http://associationofyoungamericans.com/blog/index.cfm The Association of Young Americans Policy Issue of the day. en-us Wed, 08 Sep 2010 23:28:10 -0400 Tue, 20 Jan 2009 20:35:00 -0400 BlogCFC http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss young_americans@hotmail.com young_americans@hotmail.com http://associationofyoungamericans.com/blog/index.cfm/2009/1/20/44th-President-of-the-United-States Today, Barrack Obama took the oath of office as the 44th President of the United States. Some exerpts from his speech:The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.Share your thoughts on today and your hopes and expections for the next four years in the Open Forum. 2008 election Tue, 20 Jan 2009 20:35:00 -0400 http://associationofyoungamericans.com/blog/index.cfm/2009/1/20/44th-President-of-the-United-States http://associationofyoungamericans.com/blog/index.cfm/2008/11/5/Barack-Obama-is-Elected-President Yesterday, Ilinois Senator Barack Obama was elected the next president of the United States. Here are excerpts from his speech and Senator John McCain's concession speech."Let us resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long. Let us remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House - a party founded on the values of self-reliance, individual liberty, and national unity. Those are values we all share, and while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress. As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, 'We are not enemies, but friends...though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection.' And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn - I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your President too." - President-elect Obama."I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him, but offering our next president our good will and earnest effort to find ways to come together to find the necessary compromises to bridge our differences and help restore our prosperity, defend our security in a dangerous world, and leave our children and grandchildren a stronger, better country than we inherited. Whatever our differences, we are fellow Americans. And please believe me when I say no association has ever meant more to me than that. It is natural. It's natural, tonight, to feel some disappointment. But tomorrow, we must move beyond it and work together to get our country moving again."-Senator McCain.Share your thoughts on this historic election and you hopes and cocerns for the future of our country in our Open Forum. 2008 election Wed, 05 Nov 2008 12:39:00 -0400 http://associationofyoungamericans.com/blog/index.cfm/2008/11/5/Barack-Obama-is-Elected-President http://associationofyoungamericans.com/blog/index.cfm/2008/11/3/ELECTION-DAY After an incredibly long campaign season, Election Day is upon us. Make sure that you get out and vote on Tuesday for whomever is your candidate of choice. You can get some last minute information about the Presidential candidates positions on a variety of issues here on our website, or at other news outlets. If you are in Philadelphia, the Association of Young Americans and the Young Women's Network are hosting a Election Results Party on the second floor of the Black Sheep Pub, which is on 17th street between Locust and Spruce Sts. Hope to see you there!! 2008 election Mon, 03 Nov 2008 15:57:00 -0400 http://associationofyoungamericans.com/blog/index.cfm/2008/11/3/ELECTION-DAY http://associationofyoungamericans.com/blog/index.cfm/2008/10/30/Candidates-Take-Position-on-Student-Loans The NY Times today covered Senator Obama and McCain's positions on student loans. One of the interesting notes was that Senator Obama only finished paying off his law school loans in 2004! The article presents both candidates views on the issues and how they might make loans less burdensome for the high percentage of young Americans who rely on loans to afford college. Read the article and then comment on their positions in the public forum. And don't forget, if you don't vote, you can't complain. Election day is 5 days away! 2008 election Education Thu, 30 Oct 2008 10:34:00 -0400 http://associationofyoungamericans.com/blog/index.cfm/2008/10/30/Candidates-Take-Position-on-Student-Loans http://associationofyoungamericans.com/blog/index.cfm/2008/10/28/Top-Concern-5-Iraq Although domestic concerns have taken the War from the forefront of many American's minds, Iraq remains one of the top concerns facing our country. The war in Iraq will be almost 6 years old when the next president is sworn into office. According to procon.org, 89% of fatalities in Iraq are under 36 years of age. Following the Surge' of US forces in the last year, violence across the country decreased. Troop levels have since returned to approximately 150,000 and violence has remained lower. General David Petraeus has spoken about the progress made as a result of the surge, while also cautioning that more hard work remains. There are still concern about the possibility of violence increasing in Iraq. New National Intelligence Estimate is apparently being completed, reports mcclatchydc.com. "A nearly completed high-level U.S. intelligence analysis warns that unresolved ethnic and sectarian tensions in Iraq could unleash a new wave of violence, potentially reversing the major security and political gains achieved over the last year."Sectarian violence and hostility remains a problem. Yahoo News reports that "In Baghdad , where most of the sectarian cleansing has taken place, about 8 percent of the people who moved within the country have gone back to their neighborhoods, according to the International Organization for Migration. Many Iraqi families have returned to their old homes in peace, but a disturbing trend already is emerging: They're being targeted and attacked, and in some cases killed, for returning to their homes. Some returnees have been threatened. Others have found explosives tied to their front doors. Some have had their homes blown up. The trend, along with an uptick in sectarian and ethnic violence in northern Iraq and growing tensions among rival Shiite factions in the south, is a worrisome development for American political and military leaders who're increasingly eager to declare victory and begin withdrawing more U.S. troops from Iraq in order to send more forces to Afghanistan."Here are links to the Candidates issue pages on IraqJohn McCain (R)Barack Obama (D)Bob Barr (L)Ralph Nader (I) 2008 election Iraq Tue, 28 Oct 2008 11:21:00 -0400 http://associationofyoungamericans.com/blog/index.cfm/2008/10/28/Top-Concern-5-Iraq http://associationofyoungamericans.com/blog/index.cfm/2008/10/20/Top-Concern-4-Climate-Change The 4th ranked issue among the young Americans who took the National Issues Survey was Climate Change and the Environment. The Environmental Protection Agency website has the following explanation of global warming caused by climate change on their website:Why are greenhouse gas concentrations increasing? Scientists generally believe that the combustion of fossil fuels and other human activities are the primary reason for the increased concentration of carbon dioxide. Plant respiration and the decomposition of organic matter release more than 10 times the CO2 released by human activities; but these releases have generally been in balance during the centuries leading up to the industrial revolution with carbon dioxide absorbed by terrestrial vegetation and the oceans."The United States accounts for a quarter of the worlds greenhouse gases going into the atmosphere, with emissions growing at the rate of 2 percent a year []." (23). Burning of fossil fuels such as gas, coal and oil, causes the emission of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. Both presidential candidates have discussed the need to use more alternatives to these fossil fuels. Such alternatives include solar, wind, nuclear, and geothermal. The last few years have seen increased concern and attention paid to climate change. Former Vice President Al Gore won the nobel prize for his work calling attention to the issue and since has started an organization, WeCanSolveIt.org, to work towards a solution. Texas oilman, T. Boone Pickens has started his own efforts, which include creating wind farms across the Midwest of the United States. Such efforts tout not only the environmental impact of alternative energy but also the positive economic impact and job creation. You can learn about the Presidential candidates positions through the below links to their websites:Barack Obama (D)John McCain (R)Ralph Nader (I)Bob Barr (L) - Cong. Barr does not have an issue page on his website about Climate Change or the Environment. This is a link to his issue page on Energy policy. Environment Climate Change 2008 election Mon, 20 Oct 2008 11:05:00 -0400 http://associationofyoungamericans.com/blog/index.cfm/2008/10/20/Top-Concern-4-Climate-Change http://associationofyoungamericans.com/blog/index.cfm/2008/10/13/Top-Concern-3-Jobs-and-the-Economy Economic concerns have dominated the news for the last few weeks. With financial institutions collapsing, the stock market plunging, and unemployment rising, it's not surprising Jobs and the Economy was among the top 5 concerns of young Americans in our National Issues Survey. In September "[t]he unemployment rate held steady, at 6.1 percent [...], but that was in part a reflection of the fact that more unemployed people stopped looking for work. To be counted as unemployed in the statistics, a person must be out of work and actively looking for a new job," a New York Times Article noted. "There was also a big spike in the number of people working part time because they couldn't find full-time work. More than 1.5 million people fell into this category in September, up from 400,000 a year earlier."It is important to keep in mind that economic conditions and unemployment rates vary by state. From the Bureau of Labor Statistics, here are the unemployment rates of some states across the country:Colorado: 5.4%North Carolina: 6.9%Ohio: 7.4%Pennsylvania: 5.8%Texas: 5.0%Virginia 4.6%Stock market's around the world have fallen dramatically over the last few weeks. The Dow Jones Industrial Average went from just over 14,000 on October 10, 2007, to 8,451 on October 10, 2008 - a drop of over 40% in a year. The price of oil, however, which has been rising for years, has dropped significantly over the last few months. The price of a Barrel of Oil peaked at $147 back in July, to under $80 this past week. According to the Secretary of Education, "The average private school graduate leaves college $20,000 in debt. One in 10 carries $40,000." And for those not fortunate enough to go to college, or who decide not to, the outlook is worse. As noted in the Association of Young Americans Higher Education Issue Paper: "For every dollar earned by a college graduate, someone leaving before obtaining a four-year degree earns only 67 cents." (6) The Census Bureau website shows that high school graduates aged 21-64 have a median income of $27,351. College graduates in the same age range have a median income of $42,877."High school dropouts earned an average of $19,169 and those with advanced college degrees made an average of $78,093" (7)The candidates positions on economic issues are available on their websites, the links to which are below.John McCainBarack ObamaRalph NaderBob Barr 2008 election Economy Mon, 13 Oct 2008 09:57:00 -0400 http://associationofyoungamericans.com/blog/index.cfm/2008/10/13/Top-Concern-3-Jobs-and-the-Economy http://associationofyoungamericans.com/blog/index.cfm/2008/10/11/Top-Concern-2-Healthcare The second of the top five issues of concern raised by young Americans in our National Issues Survey was Healthcare. Most directly related to young Americans, the U.S. Census Bureau report, Income, Poverty and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2006, found that of the 47 million Americans without health insurance 55 percent are between the ages of 18 and 34.As noted on the AYA Healthcare fact sheet, "Health care spending in America has increased from 5 percent of GDP in 1960 to 16 percent in 2004, and is expected to increase to 18.7 percent in 2014." The Congressional Budget Office projects that in the absence of changes in federal law:Total spending on health care would rise from 16 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2007 to 25 percent in 2025, 37 percent in 2050, and 49 percent in 2082.Federal spending on Medicare (net of beneficiaries' premiums) and Medicaid would rise from 4 percent of GDP in 2007 to 7 percent in 2025, 12 percent in 2050, and 19 percent in 2082.According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the present value of future expenses/budget obligations of the federal government for Medicare amount to $32.4 Trillion.The candidates address their positions on healthcare on their websites, the links to which are below.Barack ObamaJohn McCainBob BarrRalph Nader 2008 election Healthcare Sat, 11 Oct 2008 11:02:00 -0400 http://associationofyoungamericans.com/blog/index.cfm/2008/10/11/Top-Concern-2-Healthcare http://associationofyoungamericans.com/blog/index.cfm/2008/10/8/Young-Americans-Top-Concerns 18 to 35 year olds from over 30 states took the Association of Young American's National Issues Survey, stating what national policy issues concerned them most. The top 5 issues of concern are:1) Education2) Healthcare3) Jobs and the Economy4) Environment / Climate Change5) IraqOver the next few days we will be featuring each of these 5 issues here on our blog. Today, the most identified issue of concern: Education.Nationally, our K-12 and higher education systems have been found to need significant overhauls. "The most recent Program for International Student Assessment showed that U.S. 15-year-olds trailed their peers from many industrialized countries. The average science score of U.S. students lagged behind those in 16 of 30 countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, a Paris-based group that represents the world's richest countries. The U.S. students were further behind in math, trailing counterparts in 23 countries," according to a Washington Post report.As detailed on the AYA Higher Education Issue Paper: The Department of Education formed the Commission on Higher Education and charged it with developing a comprehensive national strategy for postsecondary education that will meet the needs of America's diverse population and also address the economic and workforce needs of the country's future." The Commission approved a final report that "urges a broad shake-up of American higher education" including: every student having the opportunity to pursue postsecondary education, restructuring the entire financial aid system and increasing federal investment in areas "critical to our nation's global competitiveness."You can learn more about the Presidential candidates positions on education through the links to their websites below: John McCainBarack ObamaRalph NaderBob BarrAnd as always we encourage you to share your thoughts and views in our Forums. 2008 election Activism Education Wed, 08 Oct 2008 08:37:00 -0400 http://associationofyoungamericans.com/blog/index.cfm/2008/10/8/Young-Americans-Top-Concerns http://associationofyoungamericans.com/blog/index.cfm/2008/10/7/Second-Presidential-Debate-Tonight Tonight is the second debate between Senator John McCain and Senator Barack Obama. The debate will have a town hall format with question from the audience members and via the internet. Association of Young Americans' members in Philadelphia will be out at the Black Sheep Pub starting at 8pm tonight for a debate watching party - feel free to join us! The Black Sheep is located on 17th street between Spruce and Locust. Even if you can't make it, please share your thoughts on the debate and the election in our Voting '08 forum. 2008 election Activism Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:05:00 -0400 http://associationofyoungamericans.com/blog/index.cfm/2008/10/7/Second-Presidential-Debate-Tonight http://associationofyoungamericans.com/blog/index.cfm/2008/10/6/Pennsylvania-Voter-Registration-deadline--TODAY Today is the deadline to register to vote in Pennsylvania, the home state of the Association of Young Americans. You can learn how to register today on the Pennsylvania Department of State's website. You could also contact any of the presidential campaigns for the locations of their voter registration efforts. From Iraq to Afghanistan, College Affordability to the Economy, voting is one of the ways to make the issues you care about heard. If you are in the Philadelphia area, please join us at the Black Sheep tomorrow night, 8pm-10:30pm, to watch the 2nd Presidential debate. The Black Sheep is located on 17th Street between Locust and Spruce Streets. 2008 election Activism Mon, 06 Oct 2008 08:25:00 -0400 http://associationofyoungamericans.com/blog/index.cfm/2008/10/6/Pennsylvania-Voter-Registration-deadline--TODAY http://associationofyoungamericans.com/blog/index.cfm/2008/7/24/72408--Does-a-Generation-Gap--a-Voting-Gap The most recent Wall Street Journal poll found that 55% of voters aged 18 to 34 prefer the 46-year-old Sen. Obama, while 31% favored Sen. McCain. That 24-point edge is up from a 13-point advantage for Sen. Obama in last month's survey. The question is whether this apparent voting gap will be replicated on Election Day. More importantly, how will the candidates react to the gap; will they assume this segment of the voting population is locked up and can be ignored or will they attempt to increase their current numbers by speaking to the issues that concern young americans (see AYA's National Issues Survey for wht you have said are your top issues). Talk about how you're making your voice heard in this election cycle in our open forum. 2008 election Activism Thu, 24 Jul 2008 10:02:00 -0400 http://associationofyoungamericans.com/blog/index.cfm/2008/7/24/72408--Does-a-Generation-Gap--a-Voting-Gap http://associationofyoungamericans.com/blog/index.cfm/2008/4/25/42508--Will-Candidates-Continue-to-Pursue-Your-Vote The SF Chronicle published an interesting piece looking at the realities of the youth turnout in the 2008 primaries as compared to the continued power of the "older" voting brackets. Analyzizing the numbers, the paper suggests that older voters remain the larger (and more reliable) voting bloc. Further, that negative campaigns are more likely to turn off young voters than older. If true, this just reinforces the need of young voters to SPEAK UP and DEMAND a debate on the issues, not on irrelevant ideas. Fill out AYA's National Issues Survey,speak out in a forum and make sure your voice is heard. 2008 election Activism Fri, 25 Apr 2008 10:33:00 -0400 http://associationofyoungamericans.com/blog/index.cfm/2008/4/25/42508--Will-Candidates-Continue-to-Pursue-Your-Vote http://associationofyoungamericans.com/blog/index.cfm/2008/4/21/Pennsylvania-Primary-Tomorrow After more than a month lull in the primary schedule, tomorrow both parties will have primaries in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Both Democratic candidates, Senator Clinton and Senator Obama, have a full day schedule of events today across Pennsylvania (See Philadelphia Inquirer for details). Senator Clinton will end her day at a rally, with former President Bill Clinton and their daughter Chelsea, at the University of Pennsylvania. Senatory Barrack Obama will appear on the Daily Show tonight. With the Republican party's nomination all but formally decided, Senator McCain today begins what his campaign is calling "It's Time for Action Tour" in Alabama. For those of you registered in Pennsylvania, don't forget to VOTE tomorrow. For information about your polling place, and other information, see the PA Secretary of State's website - votespa.com.As always, we encourage you to share your thoughts about policy issues and the campaign in our Forums. 2008 election Mon, 21 Apr 2008 11:42:00 -0400 http://associationofyoungamericans.com/blog/index.cfm/2008/4/21/Pennsylvania-Primary-Tomorrow http://associationofyoungamericans.com/blog/index.cfm/2008/4/18/Engaging-NonCollege-Young-People A good deal of attention has been paid this election season to the "youth vote", the majority of which has focused on college students. What about young people who do not go to college after high school? "So far this election season, young voters without college backgrounds have lagged behind their college-educated counterparts at the polls. On Feb. 5, the day of the Super Tuesday sweepstakes when 20-plus states held primaries or caucuses, 79 percent of young voters had some kind of higher education under their belts and 21 percent had a high school diploma or less, according to data compiled by the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE)," reports the Christian Science Monitor. "The college-noncollege gap surfaced nationally in 1972, as unions and other organizations that had mobilized young people who didn't attend college declined. Reaching out to this group became expensive and time-consuming for campaigns, especially during the primaries."Share your perspective as a young person, who either did or did not attend college, as to why you will or won't vote this year? What suggestions do you have for candidates and organizations to better reach out to young people who do not attend college? Share your thoughts and ideas in the Voting'08 Forum. 2008 election Activism Fri, 18 Apr 2008 13:41:00 -0400 http://associationofyoungamericans.com/blog/index.cfm/2008/4/18/Engaging-NonCollege-Young-People