sleep....when im not sleeping i like to eat
today i am declaring myself a republican. it was a hard decision believe me. i found myself falling during both the class decussions and the quiz we took the other day in the middle of the spectrum. when it came to such things as funding for education where basically one would feel that you should set a standard % of school funding no matter where you live. i believe that if you live in the inner city and dont have as much to offer as someone in a nice suburb that, that should not mean that you should be cheated out of education. when the issue of federalism where the flow of power to the states vs. the central government. i feel that the states should have more power. and believe in the superfund idea. i also fall on the right side when it comes down to the accumulation of wealth byindividuals. i feel that whatever amount of money i make is my money. and that i worked as hard as i could for that and im not going to give it up to someone who made the choice not to be where i am in society. yes you maybe born into money and might never have to work a day in your life but if not then you have to put forth that effort.and if you dont then you will suffer.
i feel that in the world today our biggest problem that we face is poverty..i think that the gap between the rich and poor is too large. i now feel as though terrorism is a problem facing the world and we must do somethingabout it. i think it is our job as the united states(who claims to be tuff and looked up to by other countries) needs to strike back at terrists to show them if they mess with the U.S. they will suffer as much if not more then we have...
Hi, this is my homepage. My name is Kara but most of you know
me by Kari. I was born in Wheeling, Il which is right
outside of Rockford. I have a mom, dad, and two sisters younger
than me. We moved to West Chicago when I was three years old.
I went to Lincoln Elementary until it closed in 1994. Then I went
to Turner Elementary for 5th grade, and Gary Elementary for 6th
grade. I went to West Chicago Middle School and then moved on
to the high school. I have played soccer since I was five, and
basketball since i was 10. I don't play basketball anymore, but
I do still play soccer. Right now I work as a receptionist at
a Doctor's office in Wheaton.
I am a moderate-conservative republican. I am a republican because I am pro-life, I believe in the elimination if affirmative action, and I also believe in getting rid of the Death/Inheritance Tax.
The first reason I am a republican is abortion. I am pro-life. The living being should not be killed no matter what. We should not, under any circumstances, attempt to play God. Also, there is affirmative action. It should be banned because it is helping no one. It is a form of racism, even though it's trying to get rid of it. The death/inheritance tax is also an issue i feel strongly about. If a loved one leaves a certain amount of money or valubles to a family memeber, those items should not be taxed. They should be able to be obtained in full value. There is also the welfare issue. From my own experience I have seen it doesn't do any good. The people who get the welfare abuse that privilege and so it should be taken away or at least modified. If nothing else, we should monitor more closely the people recieving the welfare, to see that they don't misuse this important privilege. Lastly, I am a republican because of our involvment in the United Nations. We contribute to 30% of the UN's funding and we are the least involved country. The UN is not really important to us and its hurting us to spend so much money on something that hardly affects us. I also think we should take whatever means nesessary to get rid of whoever bombed the World Trade Center. They did that to us knowing we were a world super-power and they should be ready for the consequences.