The Junior Statement Junior State of America
October 10,2011 Volume 1, Issue 1
The Junior Statement Welcome to The Junior Statement and note from Editor By: Iman Baghai
First off, thank you for reading The Junior Statement. The Statement will help bridge the gap between JSAers all over the nation. This year we are trying to revive and revamp The Junior Statement to have it become more relevant to YOU. Some of our goals, besides sending you The Statement regularly, are to promote discussion, maybe have a podcast system, attaining interviews from high-ranking officials, and getting your voice out. This month‘s issue will consist of a wide range of articles from thought provoking opinion pieces, to political pieces, to informative articles about what is going on in different states. Many argue that newspapers are now defunct-those that say that are naïve. It was through the medium of Newspaper print that many of the world‘s great movements first started. The power is still there; however, the medium has evolved to become more digital. We are still deeply affected by what we read and hear in the media. I ask you to recall that it was Franklin‘s Herald‘s, The Federalist Papers, Paine‘s pamphlets, and many other publications that helped rise and unite a people to fight for their rights. We are gong to model after our founding fathers and keep the tradition of print alive. It is our responsibility to contribute and make The Junior Statement the best medium of our voice. One that through work and contribution from everyone can become more relevant. But, as with anything feedback is necessary; in order to ensure the quality of this publication please do not hesitate to give us feedback. In the light of things, I would like to take this to moment to ask ANYONE that is interested in contributing to The Statement to contribute. Let us all rise up, speak up, and make some noise!
INSIDE THIS ISSUE COG inspiration .......................2 Condoms in the classroom? ....3 UC Davis ..................................6 Shifting Republican Party .......9 Rick Perry ................................11 Buffet Rule…………………………12 Editors Note: A calling………….15
SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST COG National Activism Initiative SE becomes a state The Republicans are shaping up Buffets Rule A call for more Statesmen and Stateswomen
THE COUNCIL OF GOVERNORS INSPIRED AT JSA ‗S BIRTHPLACE BY: SARAH MURRAY
During the acclaimed and ever prolific Montezuma Leadership Conference, JSA‘s Governors inspired a national activism initiative. Governor Andrew Margrave of Texas Junior State proposed the initial plan ―in order to reestablish the relevance of our organization as well as unite our several states.‖ The plan recalls the true purpose of JSA: ―to not only take a stand behind the issues we hold dear to our futures
and those of posterity, but also immerse ourselves in our communities and states as advocates for the continued prosperity of our United States.‖ It is no doubt that Montezuma (the all-boys school at which the idea of JSA was originally conceived) inspired our states‘ leaders, who knew exactly how to use their passion to ensure the fulfillment of our mission. The plan takes a strong stance on education. Education is extremely important to Junior
“it is the goal of JSA both to make better students in the classroom and better citizens in the community.” Statesmen everywhere, as JSA teaches its members ―not only through experiences in discourse, but through ones in leadership, activism, and civic involvement as well.‖ The Council believes it is this skillset that prepares teenagers to control their education, not only in the community, but also in the classroom. The Council acknowledged that, ―it is the goal of JSA both to make better students in the classroom and better citizens in the community.‖ With this in mind, the Governors embraced the National Activism Initiative of Education for the 2011-2012 school year. The Council has clearly outlined its plans for the year and highlighted its strengths. ―We are a pretty compatible group,‖ notes Stephanie Ribet, Northern California Governor. ―Our activism initiative is hopefully going to allow us to have a big impact nationwide.‖ Sure enough, across the nation, this inspiration is steadily reaching every JSA student. The Council‘s work proves we are ready to do something great this year. JSA’s Southeast Territory is a State! Governor Lauren Shenone, Southeast Governor, recently achieved a huge win for her state. At the August Council of Governors Meeting, the Council voted to elevate her territory‘s status to that of a state. Governor Shenone couldn‘t be happier: ―I'm thrilled that the Southeast has gained statehood. As a territory, we have worked collaboratively to achieve this honor and we are all looking forward to extending our progress as the Southeast State.‖ It is certainly laudable that Gov. Shenone achieved statehood so quickly during her term. We all expect to see the progress she will certainly effect. The progress in the Southeast was representative of the entire meeting‘s success. There, the Council selected national cabinet, appointing Max Brozynski of Texas JSA as the Chief of Staff. Also selected were Iman Baghai of the Pacific Northwest to head this year‘s Junior Statement, a published, monthly issue of JSA news, and Andrew Leontis of Southern California JSA to be the Director of Debate Archives. Each appointed national cabinet member is already making progress in his or her respective area. Just as the Southeast‘s evolution inspires Governor Shenone, national cabinet members‘ responsibilities inspire them daily.
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CONDOMS IN THE COUNSELING OFFICE? BY: BILLAL AHMED
Sex- it's something teenager everywhere hear about constantly. And how can they not avoid it? Movies filled with sex scenes, dramas with steamy plots, ads advertising condoms (and sometimes Cialis), and music with explicit imagery: our society is filled with sexual references. With this sexual overload, many wonder whether it is the government's responsibility to prevent unwanted pregnancies and the spreading of STD's. At the forefront of this debate is whether public high schools should distribute, or at least make available, contraceptive materials and birth control information. Proponents of this initiative believe that providing materials does not promote sex but simply allow safety for those who choose to participate. ―It's not the school encouraging sex‖ says Teddy Handleman, ―but the school providing resources for students who choose to have sex.‖ Given that many teenagers are already sexually active, it is better to let them have sex safely than to ignore the issue outright. Addressing an already-present topic, proponents argue, does not inherently encourage it; however, some students think school distribution is indirect condoning and promotion. Alisa Hansen points out that ―kids might abuse the privilege and become more sexually active.‖ Teens who are already sexually active might become more so because of the additional contraception provided, which would actually spread disease. Beyond the superficial debate of encouraging safe sex versus encouraging promiscuity lies the question of government's role in regulating behavior. According to Rohail Hameed, ―[contraception] is not something that should be school-related. It should be discussed with the parents.‖ America is an extremely diverse country with differing values and lifestyles, so condom distribution might upset one group. Many parents don't want their children being exposed to such materials, often for religious or moral reasons. Although government has a legitimate interest in protecting the welfare of its people, it must make sure its route is the most efficient and least harmful to the people. Even after the ―should the government do it‖ debates, there's always the issue of paying for it. Contraception isn't cheap, plain and simple; providing contraception for hundreds of students is by no means cheap and will undoubtedly affect other spending trends. Scores of voters and concerned citizens would certainly prefer their tax dollars be spent on other measures while others would wholeheartedly support the contraception measure. The imposition of such policies will surely depend on the school's demographics and political make-up. As politicians and lobbyists decide their stance on this issue, teens continue having sex. It is my humble prediction that they're not going to stop anytime soon. Reinforced by the media, our generation has embraced a level of sexual liberalism paralleled only by the rebellious youth of the 60's and 70's. Whether this is good or bad I don't really know. What I do know is that it has consequences, and we need an answer soon. Until then, we'll just have to rely on drug stores and cheesy MTV ads to keep our generation safe. Looks like we're in great hands, right? 3
SOCAL JSA KICKS OFF THE YEAR WITH THE FALL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE BY: STEVE KEARNS September 24th marked the start of the Southern
politically minded students from across Southern California,
California Junior State‘s convention season with the 2011
as well as to get a feel for an organization that is loved by so
Fall Leadership Conference. Held at the Los Angeles Airport
many.
Hilton and put together by SoCal JSA‘s dedicated cabinet, this ‗mini-con‘ attracted over 150 JSA-ers who throughout the day discussed leadership strategies and debated hotbutton political issues. In typical JSA style, the Fall Leadership Conference featured traditional debates as well as rousing thought talks on everything from the relevance and value of reality television to the need for accessible contraception in public high schools. In these debates, attendees heard from speakers with ideologies spanning the full political spectrum and whose oration skills were second to none.
However, the Fall Leadership Conference wasn‘t simply for newcomers; the gathering provided SoCal JSA‘s leaders with time to contemplate and discuss future JSA plans. At FLC, each cabinet department met to evaluate their progress and to decide how to proceed. Furthermore, Chapter President, Senate and Assembly meetings ensured that every JSA leader on both a chapter and State level was fully equipped to expand and promote JSA in their schools. Such workshops transcended topics such as debating and moderating, and educated JSA-ers on skills in these integral disciplines. ―The Debate Department unveiled our new Debate Training program, to much success. We began with a demonstration debate, teaching techniques for new and experi-
For some at the Fall Leadership Conference, this event was their first in JSA to date, the debates, and networking that took place gave them a true picture of the magic of the Junior State. ―FLC was GREAT, I loved the debates, and I met so many great people too! I‘ll certainly be coming back for more!‖ said Beverly Hills High School Sophomore Nicole Sayegh about her first JSA experience. The event gave new JSA-ers such as Nicole the opportunity to network with
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enced debaters, while explaining general debate procedure to JSA newcomers. The workshop finished off with a musical chairs game, where the two people left standing must engage in a quick debate on a fun topic. I am confident that this new program will prepare newcomers to speak at conventions and raise the bar for debate in the SoCal state.‖ Said SoCal Director of Debate and Bishop Montgomery High student Melissa Smet of the debate and moderating meetings that
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took place at FLC. In addition to the political discourse and workshops that were held at the Fall Leadership Conference, students were given the opportunity to meet with and speak to their leaders. Throughout the day, SoCal Governor Kaitlyn Hittelman and all cabinet department heads could be seen conversing with JSA-ers about their love of JSA and their visions for the organi-
FLORIDA GOP DEBATE BY: ANTHONY KAYRUZ
Sponsored by Fox News and Google, the latest GOP presidential debate was held on Thursday, September 22, 2011 at the Orlando Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. The event was extremely popular, amassing 6.1 million viewers, making it the mostwatched GOP debate this year. Thanks to Google, people who posted their video and text questions on YouTube chose many of the topics for the candidates. In addition, viewers were polled on their responses to key issues throughout the night; Shannon Bream of Fox News observed, ―This is the most interactive debate ever.‖ Nine republican hopefuls – Texas Governor Rick Perry, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, Texas Representative Ron Paul, businessman Herman Cain, Minnesota Representative Michelle Bachmann, former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson, and former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum – actively participated in the innovative event, each vying for the coveted Republican nomination. The debate commenced with questions addressing America‘s dire financial situation. The candidates were asked how they could help businesses in today‘s troublesome economic environment and how they could help solve America‘s high unemployment Continued on page 7...
rates. Although Perry deferred citing an official jobs or debt plan, he pointed out his general successes throughout the decade, namely asserting that Texas ―…was the number one state for relocation for five years in a row.‖ Cain, however, provided a more specific solution by referring to his 9-9-9 plan, which establishes a nine percent flat corporate tax, a nine percent flat income tax, and a nine percent sales tax. Cain believes that his thought-out proposal treats all businesses equally and is a ―bold solution‖ to the current, inadequate tax code. As the debate progressed, immigration proved to be one of the most heated topics of the night. Many of the candidates were eager to bash Governor Perry for his desire to educate illegal aliens and give them state-sponsored subsidies for public universities. Perry explained an education will prevent these illegals from becoming ―a drag on our society.‖ Romney harshly criticized Perry by stating, ―That kind of magnet draws people into this country to get that education…That shouldn‘t be allowed. It makes no sense at all.‖ Santorum additionally denounced the Texas governor for giving ―preferential treatment‖ to illegal immigrants. The majority of the Republican hopefuls agreed that America must become more serious about halting the flow of illegal immigrants into the
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UC DAVIS INSTITUTE BY: DELENNE FRANCO
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During the week of August 10th through the 13th a very smart young group of teenagers from Northern and Southern California attended the UC Davis Political Institute. These kids all bonded in the first two hours of arriving to the UC Davis campus. Throughout the week they went to the capitol building and talked to many of the representatives, congressmen and congresswoman, and the senators of the regions they all came from. They also had a chance to listen to many informative speakers. They talked about the death penalty which they later on had a debate about, got great advice from a former JSAer who now works in the capitol building in Sacramento, and how a mayor can really help make a city better. On the second to last day they had the chance to participate in the budget cut simulation. Before they started they all had to guess what the total would be at the end and whoever got the closet would win $100. They all had the most fun they probably had all week while doing this. The two winners of this budget cut simulation were Delenne Franco and Andre Gomes who were both from Nor Cal. At the end of the week they were assigned a project to go out in a group of four, which eventually broke out into a group of two, and interviewed people either in the capitol building or on the streets about the issues we have in our communities today to see what people thought of them. This project went very well and they got perspectives from many different people about different issues we have in our communities. Even though they all bonded throughout the whole day going to their different activities, most of the people found that from after dinner to
curfew was the amount of time where they learned the most about each other. The girls would tell stories about their life while the boys would do random bird calls. They all became family in the four days they were at Davis and it will be an unforgettable week for most. Nick Delgado from Nor Cal mentioned, ―It was a great experience, one that really helped me meet some of the bright kids from So Cal who I will keep as friends for the rest of my life as well as the Jsaers who I didn‘t know from Nor Cal until I met them at Davis.‖ After they all went home after the little graduation ceremony Tiffany Tuggle from So Cal said, ―It was pretty fun. It just didn‘t turn out as expected. I felt as though it wasn‘t well planned. But I did enjoy it for the most part.‖ And another student from So Cal, Shrishty Amarnani added, ―JSA was an amazing experience that taught me so much about our government and made me a more informed member of society. Plus it was one of the funniest activities I had ever been a part of because I got to meet so many other bright kids from all over the state.‖ Most of the teenagers that attended this institute on politics really liked the idea of starting a JSA chapter when school started back up. The office in San Mateo, California is working with those students who want chapters at their school, at the current moment and the process for most of the students is going very well. ―This UC Davis trip was an unforgettable moment for me in my life and I really learned a lot,‖ said Kevin Covarrubias from Nor Cal ―And I cant wait to start a chapter at my school.‖
FLORIDA GOP DEBATE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 country. Romney, Gingrich, and Bachmann emphasized the need for increased border security, and they also promoted the use of E-Verify to check the legal status of workers in the United States. Ron Paul ultimately declared that America should attack illegal immigrants‘ lucrative benefits: ―no free education, no free subsidies, no citizenship, no birth-right citizenship.‖ Throughout the debate, fiery discussion of various issues between Perry and Romney often degraded into unwarranted attacks on character and credibility. After Perry specified that states should merely have the option of administering Social Security, Romney mockingly cited Perry‘s book, telling the audience that Perry‘s statement was ―different than what the governor put in his book just, what, six months [ago].‖ Perry returned the favor by referencing small differences between Romney‘s paperback and hardcover books. Romney, refusing to let Perry gain the advantage, said, ―don‘t try and make me retreat from the words that I wrote…I stand by what I wrote. I believe in what I did.‖ However, Perry continued to criticize Romney for changing his opinions on Obama‘s Race to the Top, the Second Amendment, Obamacare, and Roe v. Wade. Romney craftily
“My next-door neighbor’s two dogs have created more shovelready jobs than this current administration.”
denied all accusations before condemning Perry for similar flip-flopping. Despite the continuous focus on Romney and Perry, other candidates were able to voice their opinions and occasionally steal the spotlight from the two Republican frontrunners. Gary Johnson, making his first debate appearance since May, delivered a memorable one-liner in which he joked, ―My next-door neighbor‘s two dogs have created more shovel-ready jobs than this current administration.‖ Trying to improve his chance in the GOP race, Santorum successfully attempted to win over the crowd by dominating the discussion when Romney did not. Cain and Gingrich also faired well. Cain delivered an engaging and heartrending anecdote about his battle with cancer, and Gingrich appealed to conservatives by describing many of Barack Obama‘s alleged failures. Although many different arguments and opinions were thrown around onstage, all of the candidates seemed to agree with Gingrich‘s statement: ―nothing will turn America around more than Election Night, when Barack Obama loses decisively.‖ Critics generally responded favorably to Thursday‘s innovative debate, but Rick Perry‘s poor performance arose concern from many of them. Perry constantly tripped over his own words, struggled to adequately block Romney‘s accusations, and appeared ill-prepared. Maggie Haberman of Politico reported, ―…the concern for Perry after three weak debate performances – each one messier than the last – is that primary voters may soon start deciding he‘s not ready for Barack Obama.‖ In spite of negative reviews, Rick Perry still holds the lead in the Republican presidential race, followed by Mitt Romney and Hermain Cain, both eager to overtake the Texas governor in the coming months. With many more debates ahead and primaries on the horizon, the battle among the candidates remains close and competitive.
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TEXAS CABINET MEMBERS CONVENE BY: CHRISTY LUSPO Cabinet members of the Texas Junior State traveled to Sugar Land on October 1st for the annual Texas Cabinet Convention. Held at the Town Square Marriott hotel, members met to discuss upcoming conventions, department advances, and goals for the state of Texas. The ambition and determination held within each department of Cabinet was apparent throughout the day. Each department worked diligently to organize and improve developments for the 2011-2012 year. The department of Public Relations is the biggest department on Cabinet, with twelve members working hard to spark student interest in JSA. The ultimate goal of the department is to further expand the Texas Junior State‘s publicity in the state. Through activism, website development, public affairs, and public media, the members of the Public Relations Department want to implement the promotion of the JSA to students from all over Texas. Within the department, appointed Communication Liaisons strive to enhance the Texas Junior State through the use of social media websites.
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The Communications Liaison positions were newly created this year to focus on the public image of the Texas Junior State in public media. Communication Liaisons Katie Kneuper, David Higgs, and Allison Barnard work collectively to catch students‘ interest using social media websites. With the help of Facebook and Twitter, the Liaisons are able to post interesting political articles, polls, and announcements to keep JSA members involved and updated during the course of the year. The Communications Liaisons plan to regularly update Facebook and Twitter with pictures and videos from conventions. They also hope to create eye catching Facebook ads to promote JSA online. Web-based media outlets promote social networking between Texas
JSA members year-round and draw interest from students who do not know what JSA is about. The popularity of web-based technology has been beneficial to enhance communication within the state. Katie Kneuper shares, ―Our goal for the year is to get more people involved with JSA in times of the year other than the Fall State and Spring State conventions. I think using Facebook and Twitter will get people to know what is going on and to be more informed citizens.‖ The Communications Liaisons are working to cultivate a year round student participation in Texas JSA. By keeping members aware of current events, the Communications Liaisons are working to spread the knowledge of politics and debate throughout the state.
Communications Liaisons Katie Kneuper and David Higgs work to update the Texas Junior State Facebook page at Cabinet Convention (Source/Christy Luspo)
THE SHIFTING PLATFORM OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY BY: ASH MALHORTA While President Obama continues to try and get a handle on the economy, the Republican nominees are continuing to go head-to-head on different issues and policies that they believe can turn the nation around. However, the political atmosphere today has shifted significantly than when the candidates first began debating back in early May of this year. With Tim Pawlenty dropping out of the race and Rick Perry entering the race have continued to changed American‘s opinions on the Republican landscape and platform heading into the election. Overall, the platform of the GOP debates has shifted considerably, bringing down once prominent candidates and propping up candidates that weren‘t taken so seriously before. It‘s important to begin by looking at Rick Perry‘s changing dynamic in the race, as when he entered, he topped the polls with a significant lead against former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney. However, recently Governor Perry has been having some problems, the most recent of which being a pizza problem. Specifically, he‘s been in a closer competition with candidate Herman Cain (former-CEO of Godfather‘s Pizza), who took a lot of Perry‘s supporters at the Florida GOP straw poll. The problem is that Perry has alienated many of his potential voters with reform policies that they just don‘t support, and his weak ability
“Overall, the platform of the GOP debates has shifted considerably, bringing down once prominent candidates and propping up candidates that weren’t taken so seriously before.” to defend his positions hasn‘t really helped his situation. One of the main obstacles for him has been his own book Fed Up! which has really made it difficult for him to keep a smoother campaign running, as the media and other candidates are constantly holding him to those published words. One of the more salient of his policies has been his position on Social Security. He‘s constantly reiterated that Social Security is a ―Ponzi scheme‖ by the government and ―a monstrous lie,‖ wanting to slowly phase out Social Security instead of reforming it. It‘s been this idea that other candidates, most notably Romney, have constantly attacked and which has pushed many moderate republicans and many conservatives (notably of the older populations) to move away from Rick Perry. Social Security is a very sensitive topic for many Americans, and by proposing such an idea as removing it quickly doesn‘t seem as attractive of an option as reform. But the other policy that has Perry stuck in political malaise has been his relationship with voters on the topic of immigration. The fact of the matter is that Americans aren‘t exactly happy with the policy. This is because he‘s advocating in-state tuition for illegal immigrant children, something not a lot of Republican voters are open towards. Not being able to defend his position well didn‘t exactly help the matter. And so overall, Texas Governor Rick Perry has seen a lot of the speed of his campaign fall quickly, as his main policies are constantly brought under scrutiny by other candidates while voters continue to disagree with many of them. Although the Texas governor started out on top, he‘s going to need a more effective campaign to stay on top. But as one candidate may fall from prominence, another one rises to it. Former-CEO Herman Cain came as the victor over Rick Perry and other candidates, holding 37% of votes in the Florida GOP straw poll. It was a political victory, yes, but also a boost for his campaign. Initially, Cain wasn‘t seen as a serious competitor when compared to Michelle Bachmann, Mitt Romney, and Rick Perry. However, it was his speech before the voting occurred that really drew the attention of Republican voters across the spectrum. He was able to convince Perry supporters, most of who were border-line supporting Perry, to vote for him. This was because, unlike Gov. Perry, Cain had a strong performance during the debate, and his campaigning before the vote didn‘t hurt either. Cain‘s policies have also been drawn into new light. He‘s continued to push his 9-9-9 economic plan during debates, one of the most specific economic policies of the candidates and one of the more unique ones. He‘s continued to oppose Obamacare, and overall has received strong support from conservatives across the board. But, there‘s still a long way for Herman
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THE SHIFTING PLATFORM OF THE REPUBLICAN DEBATES... CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9 chance for Herman Cain to go when it comes down to the Republican nomination. Even though the Florida GOP straw poll holds a lot of merit, this victory doesn‘t secure Cain‘s place in the race. It‘s going to take more campaigning and more effort if Herman Cain is to continue his rise as a prominent Republican candidate.
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Finally, it‘s important to look at how the position of the once leading Republican candidate Michelle Bachmann has changed. The problem Bachmann has continued to encounter recently in her campaign is that she continues to be eclipsed by focus on Rick Perry and Mitt Romney. Back in August, Republicans saw Michelle Bachmann lead in the Iowa Ames straw poll. However, since then, her political position has fallen to third tier. The problem here lies mainly with the fact that she hasn‘t been able to make her policies stand out in comparison to the friction between Romney and Perry‘s policies. Rick Perry‘s entrance into the race pushed her out of the main focus of strong conservatives, snagging her campaign‘s momentum. Moreover, Bachmann isn‘t appealing to a wide variety of Republican supporters, instead focusing more on Christian-based conservatives. It‘s this 10 approach that could distance her from potential voters of other states. In addition to being eclipsed by the
Romney/Perry showdown, by only focusing on states like Iowa, she‘s missing out on a lot of support. Michelle Bachmann has lost a lot of political ground overall, and if she‘s to make it back as a significant candidate in the race, she‘s going to have to spar more directly with Romney and Perry on issues ranging from immigration to healthcare. So, within two months, the American people have witnessed a significant change in the political atmosphere in the race for the Republican nomination. After a series of debates have brought out the strengths, weaknesses, and popularity of certain candidates, it seems the road towards the White House has become more difficult. With some candidates trying to regain whatever political ground they may have lost while others are continuing to rise in popularity and significance, the overall platform of the GOP race has changed considerably. In the coming months of debates and voting, Republican voters are going to narrow down the race, and candidates are going to continue to fight to ensure that they have the people‘s vote.
RICK PERRY BY: BETTY CHEN To many Texans, Rick Perry isn‘t new- he‘s been around for decades. As the state‘s longest serving governor, he‘s a household name instantly associated with the Capitol. In fact, some Texans have grown up with him in the governorship, which is why seeing America discover him has been all the more fascinating. Perry entered the political arena as a Democratic state representative in the mid-1980s. Since then, he‘s faced a meteoric rise through the ranks of Austin, passing through Agriculture Commissioner and Lieutenant Governor before finally becoming Governor in 2002. A politician with startling foresight, Perry has always been a little ahead of the curve, changing his policies like a chameleon with a second skin. As Texas turned slowly from blue to red, so did he; as Texas entered the ranks of the ultra-conservative, he led the charge. Since 2006, he‘s only further asserted his reputation as a staunch conservative, becoming a strong supporter of states‘ rights and bashing the establishment. Perry is a master of the campaign trail, understanding the voters‘ hearts even better than they do at times. He is known for his ability to play a crowd and has been able to raise unprecedented amounts of money for his campaigns, many times at the expense of governmental integrity. Time and time again, Perry has surrounded himself with meticulously chosen advisorsoftentimes executives from generous companies.
A politician with startling foresight, Perry has always been a little ahead of the curve, changing his policies like a chameleon with a second skin. Fed Up!, released in 2010, heralded Perry‘s emergence onto the national political scene. Filled with states‘ rights and anti-Washington rhetoric, it catapulted him to even larger national attention and promised him the endorsement of Tea Party groups across the country. Perry then embarked on a national book tour, promoting not only his book but also playing to the frenzied grassroots organizations. Combined with 2008 speculation about Perry as Senator John McCain‘s vice-presidential candidate, Fed Up! allowed Perry to stoke up a large buzz for himself. Flirting with reporters and voters alike, he danced around the idea of a political run for quite some time, creating waves of speculation on his eventual (though somewhat foregone) decision. The gossip only grew larger as the Republican GOP candidacy heated up, and in mid-August, Perry finally announced his official candidacy for President of the United States, which many had been predicting for quite some time. Since his announcement, Perry has been leading the GOP field, quickly establishing himself as one of the front-runners of the campaign. His announcement spurred numerous editorials examining his record, which have forced a number of retractions and evasions. After a month and a half in the game, Perry still continues to be a strong poller, despite growing criticism and surmounting opposition. In the last two GOP debates, Perry faced attacks from all the other candidates, deployed in such a way that almost seemed coordinated. The bulls-eye on his back doesn‘t cover only to debates, however; it‘s also extended to national criticism from the press as well. His record and policies are being examined with a fine-tooth comb, creating a number of interesting statements from his campaign. One thing‘s for certain- Perry‘s around to stay the course. His sleek politicking and charismatic persona have captured the American public (and more importantly, the media) for the time being, and there‘s no doubt that he‘ll be a strong contender in the race to the White House. Only time will tell whether his mixed record in Texas will ultimately help or hurt him, though his time in Texas suggests that the American public are in for the long haul.
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BUFFET RULE BY: KARTHIK PALANIAPPAN Amid a struggling economy, and rising deficits, President Obama has had increasing pressure to put forth a deficit reduction plan. The ―Buffet Rule‖ is the keystone of the president‘s plan. Its name comes from billion dollar investor, Warren Buffet. Buffet sparked a huge controversy earlier this year when he established that we need to raise taxes on the rich. His argument: he paid a smaller share of his income in taxes than did his secretary. He also said that ―No household making over $1 million annually should pay a smaller share of its income in taxes than middle-class families.‖ This is a vague statement—we don‘t know exactly what he proposes to make the new rates, but he wants it at least at the level of the middle class. President Obama has championed this plan. If we have a deficit problem, we can do one of three things: raise taxes, cut spending, or both. The president has advocated both. He says the wealthiest Americans need to pay their fair share. The main part of his plan is ending the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy. This will bring the top tax rate back to 39.6% for individuals, which will bring in $360 billion into the treasury. This is a fairly large portion of the $1.3 trillion deficit. Liberals argue that if we cut welfare programs that benefit the poor, we need to cut some of the programs that benefit the rich. The Bush tax cuts are their main argument. Overall, the rich benefit the most from these tax cuts. 60% of the tax cut money goes to the top 10% of the population. That‘s an astounding figure. Furthermore, the rich tend to save tax cuts rather than spend them. The middle class tends to spend tax cuts, which stimulates the economy. Another reason is due to loopholes. Some loopholes are necessary: if you give a charitable donation, it‘s a tax break. But, the capitals gains tax is very low at 15%, compared to the top income tax of 35%. If we slightly raise the capital gains tax, we can recover at least a part of the deficit. In fact, most Americans support raising taxes on the rich—a
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startling 66%. Liberals point to the Clinton tax hikes, which, with spending cuts, created the largest budget surpluses in US history. The economy boomed regardless of the tax rate, and the country roared forward. But, conservatives have a strong argument against raising taxes on the rich. They argue that raising taxes on the wealthy will kill jobs in this poor economy. The wealthy risk their money in the markets, allowing companies to get the capital they need to create jobs. If we raise the capital gains tax, we are reducing the incentive to risk money. Indirectly, tax cuts help the overall economy. If businesses have more capital, they can expand their businesses, hire more workers, and improve efficiency through innovation. With a stronger economy, everybody will be happy, and the government will receive more in tax money. So, tax cuts pay for themselves. Conservatives point to the Reagan tax cuts and policies in general that created a stronger, globalized US economy. As the rich get richer, they bring the poor up with them. Overall, where do I stand? I say raise taxes on the rich. Even if letting tax cuts expire does not account for a very large portion of the deficit, every little bit counts. Also, raising the capital gains tax will not dramatically affect the market. Today, there is a lot of excess capital on the balance sheets of corporations. Capital is not the problem: uncertainty is. The government should be less intent on lower taxes on individuals rather than decreasing uncertainty. If businesses are more certain, they will naturally hire and grow. But, tax policies should only be a part of the talks in general. There is the question of spending cuts, investing in manufacturing/innovation, and much, much more.
PROFILE: HERMAN CAIN BY: ANTHONY KAYRUZ Herman Cain, former CEO of Godfather‘s Pizza, has surged to the frontlines of the Republican presidential race after decisively winning the Florida straw poll with 37% of the votes. Frontrunners Rick Perry and Mitt Romney lagged far behind with 15% and 14% respectively. Cain‘s flourishing status as a viable competitor can be attributed to his strong performances at the GOP debates and his comprehensive 9-9-9 plan, which intends to eliminate the current tax code and establish a nine percent flat corporate tax, a nine percent flat income tax, and a nine percent sales tax. Fox polls now show that Cain holds approximately 17% support, placing the once-ignored candidate into third place. Although Cain still trails behind top contenders Perry and Romney, his popularity continues to grow as his name becomes more prominent
Courtesy of: propublica.org
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EDITORS NOTE: A CALL FOR MORE STATESMEN AND WOMEN BY: IMAN BAGHAI The Junior State of America. J.S.A. Stands for the development of the future Statesmen and Stateswomen of America and the world. Statesmen and Stateswomen are needed more than ever before. Prof. Rogers founded The Montezuma Schools for Boys and founded J.S.A in order to create holistic individuals that would be able to lead the world. These individuals neither needed to be the most charismatic speakers not nor the most pragmatic debater nor the most intelligent individual. However, even if one contains of these characteristics that are naively viewed as the attributes of a statesmen that does not qualify them as a true statesmen. The true statesmen is one that is open minded, accepting, respectful, and responsible. This batch of attributes will trump the previously enumerated traits any day. Many times we base success on one‘s speaking ability or intellectual knowledge . But, I ask you what significance does that be hold if you cannot be human or open minded? To be arrogant and ignorant with such ability is something that J.S.A stands to fight against. Our founding fathers were considered Statesmen. They lived during a time when disagreeing often resulted in war or death. They revolutionized discussion, respectfulness, reasonability, and the ability to treat another‘s idea as equal to theirs. However, we watched them succumb to a state in which they took vicious jabs at each other during the tensions between Hamilton and Jefferson . Even what we envision as the purest has their own fair share of faults. But, we can strive to live by the level of respect our nation was founded upon.
Our liberties and rights have no meaning or importance unless we as citizens, as Statesmen and Stateswomen uphold them The ability to treat another one‘s idea as equal to yours requires a humbleness that is required of all Statesmen and women. For example, does it not mean a lot to you when you can have a discussion with an acquaintance, where, regardless of your differences, you could openly discuss and accept each others opinion? Now, I ask you to look back at a time when you have had a discussion with an acquaintance and you didn‘t accept each others opinion. It probably resulted in both of you getting angry and dismissive of each other. I guarantee you one of the conversations left you feeling accepted, important, and heck even more knowledgeable; while, the other irritated you, polarized your opinion, and caused you to dismiss a whole point of view-alienating a whole group of people that hold that opinion. One conversation burned a bridge while the other build a bridge.
"We need statesmen...we do not need more highly trained minds, but more highly trained hearts."
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Now, look around you , I do not need to manifest a list of individuals who are of great importance or of your acquaintances that are around you for you to see the abominable examples that surround us. Sadly, we live in a time where respect is dismissed. To demonstrate this, a more connected world has been, sadly, accompanied with the rise of cyber bullying. Many individuals no longer respect one another for who they are or what their opinion is. Our liberties and rights have no meaning or importance unless we as citizens, as Statesmen and Stateswomen uphold them. Our liberties and values have become, to some, no more than a piece of literature rather than their duty to uphold. At the core of our values and liberties respect in embodied in them. How can you uphold someone right to freedom without respect? They go hand in hand. As, Prof. Rogers quotes, ―We need Statesmen...we do not more highly trained minds, but more highly trained hearts.‖ It is these trained hearts that will uphold our liberties. o
“if you change one for good you have changed the world for better, if you change one for worse, you have changed the world to be worse” Therefore, I would now like to make a call to all Junior Statesmen and Stateswomen to uphold the values of J.S.A, of Prof Rogers, and of our founding fathers. I ask you to please respect your peers and go out of your way to make another feel accepted. To spur and not dismiss conversation. To inquire and not to abash. To uphold our liberties and not only acknowledge them. For, if we as ―Junior Statesmen and women‖ cannot do this then who will? We, as youth, have the opportunity to bring forth a new era of Statesmen and Stateswomen, to be individuals that will be the role models of the future. But, in order to do so we must all, individually, make the decision to be a Statesmen or Stateswomen. To make the decision to be accepting, responsible, and engaged. You have the opportunity to validate the saying, ―if you change one for good you have changed the world for better, if you change one for worse, you have changed the world to be worse.‖ We have the opportunity to enact this saying on a daily basis. We have the opportunity to be Statesmen and Stateswomen and have highly trained hearts. The impact we can have on the world through doing so is exponential. So I plead you to please rise up and be a Statesmen or Stateswomen. The world needs you now more than ever.
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NOTE Opinions and points of view presented in the articles of The Junior Statement do not reflect that of The Junior Statement or The Junior State of America. The opinions presented are those solely and owned solely of their respected author.