San Antonio College students' network for the 2008 election
Dinner’s on me next time, who wants RUM AND FISH!
Angela Morin
Mr. Lennie Irvin
English 1302.064
October 14, 2008
Rum and Fish Anyone? : Reasoning to Economical Crisis
I wanted to set the right environment for both my interviews, it's kind of cliché to meet at coffee shop and interview each other over a redefined latte'. So I decided to interview Emma, my partner, over some delicious Mexican food, and a delightful oversize cup of sweet tea.
It took me almost a week to try to fit into Emma's busy schedule. She is a twenty seven year old Mexican-American who moved to the United States when she was seventeen. Emma is the eldest of three and is a member of one of most conservative's family I know. Her education is resided by attending one of the most prestigious Christian Universities in the United States; a place that gave her the knowledge that she carries and the moral support that helps her daily. She earned a degree in Business Management from Bob Jones University in South Carolina, and is currently working as a manger trainee for a logistics company.
As soon as I mentioned to Emma that my new assignment was about the upcoming election, her face lit and I saw that nerdy kid waiting to be asked about it. It was a short sweet conversation over our tacos, and some freshly made chips. "Life in the U.S. is a lot different than it is in Mexico." she said. "This should be the land of opportunity and diversity; it's what makes the US one of the most powerful countries on earth! Sometimes we all fail to see that, and coming from Mexico, I thought things would have been a lot different." There were two main concerns that both my interviews had. One was the Bailout reform, and the other health care.
"It was a mistake and proves to no accountability towards business, and puts us tax payers at risk because they do whatever they want." Sam said. Sam is also a twenty seven year old college graduate, the middle child, often known as the nerd of the family. Our interview was mostly via e-mail, and over the phone. He also has a very busy schedule, which has taken me a bit more of effort to try to make things go smoothly. I took the bold decision to interview them both only because I wanted this interview to be more diverse, and not just of one mindset. I shuffled through opinions and concerns about this country and almost every response I got from both where about the economical crisis. I had to reschedule with Sam, but got a great outcome from waiting. Healthcare was the second biggest issue that Sam had. He gave me an estimate of how much money he pays monthly to try to get a decent living. He pays almost $12,000 a year for health insurance, and is almost the same amount of money for Emma, who makes probably $10,000 less than Samuel. Both interviews agreed to the fact that paying this much insurance, which is not really insured that you'll get sick in that year is a lot of money that many people cannot afford. So I brought up the question about wanting to have free healthcare, and they both disagreed with me. "I don't think that we need to have free healthcare, but a cap to lower down premiums." Sam said, with such a broader voice. Sam also explained to me that he didn’t agree with the PORK in the bail out, and wants to eliminate earmarks in any bill or reform.
“Rum and fish!” Emma said. “That is where all of the bail out money is going to.” She has gone to many website and researched where this money had been going too. This actually, is a big concern for many of us that we are not aware of.
“700 billion dollars of tax payer money not only went to business and banks, but also unheard of government spending. For example, 6 million dollars was awarded to manufacturers of kid’s wooden arrows (whatever that means). Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands rum producers got an estimated $192 million dollars. Wool research, auto track racing (NASCAR) received $128 million dollars. Budget film and television producers and estimated $10 million dollars; but wait, the best of them all, about an estimated $223 million of tax benefits went to fisherman and others whose livelihoods suffered a result of an oil spill in 1989 by Exxon. “
This is what probably disturbed me and both my interviews the most. The fact that this government is in an absolute crisis and all they can PORK out is all of this money to unheard of unreal spending.
As I came to the end of the interview, many other worries filled in Emma’s eyes. She wanted to keep going about all of the personal issues she had such as gay marriage, school funding, jobs, the war, etc. I had to write and edit much of what we had spoken of, only because this was supposed to be and article. Asking our waiter to bring our bill, I took a sip of what was left of my sweaty condensed tea, and started wrapping things up. When I reached to get my wallet out, my cellular phone rang and it was my brother Sam. I went on and on about the speech Emma had just told me, almost in sync he told me the exact same thing. I thought I would have gotten two different perspectives from this issue, but in reality, it seemed that everyone at this moment is worried about this bail out. It is something that has affected many of us, and will continue to do so if we don’t get involved and informed.
Dinner’s on me next time, who wants RUM AND FISH!
Mr. Lennie Irvin
English 1302.064
October 14, 2008
Rum and Fish Anyone? : Reasoning to Economical Crisis
I wanted to set the right environment for both my interviews, it's kind of cliché to meet at coffee shop and interview each other over a redefined latte'. So I decided to interview Emma, my partner, over some delicious Mexican food, and a delightful oversize cup of sweet tea.
It took me almost a week to try to fit into Emma's busy schedule. She is a twenty seven year old Mexican-American who moved to the United States when she was seventeen. Emma is the eldest of three and is a member of one of most conservative's family I know. Her education is resided by attending one of the most prestigious Christian Universities in the United States; a place that gave her the knowledge that she carries and the moral support that helps her daily. She earned a degree in Business Management from Bob Jones University in South Carolina, and is currently working as a manger trainee for a logistics company.
As soon as I mentioned to Emma that my new assignment was about the upcoming election, her face lit and I saw that nerdy kid waiting to be asked about it. It was a short sweet conversation over our tacos, and some freshly made chips. "Life in the U.S. is a lot different than it is in Mexico." she said. "This should be the land of opportunity and diversity; it's what makes the US one of the most powerful countries on earth! Sometimes we all fail to see that, and coming from Mexico, I thought things would have been a lot different." There were two main concerns that both my interviews had. One was the Bailout reform, and the other health care.
"It was a mistake and proves to no accountability towards business, and puts us tax payers at risk because they do whatever they want." Sam said. Sam is also a twenty seven year old college graduate, the middle child, often known as the nerd of the family. Our interview was mostly via e-mail, and over the phone. He also has a very busy schedule, which has taken me a bit more of effort to try to make things go smoothly. I took the bold decision to interview them both only because I wanted this interview to be more diverse, and not just of one mindset. I shuffled through opinions and concerns about this country and almost every response I got from both where about the economical crisis. I had to reschedule with Sam, but got a great outcome from waiting. Healthcare was the second biggest issue that Sam had. He gave me an estimate of how much money he pays monthly to try to get a decent living. He pays almost $12,000 a year for health insurance, and is almost the same amount of money for Emma, who makes probably $10,000 less than Samuel. Both interviews agreed to the fact that paying this much insurance, which is not really insured that you'll get sick in that year is a lot of money that many people cannot afford. So I brought up the question about wanting to have free healthcare, and they both disagreed with me. "I don't think that we need to have free healthcare, but a cap to lower down premiums." Sam said, with such a broader voice. Sam also explained to me that he didn’t agree with the PORK in the bail out, and wants to eliminate earmarks in any bill or reform.
“Rum and fish!” Emma said. “That is where all of the bail out money is going to.” She has gone to many website and researched where this money had been going too. This actually, is a big concern for many of us that we are not aware of.
“700 billion dollars of tax payer money not only went to business and banks, but also unheard of government spending. For example, 6 million dollars was awarded to manufacturers of kid’s wooden arrows (whatever that means). Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands rum producers got an estimated $192 million dollars. Wool research, auto track racing (NASCAR) received $128 million dollars. Budget film and television producers and estimated $10 million dollars; but wait, the best of them all, about an estimated $223 million of tax benefits went to fisherman and others whose livelihoods suffered a result of an oil spill in 1989 by Exxon. “
This is what probably disturbed me and both my interviews the most. The fact that this government is in an absolute crisis and all they can PORK out is all of this money to unheard of unreal spending.
As I came to the end of the interview, many other worries filled in Emma’s eyes. She wanted to keep going about all of the personal issues she had such as gay marriage, school funding, jobs, the war, etc. I had to write and edit much of what we had spoken of, only because this was supposed to be and article. Asking our waiter to bring our bill, I took a sip of what was left of my sweaty condensed tea, and started wrapping things up. When I reached to get my wallet out, my cellular phone rang and it was my brother Sam. I went on and on about the speech Emma had just told me, almost in sync he told me the exact same thing. I thought I would have gotten two different perspectives from this issue, but in reality, it seemed that everyone at this moment is worried about this bail out. It is something that has affected many of us, and will continue to do so if we don’t get involved and informed.
Dinner’s on me next time, who wants RUM AND FISH!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by lamar hailey on -
I agree with them in how the government needs to stop its extra spending on stuff that doesn't matter like the NASCAR or the money to the virgin islands.Our governement says it needs more money but for what?I think we should pay higher taxes because our government does need money but to pay off our national debt not to fund golf excursions.i firmly beileve we need people in Washington who won't use our money to fund their weekends or whatver it is they use it to fund.Good essay keep up the strong writing
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Permalink Reply by mbowman15 on
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I couldn't agree with both Sam and Emma more. Health care expenses are ridiculous but I agree that free health care is not the solution. Free health care sounds so nice but is unrealistic and is not something that should be considered. Free health care takes away more then it gives and will only hurt us in the long run. Reduced premiums would be a much better solution and would help more Americans then free health care would. I also agree that the PORK is upsetting. The bailout is a solution to our problems that will cause more problems in the long run. Our leaders should have been paying more attention to our economy so that way we might have been able to avoid the current situation that we are in.
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Permalink Reply by Robert Melita on
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Angela, I agree with you 100 percent. Another problem that we have with our economy is that despite our own economic, this country is notorious not only for these lovely earmarks but for handing money over to anyone that asks, unless of course the money is for the good of our economy. Our government is too busy trying to be a hero to everyone else. Our government, or at least that is what we should be able to call it, no longer belongs to us "we the people". At least thats my opinion. We need to learn to take care of our own, and by our own I mean the small business owner, the companies that don't have millions at their disposal, and the huge lobby's to push whatever bill suits them through. I'm with you, the money that went to these earmarks is not only ridiculous but obscene, there are many, many other worthwhile causes this money could have gone to. Anyone ever heard of the homeless? But think about it, why would we put money there...theres no money in it!
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Permalink Reply by Bianca Vargas on
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i didnt know a lot about what you explained it was very informative. i did not where so much money was going in too. i am glad you chose this topic because most of thes things i was not informed about. everyone should really put this into consideration, because it affects everyone.
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Permalink Reply by Maria on -
I agree with both of the person you interview in how the government need to stop giving money away to those big companies instead of doing that they should help the citizens with some of that money. Because we all know that those big companies got in trouble themselves so they should figure out a way to get out of that trouble alone why do the people need to pay for there mistake plus they are using the taxpayers money why can’t they used other money instead of the peoples money to fix this big problem. And is true about health care it should not be free but they could lower the minimum payment and make it more affordable for the citizens.
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Permalink Reply by Gopi Mehat on
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I agree with Emma. Health care is an issue that needs to be resolved. The price for a doctors visit is ridiculous. But i also agree with Mark Bowman. Free health care does sound unrealistic and it would do more harm than good for our economy in my opinion. I also agree our money needs to be spent more wisely. Things like NASCAR and rum are not important things to be spending the nations money on. Also giving money to the big companies who have all the money to begin with is not good. Then there executives and ceo's are blowing on there vacations and not for the good of the country. Good interview and keep up the good work.
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